America’s Matthew 28 Project Having Impact on Players Lives Coming to Europe Mid-June looking for more players wanting to come to school in America By Lester Brown |
The Matthew 28 Project is a program began by American basketball coach, John Jordan to help foreign junior
basketball players come to the United States to finish their high school years and then earn an American college
scholarship. The second year of the program it expanded to include local American athletes who came from
impoverished backgrounds as well. The program will be entering it’s fifth year this summer and has been highly
successful. It has now been adopted by Veritas Christian Academy near Asheville, NC. The program has generated
more than 1.1 million dollars in American college scholarship money for foreign athletes and another $400,000 for
American athletes. That is 1.5 million dollars total. The Matthew 28 Project has helped players get to some of the top
college programs in the United States.
The Matthew 28 Project had it’s first college graduate this year and his success is a shining example of someone
who made the most of their opportunity.
Karilos Bauza
Karilos Bauza is from Kretinga, Lithuania. He came to Statesville Christian in 2003 as one of Coach Jordan’s first
Matthew 28 Project students. He graduated last week from Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC. He has been a four
year letter winner on the NCAA Division II basketball team and been on a full athletic scholarship. He will graduate with a
3.9 grade point average (4.0 is as good as you can do.) as a Biology major and is currently choosing between medical
school scholarship offers. He was recently awarded the Father Raphael Bridge Academic Award by Belmont Abbey
which is presented to the athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average. He has twice been an NCAA Division
II Academic All American Nominee and is a finalist for ESPN Magazines 2008 NCAA Division II Academic All American
Team. His sister Egle who is also a Matthew 28 Project recipient is finishing her junior year at Anderson University in
Anderson, SC where she is on the Dean’s List. She is also a standout on the women’s basketball team and track team.
Coach Jordan (L) with Memphis Head Coach Coach Jordan with Clemson Head Coach, Coach Jordan with the winningest coach in the
John Calipari @ the Veritas Gym Oliver Purnell history of college basketball, Tennessees, Pat Summit
Coach Jordan and his staff with NC State Head Coach Coach Jordan with Arizona State head coach, Coach Jordan and Coach Hutch with Tennessee's
Sydney Lowe at a Veritas open gym Herb Sendek head men's coach, Bruce Pearl
basketball players come to the United States to finish their high school years and then earn an American college
scholarship. The second year of the program it expanded to include local American athletes who came from
impoverished backgrounds as well. The program will be entering it’s fifth year this summer and has been highly
successful. It has now been adopted by Veritas Christian Academy near Asheville, NC. The program has generated
more than 1.1 million dollars in American college scholarship money for foreign athletes and another $400,000 for
American athletes. That is 1.5 million dollars total. The Matthew 28 Project has helped players get to some of the top
college programs in the United States.
The Matthew 28 Project had it’s first college graduate this year and his success is a shining example of someone
who made the most of their opportunity.
Karilos Bauza
Karilos Bauza is from Kretinga, Lithuania. He came to Statesville Christian in 2003 as one of Coach Jordan’s first
Matthew 28 Project students. He graduated last week from Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC. He has been a four
year letter winner on the NCAA Division II basketball team and been on a full athletic scholarship. He will graduate with a
3.9 grade point average (4.0 is as good as you can do.) as a Biology major and is currently choosing between medical
school scholarship offers. He was recently awarded the Father Raphael Bridge Academic Award by Belmont Abbey
which is presented to the athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average. He has twice been an NCAA Division
II Academic All American Nominee and is a finalist for ESPN Magazines 2008 NCAA Division II Academic All American
Team. His sister Egle who is also a Matthew 28 Project recipient is finishing her junior year at Anderson University in
Anderson, SC where she is on the Dean’s List. She is also a standout on the women’s basketball team and track team.
Coach Jordan (L) with Memphis Head Coach Coach Jordan with Clemson Head Coach, Coach Jordan with the winningest coach in the
John Calipari @ the Veritas Gym Oliver Purnell history of college basketball, Tennessees, Pat Summit
Coach Jordan and his staff with NC State Head Coach Coach Jordan with Arizona State head coach, Coach Jordan and Coach Hutch with Tennessee's
Sydney Lowe at a Veritas open gym Herb Sendek head men's coach, Bruce Pearl
John Jordan is a former pro coach who also owned his own sports management company and represented or
coached several current and former NBA and WNBA players. Jordan also founded two professional leagues and
consulted for teams and clubs throughout the world. He left the pro business five years ago because he wanted to
make a difference in young peoples lives. He feels the Matthew 28 Project gives him that opportunity. Coach Jordan
also owns Boyshoopscout.com and Girlshoopscout.com, websites dedicated to helping college coaches looking for
basketball talent. Jordan is one of the most respected high school coaches in the United States and has won several
awards and championships including; the 2006 NACA Boy’s High School National Championship. Coach Jordan will
be visiting Europe in Mid-June on a recruiting mission. He will be looking for two female basketball players who are
16U or 17U and one male and female soccer player for his current school, Veritas Christian Academy in Asheville, NC
www.veritasnc.org. He will also be looking for male basketball players in the same age bracket for other American high
schools. The schools pay for all the tuition and find American host families for the students to live with during the
school year. All the students are responsible for is their airfare to and from the United States and their spending
money. Any player or coach who feels they have an athlete that could benefit from this program are encouraged to
contact Coach Jordan @ coachjordan@boyshoopscout.com
Foreign Basketball Players Who Have Been a Part of the Matthew 28 Project – All of these players earned full
scholarships to American colleges after being part of the program or are still in high school.
Karl Bauza – Lithuania – Belmont Abbey CollegeEdwin Ofori-Attah – Germany – William and Mary College
Zygis Sestokas – Lithuania – Hofstra University
Egle Bauzaite – Lithuania – Anderson University
Davidas Busma – Lithuania – Idaho State University
Aleks Spasovski – Macedonia – Warren Wilson College
Rokas Niparavisicus – Lithuania – Taylor University
Mantas Lenoavisicus – Lithuania – Hofstra University
Catalin Baciu – Romania – Clemson University
Paulius Skema – Lithuania – New Jersey Institute of Technology
Sasa Borovnjak – Serbia – Veritas Christian Academy – high school rising senior
Davit Paviliashivili – Republic of Georgia – high school rising sophomore
Milda Sakalyte – Lithuania - United Faith Christian Academy – high school senior
Paschal Mensah – Ghana – Veritas Christian Academy – high school rising senior
American Players Who Have Been a Part of the Matthew 28 Project –
Doneal Mack – Memphis University
Matt Parker – James Madison University
Donald Summers – USC/Upstate
Adam Raye – Clearwater Comm College
Jess Reece – Veritas Christian Academy – Rising high school junior
Andrew Kyles – Veritas Christian Academy – Rising high school senior
Allen Ebert – Veritas Christian Academy – Rising high school senior
Colin Sekal – Veritas Christian Academy – Rising high school senior
coached several current and former NBA and WNBA players. Jordan also founded two professional leagues and
consulted for teams and clubs throughout the world. He left the pro business five years ago because he wanted to
make a difference in young peoples lives. He feels the Matthew 28 Project gives him that opportunity. Coach Jordan
also owns Boyshoopscout.com and Girlshoopscout.com, websites dedicated to helping college coaches looking for
basketball talent. Jordan is one of the most respected high school coaches in the United States and has won several
awards and championships including; the 2006 NACA Boy’s High School National Championship. Coach Jordan will
be visiting Europe in Mid-June on a recruiting mission. He will be looking for two female basketball players who are
16U or 17U and one male and female soccer player for his current school, Veritas Christian Academy in Asheville, NC
www.veritasnc.org. He will also be looking for male basketball players in the same age bracket for other American high
schools. The schools pay for all the tuition and find American host families for the students to live with during the
school year. All the students are responsible for is their airfare to and from the United States and their spending
money. Any player or coach who feels they have an athlete that could benefit from this program are encouraged to
contact Coach Jordan @ coachjordan@boyshoopscout.com
Foreign Basketball Players Who Have Been a Part of the Matthew 28 Project – All of these players earned full
scholarships to American colleges after being part of the program or are still in high school.
Karl Bauza – Lithuania – Belmont Abbey CollegeEdwin Ofori-Attah – Germany – William and Mary College
Zygis Sestokas – Lithuania – Hofstra University
Egle Bauzaite – Lithuania – Anderson University
Davidas Busma – Lithuania – Idaho State University
Aleks Spasovski – Macedonia – Warren Wilson College
Rokas Niparavisicus – Lithuania – Taylor University
Mantas Lenoavisicus – Lithuania – Hofstra University
Catalin Baciu – Romania – Clemson University
Paulius Skema – Lithuania – New Jersey Institute of Technology
Sasa Borovnjak – Serbia – Veritas Christian Academy – high school rising senior
Davit Paviliashivili – Republic of Georgia – high school rising sophomore
Milda Sakalyte – Lithuania - United Faith Christian Academy – high school senior
Paschal Mensah – Ghana – Veritas Christian Academy – high school rising senior
American Players Who Have Been a Part of the Matthew 28 Project –
Doneal Mack – Memphis University
Matt Parker – James Madison University
Donald Summers – USC/Upstate
Adam Raye – Clearwater Comm College
Jess Reece – Veritas Christian Academy – Rising high school junior
Andrew Kyles – Veritas Christian Academy – Rising high school senior
Allen Ebert – Veritas Christian Academy – Rising high school senior
Colin Sekal – Veritas Christian Academy – Rising high school senior
| 7'7" Romanian Legend, George Muresan (L) with 6'5" Coach Jordan (C) @ 7'2" Clemson signee, Catalin Baciu (R) Baciu, a Romanian native was just named the NCSAA National High School Player of the Year |
| Doneal Mack played for Memphis in this years NCAA Championship game. He was a Matthew 28 Project student at Statesville Christian. He was the 2006 NACA National Player of the Year |
| Macedonia native, Aleks Spasovsky finished top 5 in the nation in scoring in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association as a freshman at Warren Wilson College. Aleks was a Matthew 28 Project student at Veritas Christian Academy for 2 years |