VSL Alumni Serve as Team Attendants for the NBA In-Season Tournament
NBA Summer League’s Team Assistants and veteran Ball Crew members were given the opportunity of a lifetime to serve as Team & Game Attendants for inaugural In Season Tournament (IST) held in Las Vegas on Dec. 7th and Dec. 9th. In coordination with NBA Director of Basketball Operations, Chris Berrisford, Summer League’s Director of Community Relations, Carole Adams Hattar, organized the crew of 19 Team Attendants selected for the event. The Team Attendants consisted of VSL alumni from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston and as far away as New York City.
Legendary Summer League Court Supervisor Mike Zwick, formerly with the Los Angeles Lakers, flew in from Los Angeles to oversee the IST Team Attendants, Locker Rooms, and On-Court Game Attendants.
“We were honored that NBA Basketball Operations recognized the quality of our Summer League Team Assistants and Ball Crew and asked for our team to be a part of this historic event,” said Carole. “Summer League co-founders Warren LeGarie and Albert Hall have always made it their mission to present opportunities like this to our entire Summer League family, our interns, and Sports Business Classroom students.”
The entire group met at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday Dec. 5th, for a walk-thru of the arena, locker rooms and court, in preparation for Thursday’s two back-to-back Semifinal games.
The four Lead Team Attendants included 2022 Summer League Intern MVP Taylor Jackson assigned to the Lakers, Nicholas Mardirossian assigned to the Pacers, Adrik Lazarou assigned to the Pelicans, and Jake Wu assigned to the Bucks.
Solomon Escalante, who attended Sports Business Classroom last July and is a UNLV Sports Management student, took part as a Team Attendant saying “This has been the opportunity of a lifetime and one I’ll always remember!”
“I am so happy and grateful to have been asked to be a part of this amazing inaugural group,” said Jake Wu, who traveled from NYC for the week. “It’s been the chance of a lifetime!”
“Thank you for the opportunity to allow me to grow, learn and connect! I’m forever grateful for each experience that I’ve had with Summer League and now with the In-Season Tournament,” exclaimed Adrik Lazarou.
Taylor Jackson added, “Thank you for putting us in a position to work alongside people that we never thought could happen! I am so grateful and thankful to have had this experience!”
Brothers Cameron and Collin McCoy, who have both worked at Summer League for many years, were assigned to work under each basket for all three IST games. “We’ve never been to an NBA game other than at Summer League and on Thursday and Saturday, we honestly had the greatest nights of our lives being able to work with IST, being on the court getting rebounds for our favorite players, and just the full amazing experience that we had.” “Thank you to everyone for this incredible opportunity,” said Collin.