ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell men's basketball team will experience Italy's iconic art, history and cuisine during a 10-day overseas tour from August 1-11. Beginning with a five-day training camp in Ithaca on July 26 prior to departure, the team will visit Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan.

The Big Red's first foreign trip since 2016 (Spain) will serve as a unique preseason opportunity for second-year head coach Jon Jaques '10, his new staff and a roster of veterans and newcomers. The program has previously competed in Australia, Belgium, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, Puerto Rico, Spain and Sweden and has suited up against the Canadian champions and national teams from countries spanning from Great Britain and Egypt to Luxembourg.

NCAA rules allow teams one foreign tour every four years, offering rare additional practices and invaluable bonding time. The two weeks will also give Jaques and his staff time to evaluate newcomers, test lineups, and generally accelerate team development. The trip was supported by an existing endowment as well as program gifts and continues the program's tradition of representing Cornell on the global stage.

"This trip is about much more than basketball," Jaques said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience for our players, but more importantly, it's a chance to build connections that will last far beyond this season. We hope this journey helps leaders grow, new bonds form, and our program come together in a way that wouldn't be possible without a shared experience like this."

Cornell's Italy visit will combine high-level competition with unforgettable cultural experiences across four of the country's most iconic regions. It also continues the program's long tradition of representing one of the world's most globally recognized universities on an international stage. After arriving in Rome, the team will explore the Colosseum and Vatican City before opening play against Stella Azzurra Academy on August 3. The journey continues through Orvieto's medieval streets en route to Florence, where players will see Michelangelo's David and face PROCAMP in their second game on August 5. Stops at the Ferrari Museum and the canals of Venice, including St. Mark's Basilica, highlight the next leg of the trip. The Big Red will then visit Verona's famed Juliet's House before their final matchup against Italian Select near Milan on August 8. From a Lake Como cruise to panoramic views atop Milan's Duomo, the tour blends world-class sightseeing with team bonding and valuable preseason competition ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

Cornell's success over the past four seasons includes four trips to the Ivy League Tournament, including a runner-up effort in 2025, two second-place regular season finishes, a 2024 appearance in the NIT and an impressive 72-41 overall record (34-22 Ivy). The Big Red has been even better the past two seasons with a 40-19 mark (20-8 Ivy), including an 18-11 mark a year ago in Jaques' first season at the helm of his alma mater.

The Big Red will have plenty to learn about when the team hits the court. Three of its five double-figure scorers from a year ago have graduated, including second-team all-league selections Nazir Williams and AK Okereke, as well as leading rebounder Guy Ragland Jr. and rotational big men Ryan Kiachian and Chris Cain. Returning is rising senior and honorable mention All-Ivy pick Cooper Noard and fellow backcourt starter Jake Fiegen, as well as key reserves Jacob Beccles, Josh Baldwin, Adam Hinton, DJ Nix, Anthony Nimani and Gio Panzini. Returners like senior Corbin Zenter, juniors Ian Imegwu and AJ LaBeau, sophomores Ty Iwanonkiw, Mateen Rafiq and AJ Rodriguez will also be attempting to solidify themselves in the rotation entering 2025-26. Newcomers DaMaryon Fishburn and Kaspar Sepp, both juniors, and freshmen Jax Abalos, Ryan Burbach, Elijah Griffin and Blake Lecklitner  will put on the Big Red uniform for the first time. In total, 20 players and seven staff members in total will make the trip to Europe.

Follow the Big Red throughout its trip on Instagram (@cornell_mbb) and on the web (CornellBigRed.com).