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For guard/forward Razin Smith of Tucson’s 17U 5x5 basketball team, traveling for summer basketball is nothing new, but meeting new people never gets old.

“I think for me, I’m kind of used to the competition because I play AAU, so I travel a lot, and I’ve been overseas,� Smith said. “Like (Monday) we played Israel, I played in Israel like two years ago in a USA tournament, so I’m kind of used to the competition, but there’s a lot of competition, really good competition.�

In addition to 5x5 hoops, the JCC Maccabi Games — which returned to Tucson for the first time in 25 years — feature Olympic-style events in baseball, 3x3 basketball, co-ed flag football, soccer, volleyball, dance, golf, swimming and tennis for Jewish teens.

Smith also played in Austria in the 2024 United World Games, where his American team finished second.

Nonetheless, it was exciting to be in the last contingent at the procession at the opening ceremonies at the Tucson Arena on Monday.

“It’s a really great experience like (Monday) at the opening ceremonies,� Smith said. “I was friends with a lot of the Israel kids, it was like a great experience, like meeting them and talking to them and just, like, it was an awesome time.�

Smith, who earned honorable mention All-1A South last season, is preparing for his junior year at The Gregory School.

Isaac Cohn, a center on the 17U 5x5 squad, speaks Arabic so he can to talk to more opponents.

“It’s definitely nice seeing other people, especially other the Jews there and see that we’re all playing basketball, we all connect,� Cohn said. “It’s fun playing against them, it really is. You find connections and we often talk, even in mid game. It’s nice.�

The JCC Maccabi Games features kids from all over the United States, Canada, Israel, Ukraine and Moldova. The JCC Association of North America features more than 170 Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Community Camps (JCCs).

“It’s amazing, I mean, you hear other people’s stories,� Cohn said. “Me, my ancestors are from the Middle East and I connected with some people here, they’re also from the Middle East and so it’s nice to have that conversation with them.�

Tucson’s Tuesday morning game against Brooklyn was sandwiched between games of Toronto versus Israel on one side and Boston against San Francisco on the other.

Tucson started pool play 0-3, but held their own against bigger cities.

“It’s a lot different, like teams like Atlanta and Brooklyn actually have tryouts, and they usually know their teams anywhere from three to six months out,� said Tucson head coach Jake Blumenthal. “Our team, we had to get the athletes together, we got us together two to a month and a half out but the talent there is always there, the heart’s always there, the commitment’s there.

“It’s really just the time, everyone’s busy with their own schedules,� he added. “It’s the summer, so, like I said, as the week goes on, we usually get better because of that.�

Some of Tucson’s players were busy with AAU ball or with their high school teams, but Smith agreed that they are getting better with each game.

It’s a family affair for Smith as his younger brother, Savion, is on the team, as well.

Team Tucson features 75 athletes also competing in tennis, volleyball, soccer and dance.

Cohn said they are glad to be hosting, as maybe half of the other athletes didn’t know Tucson existed before the games.

“I think it’s a pleasure to represent my city, I love Tucson,� Smith said. “I’ve been born, I was raised here, Tucson’s just a beautiful place. To represent Tucson against big cities like Atlanta and Brooklyn, even like Israel, like it’s just a pleasure to like represent Tucson.�

The games are expected to attract more than 1,000 visitors and generate more than $4 million in local economic impact.

After playing in the games, Blumenthal returns to coach.

“It’s awesome, this is my first games coaching and I played in two and it’s just awesome to see everyone come together from different states, different countries,� Blumenthal said. “You know, everyone’s involved in their own JCC to get the community together, to get all the parents, the host families out, the athletes here, it’s really special, and it shows that we are united.�

Tucson’s 17U 5x5 basketball team features 15- to 17-year-olds with varying levels of experience, with some getting recruited to play college hoops like Smith to basketball fans.

“They’re at different stages of life, some are looking at colleges, ready to go play, those are the ones that are playing that AAU ball,� Blumenthal said. “And then there’s some that are just here to support the Maccabi Games.

“They are basketball fans that like to play, they love the Judaism about it and that’s what brings them out,� he added. “So there’s all different levels, everyone’s at different stages and different walks of life and the games bring us together.�

The competition in 5x5 basketball is fierce, kippahs (yarmulkes) fell off during Tucson’s game against Brooklyn but it’s all in good fun.

“I’m very proud of them, it’s hard playing with people you haven’t played with a lot, people you just met, it takes a lot,� Blumenthal said about his team. “Everyone’s very competitive, there’s going to be some crap talking and smack talking, but it’s really bonding and becoming that brotherhood is what basketball and the Maccabi Games are about.�

The games are about more than just sports though, the teens take a break from competing to give back to the community, at Tucson’s games. It is Ben’s Bells, Youth On Their Own and Diamond Children’s Hospital that the athletes volunteer for or donate to.

“It’s great,� said Cohn, who is a junior to be at Catalina Foothills. “The people come here from all across the world, we have our brothers from Israel, our brothers from Ukraine, it’s nice to see them come down here.�