At 31 years old, Dylan Travis’s journey from a special education teacher to an Olympic 3×3 basketball player is nothing short of extraordinary.
Early Basketball Years in Omaha
Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, Travis led the state in scoring during his senior year of high school. Despite his impressive performance, he received no Division I offers. Instead, he committed to Midland University, an NAIA school in Fremont, Nebraska.
“Being all-state coming out of high school, (I) was humbled my first year at an NAIA school,” the 6-foot-3 guard recalled. “I didn’t have my head on straight, kind of getting in trouble and stuff, talking back to coaches.”
Finding His Path at Iowa Central
After a challenging year at Midland, Travis transferred to Iowa Central Community College. He knew success there could pave the way to Division I basketball.
“I had to mature a lot going into Iowa Central,” Travis said. “Coach (Dennis) Pilcher, Hall of Fame coach at the juco level, really helped me. That kind of shaped me to where I’m at now.”
Averaging 18.3 points per game at Iowa Central, Travis earned a spot at Florida Southern, a Division II school.
Thriving at Florida Southern
At Florida Southern, Travis’s career flourished. In his junior year, the Moccasins won the Division II national championship. Despite finally receiving a Division I offer after that season, Travis chose to stay at Florida Southern, where he became an All-American his senior year.
“By that time, I was over it. I stayed at Florida Southern and was an All-American my senior year,” Travis said. “Florida Southern was great, especially after all those stops. It felt like heaven there.
“Be a good teammate, be a good person off the court, no matter where you’re at in the world, that really matters. I learned that a lot at Florida Southern.”
International Professional Career
Following graduation, Travis played overseas in Germany and Australia for four years. Eventually, he decided to focus on a career in education and returned to the U.S.
Rediscovering Basketball through 3×3
While coaching his high school team, a friend encouraged Travis to join Omaha’s 3×3 tournament circuit. He quickly fell in love with the game, starting with the team 3Ball Omaha and playing over 150 games on the pro circuit. It was here that he met future teammates Jimmer Fredette, Kareem Maddox, and Canyon Barry. Together, they were picked up by USA Basketball.
By November, Travis and his team ranked second in the world, earning an Olympic bid to represent the U.S. Their impressive resume includes gold medals at the 2022 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup and the 2023 Pan American Games, along with a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
Travis is particularly excited about his mother’s attendance in Paris for the Olympics. “It’s just me and my mom growing up. She worked three jobs so I could go to a private high school,” he said. “She’s never been outside of the States, so to see her (in Paris) will mean a lot to me.”
Facing the Olympic Challenge
As Travis prepares for the Olympics, he feels confident in his squad’s capabilities. “We’re the first (U.S. men’s) team that’s been chosen for the Olympics, so there is some pressure and some expectations to win gold and grow the sport,” he said. “We’re veterans, and we can have that on our shoulders. So we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
Reflecting on his career, Travis appreciates his unconventional path. “I’m just the no-name that made it,” he said. “I’m a Division II guy and got to travel the world playing 3×3. Now I’m in the Olympics. If you love the game, stick with it.”