More Than Basketball: Puerto Rico Trip Provides Spartans Experience Beyond the Court

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – For the Norfolk State men’s basketball team, this week in Puerto Rico has been about much more than wins, losses and what appears on a box score.

The Spartans traveled to the island for the San Juan Shootout, an international tour that provided the team three opportunities to compete against Puerto Rican professional competition. But away from the court, the trip has also given Norfolk State's student-athletes an opportunity to experience a different culture, explore a new destination and build relationships with one another before the start of the 2026-27 season.

For senior guard Anthony McComb III, the trip marked his first visit to Puerto Rico.

Between practices and games, the Spartans have had opportunities to enjoy the island and experience parts of Puerto Rican culture, including a visit to historic Old San Juan.

When asked what stood out most from the team's time exploring Puerto Rico, from the beaches and water to Old San Juan, McComb pointed to the opportunity to get away from the resort, see the local community firsthand and experience a different side of the island.

“I would say Old San Juan,” McComb said. “We got to see some of the locals and just how they live and everything, which was very nice to experience. We also got to see some basketball courts that were built by Carmelo Anthony, including one overlooking the beach.”

The team's time in Old San Juan also brought basketball and culture together. During the visit, McComb and his teammates saw one of the basketball courts renovated through former NBA star Carmelo Anthony's efforts in Puerto Rico.

For McComb, who hopes to play professionally after his collegiate career, the opportunity to compete internationally has provided another valuable experience.

Norfolk State has faced professional players throughout the San Juan Shootout, allowing McComb and his teammates to experience a different style of basketball, along with international rules and a faster shot clock.

Those lessons have extended beyond individual development.

With several new faces joining the program this offseason, the trip has allowed the Spartans to spend extended time together away from campus. Practices, meals, sightseeing, travel and competition have provided opportunities to develop relationships that can be difficult to replicate during the normal rhythm of a season.

McComb has already noticed that connection beginning to translate to the court.

"We have a lot of guys that can score the ball," McComb said. "We're getting each other the ball in the right spots. Just sharing the ball and coming together on the court."

He also saw the team's camaraderie grow from one game to the next.

There has been plenty of room for lighter memories, too.

McComb quickly learned one lesson about dining outdoors at the team's resort: Keep an eye on your food.

"There are a lot of birds around the resort," he said with a laugh. "You have to cover your food up because they will swoop in and eat it."

His favorite meal of the trip? A spicy honey pepperoni pizza.

Asked to describe the Puerto Rico experience, McComb initially settled on one word, "tropical," before quickly adding another: "exciting."

That combination of new experiences, high-level competition and time together is exactly what an international tour can provide a college basketball program months before the season begins.

The Spartans will return to Norfolk with areas to continue improving, including communication, defensive rotations and late-game execution, but also with a collection of experiences that extend well beyond basketball.

And when asked to finish the sentence, “After Puerto Rico, this team is going to be…,” McComb didn't hesitate.

"MEAC champs."