2024-07-24 03:05:02
Logically, Dylan Travis should not be sporting Team USA across his basketball jersey this summer in Paris.
Then again, this 31-year-old special education teacher’s basketball career defies logic.
The Omaha, Nebraska, native led his home state in scoring his senior year of high school but had no Division I offers. He committed to Midland University, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school in Fremont, Nebraska.
“Being all-state coming out of high school, (I) was humbled my first year at an NAIA school,” the 6-foot-3 guard said. “I didn’t have my head on straight, kind of getting in trouble and stuff, talking back to coaches.”
After a year at Midland, he transferred to Iowa Central Community College. He knew if he found success there, it could set him up to play Division I basketball.
“I had to mature a lot going into Iowa Central,” Travis said. “Coach (Dennis) Pilcher, Hall of Fame coach at the juco level, really helped me. That kind of shaped me to where I’m at now.”
His success at Iowa Central, where he averaged 18.3 points per game, led him to commit to Florida Southern, a Division II school.
There, Travis thrived. In his junior year, the Moccasins won the Division II national championship. After that season, his long-awaited Division I offer came along.
“By that time, I was over it. I stayed at Florida Southern and was an All-American my senior year,” Travis said. “Florida Southern was great, especially after all those stops. It felt like heaven there.
“Be a good teammate, be a good person off the court, no matter where you’re at in the world, that really matters. I learned that a lot at Florida Southern.”
After graduation, Travis played overseas in Germany and Australia. After four years, he decided to put the basketball down, instead pursuing a career in education.
Travis remained involved in basketball by coaching his high school’s team. It never occurred to him to play competitively again until his friend recommended playing in Omaha’s 3×3 tournament circuit.
Travis fell in love with the 3×3 game, starting with the team 3Ball Omaha and continuing to play over 150 games on the pro circuit. Eventually, he met his future teammates, Jimmer Fredette, Kareem Maddox and Canyon Barry, on the circuit. Later, the quartet got picked up by USA Basketball.
In November, the team ranked second in the world and earned an Olympic bid to represent the red, white and blue.
The squad boasts an impressive resume, including gold medals at the 2022 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup and the 2023 Pan American Games, plus a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
With all his success on the court, Travis most relishes the fact that his mom will be in Paris watching him play.
“It’s just me and my mom growing up. She worked three jobs so I could go to a private high school,” he said. “She’s never been outside of the States, so to see her (in Paris) will mean a lot to me.”
As Travis heads to the Olympics, he feels confident with his squad.
“We’re the first (U.S. men’s) team that’s been chosen for the Olympics, so there is some pressure and some expectations to win gold and grow the sport,” he said. “We’re veterans, and we can have that on our shoulders. So we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
Reflecting on his career, Travis appreciates his roller-coaster journey.
“I’m just the no-name that made it,” he said.
“I’m a Division II guy and got to travel the world playing 3×3. Now I’m in the Olympics,” he added. “If you love the game, stick with it.”
