ATLANTA (February 6, 2024) – The Atlanta Tipoff Club (ATOC), administrators of the Naismith Awards, today announced that AXIA Time has become an official marketing partner and the “Official Timepiece of the Naismith Awards.” As part of the agreement, AXIA Time will be the presenting sponsor of the Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s & Men’s College Coach of the Year Watch Lists later this month and the Naismith Women’s & Men’s Defensive Player of the Year Watch Lists, both scheduled for unveiling on February 7.
“AXIA Time is known for producing high-end, Swiss-made automatic watches with an emphasis on quality and legacy,” said Eric Oberman, president of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Those attributes mirror the Naismith Awards as we recognize the most outstanding college basketball players and coaches. We are delighted to add AXIA Time to our family of partners.”
AXIA Time will present custom Naismith Awards Timepieces to the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy finalists and Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year finalists at the Naismith Awards 2024 Women’s and Men’s Final Four events. The men will receive a Kairos II, and the women will receive an Aletheia, each customized to commemorate their incredible milestone. All AXIA Timepieces are designed in the U.S. and hand-built in Switzerland, in the time-honored tradition of Swiss watchmaking.
“I couldn’t be prouder to be launching this partnership,” said John Kanaras, founder of AXIA Time. “To be named a Naismith finalist is an incredible achievement for student-athletes, their families, coaches and all who played a role in their success. We’re thrilled to be a part of these prestigious awards and honor the finalists with a legacy timepiece.”
To see the Naismith Awards Timepieces, visit axiatime.com/naismith.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually
recognizes the most outstanding men’s and women’s college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men’s and women’s college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA’s Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women’s recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike’s and Werner Ladder.
ABOUT AXIA TIME
AXIA Time, established in 2018, creates custom Swiss-made automatic timepieces that commemorate some of life’s greatest achievements. AXIA Time was born out of founder John Kanaras’ love of horology and for his alma mater. After helping to lead the 1988 Penn Lacrosse team to a second Ivy League Championship in two years, the University gifted each player a championship watch that, while it held great sentimental value, didn’t measure up to the memories it represented. For 30 years he looked for a watch of quality and design that would match the essence of the university he attended and his memories from that time. When he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he built it himself. AXIA (ahx-EE-ah) means value/worth in Greek and is at the heart of the company’s mission: to exceed expectations in everythingthey do. From the designs and quality of the components they use, to the purchase experience for their customers, their intention is to treat people exactly the way they would want to be treated. Maybe better.
Media Contact:
Mallory Hadaway
Atlanta Tipoff Club
[email protected] (256) 682-0599