It’s improbable that Dylan Travis would be playing for Team USA in Paris this summer. Yet, the basketball path of this 31-year-old special education teacher defies the odds. From Omaha, Nebraska, Travis was the top scorer in his state during his high school senior year but didn’t receive any Division I offers. Instead, he enrolled at Midland University, an NAIA 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 recalled. “I didn’t have my head on straight, getting into trouble and talking back to coaches.” After a year at Midland, he transferred to Iowa Central Community College, aiming for success that could pave the way to Division I basketball.
“I had to mature a lot going into Iowa Central,” Travis said. “Coach (Dennis) Pilcher, a Hall of Fame coach at the juco level, really helped me. That experience shaped me into who I am today.” His performance at Iowa Central, where he averaged 18.3 points per game, led him to commit to Florida Southern, a Division II school.
At Florida Southern, Travis excelled. In his junior year, the Moccasins won the Division II national championship, and he finally received his long-awaited Division I offer. “By then, I was over it. I stayed at Florida Southern and became an All-American my senior year,” Travis said. “Florida Southern was amazing, especially after all those moves. It felt like heaven there.
“Being a good teammate and person off the court is important no matter where you are in the world. I learned that a lot at Florida Southern.” After graduation, Travis played professionally in Germany and Australia.
After four years, he decided to pursue a career in education. Travis stayed involved in basketball by coaching his high school team. He hadn’t considered playing competitively again until a friend suggested he join Omaha’s 3×3 tournament circuit.
Travis fell in love with the 3×3 format, starting with the team 3Ball Omaha and playing over 150 games on the pro circuit. Eventually, he met future teammates Jimmer Fredette, Kareem Maddox, and Canyon Barry on the circuit. Later, the quartet was recruited by USA Basketball.
In November, the team ranked second in the world and earned an Olympic bid to represent the USA. The team has an impressive record, including gold medals at the 2022 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup and the 2023 Pan American Games, and a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
Despite his success on the court, what Travis values most is that his mom will be in Paris to watch him play. “It was just me and my mom growing up. She worked three jobs so I could attend a private high school,” he said. “She’s never been outside of the States, so seeing her in Paris will mean a lot to me.”
As Travis heads to the Olympics, he feels confident with his team. “We’re the first U.S. men’s team chosen for the Olympics, so there is pressure and expectation to win gold and grow the sport,” he said. “We’re veterans, and we can handle that. We’re looking forward to the 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 who got to travel the world playing 3×3. Now I’m in the Olympics,” he added. “If you love the game, stick with it.”
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