Local Rising Myrtle Beach Juniors Unite to Represent the Grand Strand at NTBA National Championship playing for Triune Elite Basketball.

This week, Myrtle Beach hosted the National Travel Basketball Association (NTBA) Grade-Based National Championship Tournament, welcoming top travel basketball teams from across the country.

The team played outstanding, losing in the quarter finals by only 2 points.

Among the teams competing was Myrtle Beach area’s Triune Elite Basketball, a local program bringing together some of the area’s top rising high school juniors for the 10th Grade National Championship.

Triune Elite Basketball exists to serve the hearts and minds of young men by helping them grow as leaders, athletes, and followers of Jesus Christ. For this year’s championship, the program has assembled a roster of players who recently completed their sophomore (10th-grade) seasons and will enter the 11th grade this fall.

The team features standout student-athletes from Myrtle Beach High School, Socastee High School, and St. James High School.

Although these young men compete against one another during the South Carolina high school basketball season, they have set aside those rivalries to pursue a common goal—competing for a national championship while honoring Christ through their effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
The Triune Elite National Championship roster includes:

Myrtle Beach High School
● Alex Bessent
● Liam Hemingway
● Graham Gallman
● James Anderson
● Malachi Johnson
● Mike Nassif

Socastee High School
● Chris Ryan
● Jack Kerns
● Elijah McKaskill
● Caleb Gutierrez
● Marcus Brown

St. James High School

● Nasir McKinnon 

When asked about the mission of Triune Elite Basketball, team sponsor John Gallman emphasized that the program’s purpose extends far beyond the game. “Plain and simple, we teach these young men one thing: Basketball is what you do—it is not who you are. Who you are is far more important than what you do.”

Gallman said Triune Elite uses basketball as a vehicle to teach faith, character, discipline, humility, and servant leadership. While the team is competing to bring a national championship to the Grand Strand, he believes the program’s greatest victories are measured by the young men it helps develop.

Triune Elite Basketball Head coach Steven Hyatt echoed that message when asked about the team’s goals for the week.

“Our mission this week is to glorify God through our effort, unity, and character. Winning is important, but representing Christ well is our greatest victory.”

For the players, the opportunity to compete on a national stage in their hometown carries special meaning.

 Jack Kerns, a rising sophomore at Socastee High School, said he is excited not only for the competition but also for the opportunity to meet athletes from across the country.

“Playing for a national championship in my hometown is awesome. I get to meet and see new people from all around the nation, and it’s exciting to experience the level of competition that comes here to compete. When my basketball career is over, I want people to remember me as someone who shared the joy of Jesus with everyone, even on my off day, and as someone who supported others no matter who they were.”

Myrtle Beach High School rising junior Mike Nassif also reflected on what the experience means to him.

“It means a lot to me because later in life these will all be memories, and to have the chance to compete in nationals with my buddies is awesome.”

Triune Elite Basketball opened the tournament with an impressive 72-61 victory over a tough ENC Rebels team made up of the best players from Greenville, NC and the surrounding area of Eastern NC.  Nassif led all scorers with 26 points to help propel Triune Elite to its first win as the team continues its pursuit of a national championship.

Triune Elite Basketball hopes to demonstrate that fierce competitors can become teammates when united by a greater purpose.

For these rising juniors, the opportunity to compete for a national championship is significant, but the program’s mission remains unchanged: to glorify God while building young men of integrity who will make a lasting impact in their families, schools, and communities.

For one week, rivals become teammates. Their schools may be different, but their purpose is the same—to compete with excellence, represent the Grand Strand with pride, and honor Jesus Christ in everything they do, both on and off the court.

THE LEADERSHIP DROUGHT – Why Triune Elite Basketball matters

Horry County suffers from a leadership drought.

When a community lacks leadership, it quickly suffers from a loss of direction, civic disengagement, and fragmented problem-solving. Without clear guidance to rally around, residents often feel powerless, leading to stagnation, breakdown in essential services, and increased mistrust among neighbors.

Most of our young complete high school and leave the area never to return.

The mission of Triune Elite Basketball is to develop tomorrow’s Horry County leaders.

The absence of strong leadership—whether it’s elected officials, neighborhood association heads, or grassroots organizers—creates a vacuum that triggers several cascading effects:

• Aimlessness and Stagnation: Without a guiding vision, communities fail to establish shared goals. Long-term planning is replaced by a focus on short-term fixes or complete inaction.
• Disengagement and Apathy: When residents feel their voices are unheard or that no one is coordinating efforts, they stop volunteering, attending town meetings, and participating in local civic life.
• Worsening Conflict: When issues arise, there is no trusted mediator or formal process to resolve disputes. Small disagreements can escalate into deep community divisions.
• Resource Mismanagement: Communities lacking leadership often fail to secure or properly allocate local resources. This can lead to neglected infrastructure, deteriorating public spaces, and lost economic opportunities.

Triune Elite Basketball is not only discipling our youth, but creating future opportunities for Horry County.