Scott Gillespie and his father, Bob, are both on the D3hoops.com All-Star Tour.

The inaugural D3hoops.com is on a nine-day, two-city, four-game international tour. The nine-player team will visit the world-class cities of London, England and Paris, France before coming back to the States on May 30. The trip, co-sponsored and directed by Sport Tours International will be a great opportunity for Division III hoops players to showcase their talent on an international level.

“We know there is great basketball played on the D3 level,” said Sport Tours International president Lee Frederick. “We have been working with D3 basketball coaches for over 25 years and we know how good the players are. In an effort to showcase the players we knew working with the D3hoops.com guys was a no-brainer. The all-stars get an experience of a lifetime, get to play great games and also showcase their skills internationally. The mission of Division III athletics fits perfectly with the mission of Sport Tours.”

The team, coached by long-time veteran head coach Bob Gillespie of Ripon, features some of the best players from all over the country. The group left New York City on May 21 and will spend five days in London before taking the ferry across the English Channel to France. The team will bus to Paris and spend three days there before heading back to New York on the 30th. The team will play three games vs. local club and semi-pro teams in London before playing one time in Paris.

“The games will be a great opportunity for the all-stars to play against guys at the international level,” Frederick said. “They will get the chance to talk to Euroleague scouts and coaches and will be able to make contacts overseas. This will be invaluable to the guys that want to try and continue playing after graduation.”

In addition to basketball, the group will tour historic and Royal London, take a boat trip on the River Thames, tour Wembley Stadium, attend Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and attend an English Premier League Soccer match, among other highlights. In Paris the group will take a guided bus tour of the city, visit a U.S. Marine Cemetery, WWII battleground and see the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Elysees along with having plenty of free time to explore both cities.

Trip updates, photos and scores will be posted periodically on the Sport Tours International Facebook page. Please check that site for further updates and information.

2011 D3HOOPS.COM ALL-STAR ROSTER

No.       Name                                       Ht.        Yr        Pos        School
1          Matt Addison                            5-8       Jr.         G          Hardin-Simmons
5          Scott Gillespie                           6-0       Sr.        G          Ripon
6          Derek Mitchell                           6-5       Sr.        F          Ferrum
10        RJ Dixon                                   6-0       Sr.        G          Catholic
12        Corey Connor                            6-1       Sr.        G          Bridgewater State
21        Sam Herrick                              6-11     Sr.        F          WIT
22        Jason Banzhaf                          6-4       Sr.        G          Catholic
50        Mike Akinrola                            6-6       Jr.         F          Rhode Island College
55        Mike McClary                            6-5       Sr.        C          Olivet

Head Coach: Bob Gillespie (Ripon)
Assistant Coach: Zach Pickleman (Hardin-Simmons)