The winners of the HBCU Welcome Home Tournament come into TBT hoping to add another trophy to their collection. They have an uphill battle in a deep region, but they have the talent and chemistry to go far.
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- Jimmu Hankerson (GM)
Many will remember Forrest from his time with FAU, where they made it all the way to the Final 4 in that dream season. He hasn’t missed a beat since, averaging 17 points a game in the Italian League. He shot 41% from three and also added 3.3 assists per game. They’ll look to him to be a primary scorer and lead the offense in their first game.
Forrest also played in last year’s TBT, averaging 7.5 PPG for Florida TNT. This included an 11-point performance with three 3-pointers in the second round. Forrest is one of two players on this team who played in last year’s TBT, so his teammates will look to him for experience, especially in late-game scenarios.
At 7’0 tall, Delph is one of the tallest players in this tournament. Can he use that to his and his team’s advantage? At 32 years old, we’ve definitely seen Delph slow down in recent years, but his natural size allows him to defend the paint and limit possessions for the other team.
Madd Katts have size, but nothing like Delph. If he can establish that post presence and counter the opponents’ bigs, then they can establish a lead early on and control the pace of the game.
Team Outlook
Even though they don’t have much TBT experience, they have the chemistry from playing in a tournament setting together, and that could go a long way. They’ll face Sideline Cancer in Round 1, one of the most experienced teams in the tournament. They definitely won’t have the crowd on their side, but all that matters is the talent.
LaQuincy Rideau is the other player to have suited up in last year’s TBT, scoring 19 points in two games played for Team Fredette. Madd Katts also features KeVaughn Allen, a terrific player at Florida. It will be an interesting journey for the Madd Katts, but hopefully one that lasts multiple games.
