Fresno welcomes Armenian national team in emotional tribute to heritage, Coach Tarkanian

When the Armenian National Basketball Team came to Fresno on June 6 to play Costa Rica, they did more than just play a game. Their presence brought together generations of Armenian Americans in Fresno, uniting them under their red, blue and orange flag — a symbol of shared heritage.

The game, which Armenia won 86-62, felt like a homecoming for many. It connected them to something that has been part of Fresno for over a century, said Hrair Messerlian, an attendee and prominent member of the Armenian community in Fresno.

“It was a very excited crowd and everyone was very happy to be amongst each other,” said Messerlian, a member of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church. “After the game, the court was swarmed by elderly and children alike. The young kids love taking pictures with this new cadre of Armenian basketball players. And it was just really a very fun night, a very uplifting and energetic event.”

Messerlian, whose daughter is an Eagle Scout, said the scouting troop’s participation added significance to the event, particularly as some members were youth from local families actively engaged in Armenian cultural traditions.

At halftime, young Armenian athletes from local basketball organizations played a scrimmage, highlighting the sport’s ongoing role within the community. Messerlian said that basketball has long been the sport of choice for Armenian youth in Fresno.

Fresno’s Armenian community is among the oldest and most established on the West Coast, with roots tracing back to the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The exhibition game, called The Tarkanian Classic, was named after the late famed coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Tarkanian started his coaching career at San Joaquin Memorial, where he coached from 1955 to 1957. His coaching career lasted nearly 50 years.

Tarkanian, a Naismith Hall of Famer, had a storied coaching career, including a return to Fresno to lead the Fresno State men’s team in the 1990s. He left a lasting impact on both the Armenian and basketball communities.

Rex Kalamian, Armenia’s head coach, spoke on the legacy Tarkanian left for the Armenian community.

“He’s such an icon for Armenian basketball,” Kalamian said. “He was just such a positive influence for so many Armenian people, whether you wanted to be in basketball or not. Always just a great figure, and somebody I looked up to, for sure. So to be here in Fresno and to honor Jerry Tarkanian in this game is special as well.”

Fresno City Councilmember Tyler Maxwell was also in attendance and presented a proclamation to the Armenian team.

“Last Friday, I was in awe seeing hundreds of families join us at Fresno City College to celebrate the inaugural Tarkanian Classic,” Maxwell said in a comment to The Business Journal. “This historic event was about more than just basketball, it was about honoring the legacy of the late Fresno State Basketball Coach Jerry Tarkanian and celebrating the rich contributions of our Armenian community here in Fresno. With an over 31-year coaching career, Coach Tarkanian was not only a Hall of Famer, but a symbol of pride for generations of Armenian-Americans and continues to be a beloved part of Fresno State history. The Tarkanian Classic served as a powerful way to continue his legacy.”

The Armenian basketball team has much bigger goals than just filling up seats at a local junior college. Kalamian said the goal is to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles summer games.

“The ultimate goal is to make the Olympics, not to win a gold medal, but actually, just to get into the Olympics would be a major feat for us,” Kalamian said. “Why not us? There have been small countries that have been able to make it there before.”

Messerlian, whose grandparents came to Fresno as genocide survivors, added what qualifying for the Olympics would mean to Armenians around the world.

“It would mean a lot to not just the Fresno Armenian community, but the worldwide Armenian community,” Messerlian said.