NABI SPORTS

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The Native American Basketball Invitational(NABI) is the largest all native high school basketball tournament in the nation. It is an annual week long tournament set to showcase the skills, as well as create, encourage and support Native American athletes and sports programs. It was founded in 2002 by; Mark West(Vice President of Player Programs/Phoenix Suns), Scott Podleski( The Arizona Rattlers), and GinaMarie Scarpa(POD Productions). NABI debuted on July 11, 2003 with the Phoenix Suns supporting and sponsoring the event. NABI immediately received the attention of global sporting apparel giant, Nike, and they later become a major sponsor. In its 2003 inaugural year, NABI hosted 24 all Native American teams(12 boys, 12 girls) with the championship games played at America West Arena(now U.S. Airways Center) home of the Phoenix Suns. That same year Tex G. Hall( President of The National Congress of American Indians),and Ernie Stevens( President of The National Indian Gaming Association), become NABI's honorary chairman and Vice-Chairmen. By the end of its first tournament NABI helped create opportunities for five NABI athletes to recieve college basketball scholarships. In 2004, NABI returns for its second year with Ak-Chin Indian Community, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, along with Nike and other Phoenix area tribes as sponsors. In April, NABI recieves the "Presidents Leadership Award" from NIGA(National Indian Gaming Association).Later that year NABI would host 45 all Native teams. The games would be played at local area gyms, and the championship games, again, held at America West Arena. At this time NABI officially became the largest all Native tournament in the U.S. as well as Canada, and creates another nine college scholarship opportunities. In 2005, NABI returns with Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation as its title sponsor. Nike, Ak-Chin Indian Community, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, along with other local and national tribes, also commit, once again, as sponsors. That year a record 97 teams apply within the first two weeks of tournament registration, with NABI officially hosting 64 of them. The championship games were held, once again, at America West Arena, while also being televised live on AZTV. NABI is also mentioned on the front page of the New York times and creates another 6 college scholarship opportunities. That year $25,000 was donated, from NABI, into the NABI Fund(under the Arizona Community Foundation), allowing NABI to award two grants to Native American students. In 2006, NABI once again returns for its 4th consecutive year, with Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community as the Title sponsor, as well as a committed host to some of the games. Nike, Ak-Chin Indian Community and Fort McDowell, again commit to sponsoring the tournament. The championship games were again televised live on AZTV, on July 15, 2006, at the newly renamed U.S. Airways Center. Additionally, NABI also would award five more grants and scholarships through the NABI Fund. In 2007, NABI announces July 8-14 as the new dates for the tournament, with Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian community, again, as the Title sponsor. That year NABI would also officially announce it would seek NCAA Certification. For its fifth anniversary, NABI would play host to a record 86 teams from all over the country and Canada(46 boys 40 girls). During that year NABI implements its first "NABI College and Career Fair" for athletes participating in the 2007 tournament. Diana Taurasi(WNBA/ Phoenix Mercury)also becomes NABI's Honorary Commissioner. In a year of firsts, and through NABI's relentless urging, the NCAA announces that all Native American tournaments are here on exempt from the NCAA "same state rule." A monumental advancement in protecting tribal sovereignty. With this historic turn of events NABI becomes the first all Native American tournament certified by the NCAA, and thus allows Division 1 college scouts to now prospect future Native American collegiate athletes. For 2008, along with the annual basketball tournament, NABI has also announced the Native American Baseball Invitational, in partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks. This event is to feature 16 girls softball teams and 16 boys baseball teams. This event will take place on July 5-9, 2008 with the annual NABI basketball from July 21-26, 2008. NABI will again seek NCAA certification for the basketball tournament and the University of Phoenix has become the 2008 Title sponsor. Along with the two tournaments NABI has launched the NABI Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit youth organization to create additional scholarship funds and programs to serve the Native American Youth and community. The NABI Foundation....., making a difference where Native American Youth live, play and dream!