The Indiana/Purdue-Indianapolis men’s basketball team will perform double duty on a trip to Costa Rica next week, playing in four games and distributing 2,000 pairs of Crocs sandals to people in need.

Coach Ron Hunter has received national attention for coaching in his bare feet to bring attention to Samaritan’s Feet, a nonprofit organization that collects shoes for impoverished people worldwide.

“This is something I’ve wanted to get off the ground for some time now, and it’s finally coming together,” Hunter said. “We want coaches and teams all over the country to change lives when they make these international trips with their teams.

“I’m beyond excited to take our guys to Costa Rica and have them take part in distributing shoes to those that need them. I think it’s going to change their lives and it’s going to change the lives of others. This is something they can’t experience in a classroom or on a basketball court.”

Student-athletes from Bowling Green and Bethune-Cookman also will participate in the shoe distributions. Last summer, Hunter and Jaguar student-athletes distributed shoes in Peru after a devastating earthquake.

The trip to Costa Rica and its goodwill mission is the result of a partnership with Crocs Footwear, Fed Ex, Sports Tours International, Samaritan’s Feet and the schools.

The Jaguars leave for Costa Rica August 13.