In their first year in TBT, Austin’s Own has plenty of former Texas Longhorns you may remember. They’re hoping you remember them as champions.
Austin’s Own features mostly Texas Longhorns alumni, with a few other talented players sprinkled in. It’s crazy to think this is the first year of a Texas alumni team, and they should be a squad to keep an eye on in the Lubbock region.
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Current Roster:
- Alexis Wangmene (Texas)
- Cameron Ridley (Texas)
- Clint Chapman (Texas)
- Desure Buie (Hofstra)
- Franklin Agunanne (SMU)
- Jacob Young (Texas, Rutgers, & Oregon)
- Jordan Hamilton (Texas)
- Kerwin Roach Jr. (Texas)
- Myck Kabongo (Texas)
- Randy Bell (Dalton State College)
- Shawndre’ Jones (Richmond)
Coaching Staff:
- Clay Mello (Asst. Coach)
- Eric Davis Jr. (Asst. Coach)
- Garrick Gonzalez (Asst. Coach)
- Jason Ibeh (Asst. Coach)
- Joseph Klein (Asst. Coach)
- Reggie Freeman (Head Coach)
- Vincent Hu (GM)
- Warren Barreiro (Asst. Coach)
Region:
- Lubbock, Texas
Team MVP: Kerwin Roach Jr.
It takes a great guard to win in TBT and Kerwin Roach is exactly that. As a Texas Longhorn, he was an equally good scorer and ball mover, and that almost always translates well in The Basketball Tournament.
Roach is an above-average three-point shooter, which seems to be the identity of this Texas Alumni team. But if Austin’s Own is to go out there and win TBT, they are going to need someone to lead the charge. Roach is a good fit for that position.
Make-or-break Player: Jordan Hamilton
Signed: Jordan Hamilton @J_Goin_HAM 📝
Team Sponsor: @thomasjhenrylaw 🏀 pic.twitter.com/FDJ8WKpFDT— Austin’s Own TBT 🤘🏾 (@austinsowntbt) July 6, 2023
Guys with past NBA experience are usually the ones to look out for in TBT, so that’s why Jordan Hamilton is my make-or-break player for Austin’s Own. In two short years at Texas, he was one of the best scorers in the Big 12, averaging over 18 points per game as a sophomore.
However, he left for the NBA in 2011 and hasn’t played there since 2016, interestingly enough after putting up 11.4 PPG in 11 games with New Orleans. Hamilton’s three-point shooting has always been a strong suit, and I expect the same in TBT. He’s also only 32 years old and still in his prime, which surprised me a bit. Maybe TBT can help revive his NBA career!
Team Outlook
Austin’s Own features some Texas greats, and most of them are good three-point shooters. Of course, Roach and Hamilton may be the biggest outside threats, but Desure Buie and Shawndre’ Jones are two more names to watch.
In terms of an inside presence, unsurprisingly, a few Texas alumni will make it tough for opposing teams to score. Cameron Ridley should lead the pack down low.
You also can’t forget about Jacob Young, who brings more guard skills and recent experience.
Austin’s Own might be new to TBT, but they herded up a good lineup to compete for a championship.
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