As one of the best teams since arriving, The Program NYC for Autism looks to finally go all the way and is doing it for a good cause.
When The Program NYC for Autism joined the TBT in 2021, then named Autism Army, they earned the respect of TBT fans for making the regional semifinal. The following year, they would one-up themselves, making all the way to the championship game before losing to Blue Collar U. They didn’t stop the momentum there, winning another 2 games in 2023. At 9-3, they boast one of the best win percentages in the tournament and aren’t looking to change that anytime soon.
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Current Roster:
- D’Angelo Harrison (St. John’s)
- Delroy James (Rhode Island)
- Femi Olujobi (Oakland, NC A&T, & Depaul)
- Jordan Williams (North Texas)
- Justin Robinson (Monmouth)
- Ky Bowman (Boston College)
- Michaele Kyser (Louisiana Tech)
- Rasheed Sulaimon (Duke & Maryland)
- Sean Armand (Iona)
- Stacy Davis IV (Pepperdine)
- Terry Allen (Richmond)
Coaching Staff:
- Dwayne Morton (Head Coach)
- Jared Effron (GM)
- J’Covan Brown (Asst. Coach)
- Griffin Taylor (GM)
- Zamal Nixon (GM)
Region: Houston
All-time Record: 9-3
First Matchup: vs. Challenge ALS (July 19 at 2 p.m. on TBT Live)
Team MVP: Femi Olujobi
Olujobi was the MVP last year, scoring 13 in Game 1, then 25 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2, then just 6 points and 3 rebounds in the third. That performance in the second game against Fort Wayne Champs can not be treated lightly. They were coming off a 33-point win and had momentum,, but Olujobi killed that momentum and never allowed them to take over.
At 6’9, Olujobi has a really soft touch around the rim and never gets too high or too low. He is a veteran, and can really motivate his teammates. If we see a similar output from Olujobi this time around, good things will happen.
Make-or-break Player: Delroy James
In the opening round win for The Program NYC for Autism, James led the team with 19 points and 5 rebounds. After that, he disappeared, scoring 0 in the next game, and 4 in the next. This team is very balanced, so a down game by any player isn’t the end of the world, but when James is playing well, the team is playing well.
As a 6’8 forward, James is extremely versatile and can defend the 1-5. They’ll need his defense throughout this tournament, especially in a difficult Houston region.
Team Outlook
TBT did The Program NYC for Autism no favors by placing them in Houston, where they will be sure to face several hostel crowds. They’ll start it off with a game against Challenge ALS, who like The Program NYC for Autism have had nothing but success since joining this tournament. Then, they’ll potentially face Bleed Green, a team that made it all the way to the final the season before. It will be tough to win those two games, but they’ve found a way to do it every year.
This team brings in Ky Bowman, who had a very successful college career from a scoring standpoint and even got a couple of starts in the NBA. He could be the big time shotmaker during the Elam Ending that every team needs. Sean Armand returns as well after averaging about 10 points a game last year. With the current roster and the cause, it’s hard not to root for this team, so show your support as they most likely find themselves deep in the tournament.