Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis Advocates for International Travel

Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis has long been a strong advocate for expanding the national Rising Stars footprint to include international travel.

Paul Savramis attributes a significant portion of his program's success to the numerous opportunities his teams have had to compete both across the United States and around the world.

Paul Savramis readily acknowledges the profound impact of being part of Van Coleman's Future Stars network in Iowa on his personal development. He also considers the eight years he spent working with the late Charlie McCormick in Switzerland to be among the highlights of Rising Stars' history.

Paul Savramis recalls that travel provided him with the ability to use basketball as a "passport" into various languages and cultures.

"That," says Paul Savramis, "really impressed upon me what basketball can do to connect with others, transcending language barriers through a shared love of the game."

Rising Stars has shared that love in Israel, the Bahamas, and, most recently, in Greece this month.

"Basketball Around The World Founder James McCullough has been a coach with the Rising Stars program for more than a decade and was instrumental in bringing our teams to Greece last year," said Paul Savramis.

Currently, James McCullough is providing individual and group training, as well as program creation, in Costa Rica. He has expressed interest in expanding his international footprint beyond Greece and Costa Rica.

James McCullough's 2025 trip to Greece will be his eighth, conducted in coordination with the Super League Athletic Academy (SLAA).

SLAA organizes 8-10 day tours of Greece for youth teams, featuring games against local teams, training sessions through the Hellenic Basketball Federation, and sightseeing, meals, transportation, and accommodations. "Basketball is a passion that is not limited by international borders, cultures, or languages," Paul Savramis continued.

With 10 years of coaching experience at the NCAA level, Basketball Around The World's goal is to combine that experience with Rising Stars' 30-year history to spread the love of the game worldwide.

"My passion has always been to bring our special brand of instructional basketball to new places and meet new people," Paul Savramis continued. "I will personally always consider our Maui camp at the Lahaina Center among the best times of my life."

"Basketball is a great way to open doors and to offer what you can to others. One thing I can say without hesitation is that what you get back in return is always a great deal more than you put in."