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THE PROBLEM
Every year, hundreds of international student athletes arrive in the U.S. chasing their basketball dreams — many on F-1 student visas. But for some their journey turns into exploitation.
Basketball Trafficking: Stolen Black Panamanian Dreams uncovers how dreams are sold, manipulated, and in some cases stolen — especially for young Black athletes from the Global South. This book offers a powerful call to action for educators, institutions, and sport leaders to safeguard the next generation of hoopers.
Basketball Trafficking is a deeply researched, narrative-rich, and policy-conscious look at how exploitation happens and how we can stop it.
Through the real-life journey of a young Panamanian athlete named Tito, the book traces how global inequalities, institutional failures, and U.S. immigration policies converge to exploit young talent in pursuit of the American Hoop Dream. What seems like a story about one kid becomes a mirror for a much bigger crisis.
This is a micro story with macro impact.
THE SOLUTION: A STORY THAT REVEALS THE SYSTEM
"Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has recently uncovered an alarming trend of student athletes being trafficked by their coaches and caretakers. Teenagers and young adults, lured by the promise of a college scholarship and professional sports career, are being brought to the United States on F-1 student visas to attend school."
In the April 2016 issue of SEVP Spotlight, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported:
My mission is to confront this abuse head-on—by exposing how it happens, educating families and institutions, and providing strategies to safeguard the next generation of athletes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Javier Wallace is a Duke University professor and leading expert on race, sports, and global migration. A former NCAA football player at Florida A&M University and the son of two athletes, sport has shaped every chapter of his life — from the field to the classroom.
While serving as a coach and athletic director abroad, Javier met Tito, a young Panamanian athlete whose story of exploitation sparked the research behind Basketball Trafficking. Javier earned his Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin and has been honored as a Harvard ALARI Mamolen Fellow and a Penn and Harvard Immigration Fellow.
He delivered a TEDx Talk on basketball trafficking and was a featured expert in the Emmy-nominated documentary Scam Dunk by Vice Sports. His work has been seen on CNN and heard through Black Austin Tours, where he continues to use storytelling to expose injustice and inspire change.
What’s in the book?
⚫️ The real-life story of “Tito,” a Panamanian teen exploited by the interscholastic athletic system in the U.S.
⚫️ How exploitative schools like Evelyn Mack Academy operated in plain sight.
⚫️ An exposé on how the F-1 Student Visa can be abused — knowingly and unknowingly
⚫️ The role of major institutions (FIBA, NCAA, Nike) in enabling or ignoring harm.
⚫️ Tangible recommendations for schools, leagues, coaches, and policymakers.
This is more than a book — it’s a roadmap to reform
PRE-ORDER BONUS: LIVE EXPERT PANEL
When you pre-order the book, you’ll get exclusive access to a live expert panel with Dr. Javier Wallace and global leaders discussing:
Beyond the Dream: Power, Profit, and Protection in Global Basketball
This limited-time bonus is only available to early buyers.
Details delivered after purchase confirmation.
Step 1: Order Your Copy
Purchase Basketball Trafficking Duke University Press and keep your order number handy.
Step 2: Submit Your Details
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Step 3: Unlock your bonus
Once your order is confirmed, you'll receive access to the expert panel.
Package A
Book a keynote or fireside chat with Dr. Wallace and receive 100 complimentary copies of the book.
Package B
Receive a complimentary virtual keynote with an order of 750 books.
Package C
Receive a complimentary in-person keynote + consulting session with an order of 1,250 books.
CORPORATE PACKAGES
Is this Book for you?
✅ You lead or work with international student-athletes
✅ You’re in sports governance, immigration, or education
✅ You care about youth safety and equity in global sport
✅ You want to turn awareness into action
✅ You believe sport should uplift — not exploit
🚫Not for you if:
You’re looking for a feel-good basketball story with no uncomfortable truths.
You prefer to stay on the sidelines rather than challenge power structures.
The U.S. continues to welcome thousands of international youth athletes each year on F-1 Student Visas, but without reform, too many are at risk.
Basketball Trafficking gives voice to those whose dreams were stolen and equips us to protect those who come next.
📢 Stop the silence.
🛡️ Lead the change.
🏀 Guard the dream.