Sports and Academic scholarships in USA
History
First Client
Martynas Bareika receives 4 full-ride scholarship offers from D1 colleges, finally deciding on University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (NCAA). Marty becomes the very first client of Karolis Kalvaitis. Bareika currently lives and works in the USA. His current job is directly related to his major (IT specialist).
Launching The Company
Kalvaitis teams-up with Julius Kalnietis and launches a public institution, called Orion Sports. The company interacts with academic institutions in the U.S. directly, as well as through partners, such as “Pro Futuro Sports” (Serbia), “Global Horizons” (USA) and “IMP Scholarships” (USA).
First Basketball Camp
Beginning of “Camp Orion” in Lithuania. 15-17 year old boys compete for two available scholarships in American schools. Coaches Curtis Berry and Robert Hanna fly over from Atlanta, GA to help kids improve their individual skill sets.
Changes in Company
Kalvaitis becomes the single shareholder. Company expands their operations in the U.S.
Development of Individual Basketball Skills
Last year of “Camp Orion” in Lithuania. Famous trainers from Jordan Brand Classic in attendance. Arturas Milaknis, one of the best shooters in Europe, is also there to help kids improve their touch.
New Shareholders
Kalvaitis invites Deividas Semberas and Deividas Cesnauskis to join the organization. Two Lithuanian soccer legends take on soccer projects.
New Brand Name
Orion Sports re-brands to D2 Sports Development Group. D2 symbolizes the two same names of its shareholders. Also, number 2 has been worn D. Semberas throughout his successful soccer career.
New Beginnings in Poland
D2 Sports Development Group expands to Poland. Tomasz Wicik, basketball enthusiast and coach becomes our new official partner, focusing on the local market.
Fourth Musketeer
Arturas Milaknis becomes the fourth shareholder of D2 Sports Development Group.
International Basketball Camp
The beginning of “Star Camp”. Boys and girls from all over Lithuania and Poland are participating. Famous coaches and professional basketball players are there to help them improve as well: current Head-Coach of Lithuanian Men’s National Team – Kazys Maksvytis, former NBA player – Donatas Motiejunas, one of the best three-point shooters in EuroLeague’s history – Arturas Milaknis, skills development coach – Tomas Butkus.
Not Only Basketball
D2 Sports Development Group branches out into other sports. For the first time in the organization’s history, an American football player and a swimmer leave Lithuania to study and compete in their sports in the United States.
The Birth of AthletIQs Brand
One word – two meanings.
In order to combine the dynamics of Sports and Academics in our field of work and to be more attractive in the international markets, we present a new brand name – AthletIQs – composed of the terms Athletics and IQ.
Shortly after, international basketball scout Robert Karaznevic joins our team.
The First Client From Finland
In association with physical conditioning coach Viljami Rautavirta, AthletIQs bring its first student-athlete from Finland to high school in the USA – Joonas Sarajarvi, who plays American football.
The Beginning of Partnership With M14 Hoops
At the invitation of AthletIQs, one of the largest basketball academies in the USA, M14 Hoops, is coming to Vilnius, Lithuania. Its founder Matt Miller and coach Nick Daniels introduce Matt Miller’s “Camp of Dreams” to the kids of Capital Basketball Academy (SKM), who work out twice a day throughout the week.
New Beginnings in Turkey
Former basketball players Cenk Karsit and Utku Boyra become partners of AthletIQs organization in Turkey.
“Star Camp” arrives in Ankara, where Arturas Milaknis and Tomas Butkus lead training sessions for the academy players of “TED Kolejliler Sports Club.”