Boris Lelchitski - Founder & CEO
With over thirty years of experience in the sports industry, Boris Lelchitski has established himself as one of the top sports agents in the world. In 1996, Boris founded Sports International Group, and has since managed the careers of numerous high-profile professional basketball players and coaches.
Since 2006, Boris has developed SIG into one of the most respected and dynamic agencies in the professional basketball world. Specializing in women’s basketball, Boris’ client list now includes some of the top athletes in the sport. SIG represents over 30 players in the WNBA, including WNBA Champions, Most Valuable Players, All-Stars and Rookies of the Year. Internationally, SIG represents numerous high-profile clients who have won European Championships, Olympic Medals, World Championship Medals as well as Euroleague and Eurocup Club championships.
Boris has developed an incredible reputation in the professional basketball world through his dedication and high level of integrity, as well as the results that he gets for his clients. No other agency can come close to the amount of success that SIG has had over the last 15 years. SIG’s clients consistently receive top-dollar contracts and are provided with a personal service that is unmatched in the industry. This combination is why SIG’s clients are the happiest and most successful in the business. Boris has negotiated record-setting contracts for women’s basketball players and SIG’s women’s basketball clients consistently earn a combined average of over $15million per season. These proven results are what separate Boris from the competition and place him in an elite category.
Prior to founding SIG, Boris spent the majority of his career coaching in Russia and the United States. While in Russia, he was the head coach of Spartak, St. Petersburg for eleven years. During that span, Spartak was a major competitor in the Euroleague. After coming to the United States, Boris spent three years as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Heathwood Hall Academy, and five years coaching AAU Basketball in Columbia, South Carolina. During his coaching career, Boris won over 500 games and numerous conference and state championships on the amateur and pro levels.
Boris holds a Master’s Degree in Basketball Coaching from Lesgaft Academy of Physical Education in St. Petersburg, Russia and an associate’s degree in Sports Administration from the University of South Carolina.
Carolina Blanco - Executive Director
No one else has a full time office executive who is an ex-athlete, but most important who is the master of organization, extremely detailed and exceptionally dedicated! Results Driven!
Her experience and expertise with travel details is of utmost importance to our clients and their overseas travel. If there is a problem, she is available to resolve it, three hundred sixty five days a year, twenty four hours a day seven days a week. Her experience and familiarity with giving priority to all of the intangibles that are important to our clients is a huge bonus! She negotiates everything from priority travel arrangements, to scheduling work outs. There is nothing that you cannot ask her and nothing she will not give her all in order to accommodate the needs of all our clients.
In addition, Carolina makes it a point to personally know the players and what their likes and dislikes are. Often taking time out of her day to schedule phone calls to touch base and share her experience and expertise with younger clients. She is totally committed to getting the results desired by our clients.
Carolina has been a part of SIG since 2003, making SIG and its clients part of her family. Her duties go far beyond anything that can be expressed in a brief paragraph; she is an invaluable part of SIG and its success. There is no one else who has been doing it longer, or been doing it better.
Prior to SIG, Carolina was the Director of Women’s Basketball at the University of Pittsburgh, where she was the liaison between the Athletic Department and the Women’s Basketball program. She oversaw day to day operations, budgeting, travel accommodations, and personnel support. Carolina also served as a Media intern for the Washington Mystics.
Carolina holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Communication from Duquesne University.
Jessie Kenlaw- Director of Marketing & Player Personnel
Joining the team in June 2009, Jessie has already made an immediate impact with SIG’s clients, which is a true testament to her motivation for helping young women succeed. Her 10 years of valuable coaching experience in the WNBA have given her a unique perspective on how to integrate the off-the-court talents of SIG clients with available marketing opportunities in the corporate sector, as well as opening doors for their post-basketball careers.
Jessie’s goal is to create a buzz and generate awareness with Corporate America. Most corporations are unaware of the tremendous benefits afforded to them when they elect to partner with female athletes. She is driven to change mindsets, encourage simple and unique branding ideas, and create a win-win situation for both the client and business owner. Jessie is also determined to create one of the most innovative and successful marketing sectors for female athletes in the industry!
Besides her work in the marketing sector, Jessie brings a tremendous value to SIG’s clients with her vast knowledge of the WNBA. Having been a WNBA Head Coach, Jessie serves as a guide and mentor for many of SIG’s clients.
Teaming up with SIG is no coincidence. Like SIG, Jessie is committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure the success of our clients.
E-mail Jessie
Michael Lelchitski - Men's Basketball Executive Director
Michael Lelchitski joined Sports International Group in the summer of 2008 as Men’s Basketball Executive Director. This is actually Michael’s third stint with SIG, however, as he completed two internships and served as a marketing associate in 2007. Michael and his father, President and company founder Boris Lelchitski, launched SIG Men’s Basketball in June of 2008. Since the launch of the Men’s Basketball division in 2008, SIG has successfully carved out a tremendous niche for itself in international men’s basketball, especially in Russia, Ukraine and all the countries of the former Soviet Union.
As Men’s Basketball Executive Director, Michael is excited to launch SIG into the male basketball industry. Working with SIG’s well-established reputation and professional contacts, his primary roles include client recruiting, contract negotiation, and strategic guidance and management for SIG’s male clients. Michael is fully licensed by the NBA Players Association, becoming the only current Russian-American agent certified to represent players with NBA clubs.
Under Michael’s direction, the Men’s Basketball Division has followed the international roots of SIG, representing a wide-variety of players from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia.
Before joining SIG full-time, Michael spent a year coaching basketball at Blue Ridge School — a nationally ranked preparatory school program in St. George, Virginia.
Michael earned his Bachelor’s Degree in History and International Studies from Sewanee: The University of the South, where he played linebacker for the Tigers football team.
E-mail Michael
Sergey Anokhin - Director of Operations, SIG Russia
Sergey brings many years of professional basketball experience to Sports International Group. Sergey joined SIG in 2008 as the Director of Operation for SIG Russia. Based on Moscow, Sergey oversees all of SIG’s operations and interests concerning basketball in Russia including, among other things, scouting, client management and strategic marketing of clients and Sports International Group, Inc., in the Russian market.
Before joining SIG, Sergey enjoyed a seven year professional career, including four years with Avtodor Saratov in the Russian Superleague. Later, in back to back years in 2005 and 2006, Sergey coached U-19 and U-17 Russian boys to the championship of Moscow.
From 2006 through 2008, Sergey was the manager of Russian powerhouse club CSKA Moscow, working with both the men’s and women’s teams. During this time the club made numerous Russian Cup, Russian Superleague and Euroleague Finals appearances and won several championships.
Also, Sergey has served as a manager for the Russian Basketball Federation, and gained experience working for the National Basketball Association with the 2006 NBA Europe Life Tour.
E-mail Sergey
Varda Gribkova- Director of Women’s Basketball Operations – Russia, Eastern Europe
Varda joined the SIG team in 2009 as Director of Women’s Basketball Operations in Russia. Varda brings many years of experience as a professional basketball player. Based in Moscow, Varda is excited to complete the company’s interests concerning Women’s Basketball in Russia. Her duties include scouting, contract negotiation, working with and managing SIG clients in Russia, and overall operations concerning the women’s basketball market in Russia.
Prior to joining SIG, Varda played pro basketball for Dynamo Moscow and Dynamo Moscow Region Basketball Clubs. After ending her professional basketball career in 2008, she served a year as a manager in CSKA Women’s Professional Club, during the 2008-2009 season.
Varda graduated from Georgetown University, where she was a four year letter winner on the Hoya’s Basketball team. She majored in Sociology and Russian Studies with International Marketing as a minor.
E-mail Varda
Jay Kuperstein- General Counsel
Jay Kuperstein joined Sports International Group in 2010 as General Counsel. He has worked as an attorney in Washington, DC since 2006, lending his services to many of the top law firms in the area for multimillion dollar international contract disputes, intellectual property disputes, and government antitrust investigations.
Jay brings his legal experience to all personal, team, and endorsement contracts with SIG. Jay also brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of the sports business with him. Prior to joining SIG, Jay worked in the Marketing and Sales Department of NBA Entertainment as well as a summer intern for both Washington Sports and Entertainment and the 1996 Olympics.
Jay earned a B.A. in Sports Management & Communications from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law, where he was a Senior Associate on the American University International Law Review, as well as Vice President of the Sports & Entertainment Legal Society. Jay is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
