XENIA, Ohio — Athletes in Action is announcing the 2016 New Zealand Basketball tour roster. Pierre Zook of Biola University has been selected to participate in this year's AIA New Zealand tour. This team is made up of 10 players from 10 different universities from across the country. The tour will be from July 24 through Aug. 14.

Before embarking to New Zealand, the team will attend a five-day training camp in Los Angeles, California where they will train for games and prepare for their cross-cultural experience. In New Zealand, games are scheduled with university teams, clubs teams, and the New Zealand Breakers development team. The team will also conduct youth camps and get to experience the local culture and see what is considered one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The team is being coached by Kelly Combs who has 18 years of college coaching experience and has been on Athletes in Action staff since 2010. This is the third tour he has coached to New Zealand after coaching the 2013 and 2015 tours.

Coach Combs says, "I am very excited about this group of young men. I think they are all great people as well as basketball players. I believe this is a great opportunity for these young men to get international playing experience while giving them a chance to grow in their faith. It will be a life changing experience".

"Basketball provides such a unique experience for these guys. Many have never left North America and because of basketball they will get to go halfway around the world developing friendships with the influencers of a country," says tour director Jason Stankus.

This team hopes to win on the court as well as off. The heart of this team is to show athletes in New Zealand how they can know and experience God's love and plan for their lives. The team will participate in daily Bible studies and will seek to share through words and deeds the hope that they have experienced through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

To make a donation to help this team cover their expenses go to www.give.cru.org/2819183.

Follow the team via their blog at http://teamblogs.athletesinaction.org/basketball-new-zealand/.

For more information about Athletes in Action, visit www.goaia.org.