Pure scorer AJ English will try and lead Americana for Autism to a TBT championship.
Americana for Autism returns for their second attempt at winning The Basketball Tournament. Last year they won their first two games before losing in the third round. Americana for Autism returns five players from 2021’s team, and they will look to make a run at it with some key additions to the squad that features multiple players with NBA and G League experience.
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Current Roster:
- AJ English (Iona)
- Chris Wright (Georgetown)
- Darryl Monroe (George Mason, Central Florida CC)
- Delroy James (Rhode Island)
- Isaiah Swann (Florida State)
- J’Covan Brown (Texas)
- Kasey Shepherd (Louisiana)
- Ronald March (Philander Smith)
- Ryan Pearson (George Mason)
- Talib Zanna (Pittsburgh)
Coaching Staff:
- Dwayne “Tiny” Morton (Head Coach)
GMs and Boosters:
- Griffin Taylor (GM)
- Jared Effron (GM)
- Kelvin Amayo (GM)
- Marc Pierre (GM)
- Stephen Vanderver (Booster)
Region:
- Rucker Park, NY
Team MVP: Delroy James
Delroy is a TBT veteran with this being his 5th TBT. Last year was his best season, averaging 16.3 points per game and 6 rebounds per game over 3 games. He is a super-strong player and leverages it to get into the paint. He also has shown great capabilities popping out to the three-point line and knocking shots down. Expect him to do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor.
Make-or-break player: AJ English
The son of former NBA player, AJ English Sr., AJ looks to make his mark in The Basketball Tournament for the first time. He was a talented player in college at Iona, averaging over 20 points per game in his two seasons there. He has had a very good pro career overseas, and I think he has a real case to be one of the top scorers in all of The Basketball Tournament. He facilitates well and gets into the lane. He has also been a pretty good shooter throughout his career. If Americana for Autism goes far, English is going to be a big reason why.
Team Outlook:
Americana for Autism will take on the Peacock alum team, and they are hoping that there is not another upset at hand. I expect them to rely on guard play and try to get to the hoop often. This could benefit them a lot with games being played outdoors at Rucker Park. If it is windy, Americana for Autism will be able to rely on their strength even more. It will be very important for them to be able to take care of the ball. If they do, they have some bucket getters that could put up a lot of points.
They may not be getting the most buzz, but they should be a very fun team to watch. They are also playing for a good cause, to bring awareness to autism. Delroy James, Isaiah Swann, and J’Covan Brown all have children that are diagnosed with autism. It is awesome that they are able to play the game they love while spreading awareness about something that means so much to them.
For more TBT team profiles, click here.
[…] in points per game and should be the top big man on the squad. They’ll be up against Americana for Autism in the first round on Saturday, which will be a test. However, as we learned in March, don’t […]
Anyone know which organizations they’re donating to as part of their mission, if any? As an autistic adult I get wary when I hear neurotypicals talk about autism awareness, since lots of so-called charities harm more than help us, but nonetheless I’m hoping this isn’t the case here and they’re genuinely trying to help improve our lives.