TBT Reveals 15 Teams to Compete in Peoria's Midwest Regional

Always A Brave Joined by Six Additional Alumni Teams

TBT Unveils 60 of 64 Teams

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Men's Basketball 6/6/2017 10:37:00 AM

PEORIA, IL - Seven Midwestern collegiate alumni teams, several former Missouri Valley Conference stars and D-League teammates all will showcase their skills on the hardwood July 15-16 when Renaissance Coliseum plays host to the 2017 The Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional.

The fourth annual summer basketball tournament continues to grow in popularity with collegiate alumni teams and TBT organizers announced 60 of the 64 teams that will compete for this summer's $2 million winner-take-all prize. Built around the stars of its 2006 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 quad, Bradley's alumni team, Always A Brave, entered TBT in 2016 and advanced to the championship round by collecting pairs of wins in Chicago and Philadelphia. As the defending region champion, Always A Brave earned automatic qualification for the 2017 event and has increased its roster to 12 players: Tony Bennett, David Collins, Will Franklin, Walt Lemon, Sam Mansicalco, Patrick O'Bryant, Jerome Randle (California '10), Daniel Ruffin, Matt Salley, Marcellus Sommerville, Andrew Warren and Lawrence Wright.

Two of its 2016 victims, Jackson TN Underdawgs and Golden Eagles (Marquette Alumni) will join Always A Brave in the 2017 TBT Midwest Region, along with alumni teams from Milwaukee (Banner Boys), Iowa State (Hilton Magic Legends), Saint Louis (Majerus SLU Crew), Kansas State (Purple and Black) and Ohio State (Scarlet & Gray). Players of the NBA D-League's Fort Wayne Mad Ants also will compete under the name Fort Wayne Champs. The 16th team in each of TBT's four regions will be determined through the TBT Jamboree, which will be contested June 17-18 in Philadelphia.

The Midwest Regional will include a total of 12 games July 15 (eight games) and July 16 (four) at Renaissance Coliseum as the 16 teams in the region play down to four that will advance to the Super 16 July 20-23 at LIU Brooklyn. The four-team semifinals and championship will be played Aug. 1 and 3 in Baltimore. The entire tournament will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks, including ESPN3 coverage of all regional games. Regional seeding and game times will be announced later this month.

TBT daily tickets are on sale now throught TBT's website, thetournament.com, and are good for general admission seating: $20 adults, $10 students, $5 children (13U), $20 Family Four Pack and $30 for a two-day, Weekend Pass. VIP Access is available for an additional $25.

#TBT2017 Midwest Region Participants (Alphabetical)
1. Always A Brave (Bradley Alumni)
2. Banner Boys (UW-Milwaukee Alumni)
3. Canton Bulldogs
4. Fort Wayne Champs
5. Golden Eagles (Marquette Alumni)
6. HBC
7. Hilton Magic Legends (Iowa State Alumni)
8. Illinois Hoopville Warriors
9. Jackson TN Underdawgs
10. Majerus SLU Crew (Saint Louis Alumni)
11. Mid American Unity
12. Midwest Dream Squad
13. Purple and Black (Kansas State Alumni)
14. The Region
15. Scarlet & Gray (The Ohio State University Alumni)
16. TBD - TBT Jamboree Qualifer

Always A Brave (Bradley Alumni) | At-Large as 2016 TBT Midwest Region Champion
The stars of Bradley's 2006 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 team have received an infusion of younger talent as the team prepares to defend its 2016 TBT Midwest Region title. All 12 members of the 2016 Always A Brave team return, including seven as players, and the team welcomes five new players, including 2010 Pac-10 Player of the Year Jerome Randle, who is related to team member Tony Bennett. Additional newcomers include guards Walt Lemon, Jr. and Andrew Warren, as well as David Collins and Lawrence Wright. Seventh on Bradley's all-time scoring list, Lemon's 1721 points from 2010-14 remain the most by any Brave since Hersey Hawkins graduated in 1988. Warren was the 2011 Missouri Valley Conference scoring leader and is coming off a Player-of-the-Year season in Germany's ProA division.
Players (12): Tony Bennett, David Collins, Will Franklin, Walt Lemon, Sam Maniscalco, Patrick O'Bryant, Jerome Randle, Daniel Ruffin, Matt Salley, Marcellus Sommerville, Andrew Warren and Lawrence Wright
Coaches: A.J. Guyton, Chuck Buescher, Jeremy Crouch, Phillip Gilbert
Booster: Shaun Livingston
GM: Bobby Parker

Banner Boys (UW-Milwaukee Alumni) | Automatic
A roster primarily entirely with former Panthers includes former Bradley player Joah Tucker, who transferred to Milwaukee following his freshman season at Bradley in 2001-02 and went on to become Horizon League Player of the Year.
Players (13): Jordan Aaron, Ronald Davis, Anthony Hill, Chris Hill, Edward McCants, Jason McCoy, Myles McKay, Dylan Page, Matthew Tiby, Clay Tucker, Joah Tucker, Cody Wichmann, Kaylon Williams
Coach: Patrick McCabe
Boosters: UWM Alumni Association, Michael Bendall, Austin Black, Jimmy Lemke, Justin Lettenberger, Ryan Miley
GM: Edward McCants

Canton Bulldogs | At-Large
A veteran TBT squad made up primarily of Ohio-based players.
Players: Todd Brown, Tavin Cummings, Mario Edwards, Jesse Hardin Jr., Nick Harney, Justin Jamison, Carl Jones Jr., Anthony Kent, Demetrius Treadwell
Coach: Vance Marbury
GM: Mark Moore

Fort Wayne Champs | Automatic
While college alumni teams remain popular entries into TBT, Fort Wayne Champs includes 10 players from the NBA D-League's Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Players (10): William Frisby, Anthony Harris, Stephan Hicks, Ron Howard, Travis Leslie, Jordan Loyd, Trey McKinney Jones, Sadiel Rojas, Rod Wilmont, Adam Woodbury
Coach: Kevin Bloom
GM: Garrett Martz

Golden Eagles (Marquette Alumni) | Automatic
Second in Midwest Region voting, Marquette's alumni team will be considered among the region favorites again this year after battling Always A Brave in a tough regional final last summer in Philadelphia. One-time Bradley recruit Dwight Buycks is one of the returning stars for Golden Eagles, joining fellow former NBA players Darius Johnson-Odom and Jerel McNeal to form one of TBT's most dynamic backcourts.
Players (8): Maurice Acker, Juan Anderson, Lawrence Blackledge, Dwight Burke, Dwight Buycks, Davante' Gardner, Darius Johnson-Odom, Trent Lockett
Coaches: Travis Diener, Wesley Matthews
Booster: Steve Novak
GM: Daniel Fitzgerald

HBC | Automatic
Making its third consecutive appearance in TBT, HBC ventures to the Midwest after competing in the South Region the last two years.
Players (9): Tim Blue, Suleiman Braimoh, John Fields, Anthony Hilliard, Michael Jenkins, Tyren Johnson, Kelvin Martin, Patrick Richard, Charles Thomas
Coaches: Christopher Hurley, Nick Isabella
Booster: JP Sportman, James Thomas
GM: Bryan Hurley

Hilton Magic Legends (Iowa State Alumni) | Automatic
Iowa State's alumni team finished first in the Midwest Region in fan voting and its first entry into TBT will be coached by former Cyclones All-American Marcus Fizer, who was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the fourth overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft.
Players (9): Darrell Bowie, Chris Commons, Diante Garrett, Dustin Hogue, Kourtlin Jackson, Korie Lucious, Tyrus McGee, Yempabou Palo, Curtis Stinson
Coach: Marcus Fizer
Booster: Devin Perry
GM: Anthony Colosimo

Illinois Hoopville Warriors | At-Large
Another veteran TBT squad, the team's name is a play off the Cooper Housing Project in Chicago's South Side. The roster includes former Illinois State star Rico Hill, the 1998 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.
Players (9): Billy Baptist, Robert Broughton, Lavonte Douglas, Nate Fuqua, Malcolm Griffin, Rico Hill, Mike Malat, Anthony Spencer, De'Andre Thomas
GM: Britt Booker

Jackson TN Underdawgs | Automatic
The No. 16 seed in #TBT2016's Midwest Region, Jackson TN Underdawgs upset the top seed, a collection of Kentucky alumni, before letting a five-point lead in the final 17 seconds against Always A Brave slip away in a dramatic second-round matchup. An undersized squad loaded with 3-point shooters in 2016, Jackson TN Underdawgs has bolstered its lineup with "bigs," led by former Mississippi State star Jarvis Varnado. A 3-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Varnado was a member of the Bulldogs squad that beat Bradley in the second round of the 2007 NIT.
Players (12): Kendall Anthony, Chris Cole, Tarius Johnson, Devon Jones, Willie Kemp, Antwan Long, Torye Pelham, Joshua Sain, Anthony Sampson, Jarvis Varnado, Michael Ward, Jeremy Weddle
Coaches: Jewaun Long, Blake Wetherington, Dexter Williams
GM: Darius DeBerry

Majerus SLU Crew (Saint Louis Alumni) | At-Large
Formed in honor of the late Saint Louis head coach Rick Majerus, the Majerus SLU Crew primarily consists of former Billikens.
Players (9): Mike Crawford, Dwayne Evans, Vashil Fernandez, Ferrakohn Hall, Jordair Jett, Renaldo Major, Mike McCall Jr., Kwamain Mitchell, Cory Remekun
Coach: Danny Brown
Booster: Dr. Richard Chaifetz
GM: Matt Marske

Mid American Unity | Automatic
A collection of players primarily based out of Ohio, including two - Justin Manns and Michael Porrini - who played for former Bradley coach Geno Ford at Kent State.
Players (11): Jehvon Clarke, Jamil Dudley, Kevin Edmonds, Angelo Edwards, Richie Gordon, Robert Johnson, Terrell Lipkins, Justin Manns, Wilbur O'Neal, Michael Porrini, Jay Youngblood
Coaches: Mehmet Sinan Ozgur, Kostas Papazoglou
GM: Michael Porrini

Midwest Dream Squad | At-Large
Making its third appearance in TBT, Midwest Dream Squad's roster includes former Duke star Sean Dockery.
Players (9): Joel Box, Sean Dockery, Shaquile Hines, Marcus Morrison, Adrian Moss, Andre Muse, Bryant Orange, Marcus Posley, Alex Young
Coach: Brandon Smith
Booster: Derrick Rose
GM: Dijon Knight

Purple and Black (Kansas State Alumni) | At-Large
Kansas State's alumni team was one of the most popular teams in 2016 fan voting, but earned its spot in the 2017 field as an at-large entry. The team features point guard Jacob Pullen, who scored more than 2100 points in his Wildcats career.
Players (9): Thomas Gipson III, Stefhon Hannah, Jordan Henriquez, Martavious Irving, Curtis Kelly, Jacob Pullen, Jamar Samuels, Shane Southwell, Dominique Sutton
Coach: Juevol Myles
GM: Steven Mitchell

The Region | Automatic
Another veteran TBT entry, The Region refers to an area of the south side of Chicago that extends into northwest Indiana. The team's roster in 2017 includes former Indiana State forward Isiah Martin.
Players (10): Corderro Bennett, Horace Bond, Russell Byrd, Vance Cooksey, Isiah Martin, Mike Miklusak, Jeremy Saffold, William Walker, Christopher Ware, Chris Woods
Coach: Anthony Patton
GM: Corey Moore

Scarlet & Gray (The Ohio State University Alumni) | Automatic
Ohio State makes its debut in TBT with seven former Buckeyes starts, including 7-foot center Greg Oden, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Players (9): William Buford, Aaron Craft, Jon Diebler, Dallas Lauderdale, David Lighty, Nate Miller, Greg Oden, Evan Ravenel, Leon Rodgers
GM: Scoonie Penn

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