Hoops pair inspire, inspired by Chinese

"We each have different gifts according to the grace given us … let him use them in proportion to his faith" (Romans 12:6).
The Sports Reach program firmly believes just this.

Founded in 1986 by former Kentucky star Larry Pursiful and Robby Speer, Sports Reach spreads evangelism to local communities, churches, schools and international competitions through sports and the gifts of the young men and women who play in them.

FGCU basketball freshman Hunter Miller and redshirt freshman Anthony Banks took part in a spread-the-message trip to Chinese cities Beijing and Chengdu in May.
The two Eagles were joined by six other college or former college athletes to play basketball for the Reach Red Team against Chinese universities, and to teach their foes about   faith in America.

"There are rules (in China) about sharing the gospel. We can't just go and minister. We have to be asked," Miller said.

Devotions were done daily by the Reach Red players, followed by Bible study and experiencing Chinese culture.

They traveled to the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Panda Park and several other national sites, soaking in a very different culture.
Reach Red also took the time to speak to English classes at Sports University of Beijing about their lives in America. The team was well received by the students they encountered, and members admitted they were slightly surprised by the amount of love they were shown.

After each game, the teams would eat together, interacting with and learning from one another.

Native Chinese food, as experienced by the players, was different from American Chinese food.

According to Miller, he and some of his teammates weren't huge fans, but "it was cool to eat with them (the other teams)."

The Chinese players provided decent competition. Their athleticism was very similar to the U.S. squad's: tall and solid.

During pre-game drills, Reach Red coaches would show proper offensive and defensive skills. Much like the U.S. players, the young Chinese men thought offense was more fun.
Banks and Miller represented FGCU very well, posting big numbers.

Throughout the five games, Banks almost averaged a double-double, scoring 118 points (23.6 PPG), grabbing 48 rebounds (9.6 RPG), recording 11 assists (2.2 APG), tallying 10 steals (2.0 SPG), and blocking 7 shots — all while shooting 54-for-73 from the field.
Miller had success both from the field, shooting 48-for-91 (53 percent) and from 3-point-land, shooting 10-for-23 (44 percent). He tallied 112 points (22.4 PPG), 12 rebounds (2.4 RPG), 35 assists (7.0 APG) and 12 steals (2.4 SPG).
Red Reach earned a respectable 4-1 record.

After the Reach Red team came back to the United States, another group of basketball players traveled to China, also attempting to build on what Miller, Banks and their teammates started, best summed up by Sports Reach's mission statement: "Reaching and teaching the world through sports."