AIA Basketball Relocates in Rancho Bernardo

SAN DIEGO —  The Athletes in Action basketball team, an athletic ministry arm of the Campus Crusade for Christ, has moved its headquarters from Vancouver to Rancho Bernardo, organization officials announced Thursday.

The team, featuring former collegiate players, including a smattering with NBA experience, plays an international schedule that concentrates on United States college squads. AIA last season had a 24-6 record, beating such teams as Memphis State, Louisville, Oregon State and UCLA in the process.

Rle Nichols, head coach and general manager, said he and his 40-person staff moved to San Diego because “it’s a great place to live.”

“Recruiting here shouldn’t be too tough,” he said. “Kids like to live here. Vancouver’s a nice city, but I think it may be easier to retain people here.”

Nichols said AIA has two goals: “to be one of the top amateur teams in the world” and to spread its evangelical message.

“We don’t use a hard sell,” Nichols said. “It’s more low key--here we are, here’s how we live. We try to offer something positive.”

Nichols’ team this season will feature a starting backcourt of Lorenzo Romar, who played three years in the NBA, and Calvin Duncan, Cleveland’s second-round choice in the 1985 NBA draft after playing at Virginia Commonwealth.

AIA opens its schedule Nov. 2 at Westmont College, then plays 17 more games in November. Opponents in the coming season include Maryland, Memphis State, Nevada Las Vegas and Arkansas. San Diego State hosts AIA Nov. 20 in Peterson Gym.