The Basketball Tournament 2023: Challenge ALS Florida Team Profile

Team Challenge ALS has been a mainstay in TBT since its beginnings, but a merger with Florida TNT means a different look for Challenge ALS Florida in this year’s tournament. 

The two teams went a combined 4-2 in last year’s tournament, with Florida TNT reaching the quarterfinals. Both teams have had a taste of success in recent years, so the combination of the two should mean a good chance to come home with some hardware this year. 

For more TBT team profiles, click here.

Current Roster:

• Brandon Robinson (Clayton College)
• Chris Warren (Mississippi)
• Deshawn Stephens (Santa Monica College & San Diego State)
• Fletcher Magee (Wofford)
• Jonathan Holton (West Virginia)
• Keith Clanton (UCF)
• Kenny Boynton (Florida)
• Marc-Eddy Norelia (Florida Gulf Coast)
• Marvelle Harris (Fresno State)
• Selom Mawugbe (Azusa Pacific)
• Shaheed Davis (UCF)

Coaching Staff:

• Darren Collison (Head Coach)
• Iren Rainey (Head Coach)
• Sean Marshall (GM)
• Terry Hughes (GM)

Region:

• West Virginia

Team MVP: Marvelle Harris

Harris, a longtime member of Challenge ALS, led TBT in scoring in 2021. The 2016 Mountain West Player of the Year at Fresno State, Harris should be the spark of this team’s offense. Most recently playing for Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka of the Japanese B League, Harris is an accomplished scorer and can shoot from deep as well as score from inside the arc.

Harris has the height (6-4) and the size (204 lbs.) to match up well with more physical guards on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. If Challenge ALS Florida is going to make noise in this tournament, Harris will have to play at a high level. 

Make-or-break Player: Selom Mawugbe 

Mawugbe is one of the youngest players on the team at only 24 years old. Playing his college ball at DII Azusa Pacific in California, Mawugbe is likely the best defender on this year’s Challenge ALS Florida team. Standing at 6-10 and 230 lbs, Mawugbe is a premier shot-blocker and interior defender. 

Given the team’s relative age, having a young player like Mawugbe is big for Challenge ALS Florida. This year’s Bundesliga Best Defender while at the Rostock Seawolves, Mawugbe needs to be at his best against the competition in TBT this summer. If Mawugbe can play at a similar level as he did for Rostock, Challenge ALS Florida will be just fine on the defensive end. 

Team Outlook

Best Virginia (@finalfourcast) is #1 seed in the WV regional again… but this regional is absolutely INSANE🤯

(@SidelineTBT, @FloridaTnt/@TMchallengeALS, @tbt_herd_that, @ZooCrewTBT and more)!

🏀HIGH🏀LEVEL🏀HOOPS🏀COMING🏀SOON🏀

Full regional bracket/schedule – pic.twitter.com/6nWAvO5M8n

— TBT (@thetournament) June 21, 2023

Challenge ALS Florida isn’t one of the younger teams in the field. Only 4 of the 11 players are under the age of 30, and while the veterans on the roster are still solid, they’re a bit past their respective primes. 

The team does have height, with six players standing 6-8 or taller, including former UCF center Keith Clanton, former FGCU forward Marc-Eddy Norelia, and former UCF forward Shaheed Davis. In the backcourt, former Florida Gator Kenny Boynton and Lou Henson award winner Fletcher Magee will be crucial along with the aforementioned Harris. 

As the 3 seed in the West Virginia region, Challenge ALS Florida has their work cut out for them if they want to hoist some hardware. In order to win the region, they’ll likely have to go through Sideline Cancer in the 2nd round, not to mention the 1 seed in the region being perennial favorite Best Virginia. If the offense gets hot, however, and the defense is stout, this team has the potential to make some noise.