OffDaHook enters the TBT looking to bring the New York energy to Kansas City.
One of two new teams in the region, OffDaHook has just one player who participated in last year’s tournament, Shane Gatling. That doesn’t mean this team is lacking talent or toughness though, as we will be soon to find out. It isn’t the most friendly debut to the tournament, but OffDaHook aren’t here to make friends, they’re here to make $1 million dollars.
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Current Roster:
- Arnardo Camacho (Roberts Wesleyan)
- Brian Bridgeforth (Washington Adventist)
- Derrick “DJ” Rivera (St. Joseph’s, Binghamton & Montevallo)
- Elias Ezenekwe (Antelope Valley)
- Jaheam Cornwall (Gardner-Webb)
- Jaimik Moore (NJCU)
- Jalen Nesmith (Clark Atlanta)
- Joseph Efese (Central Connecticut State)
- Junior Saintel (Chipola College & Stony Brook)
- Paul Gause (Seton Hall)
- Shane Gatling (Colorado)
Coaching Staff:
- Sidney Godbold (GM, Head Coach)
- Brian Gardenhire (Asst. Coach)
Region: Kansas City
All-time Record: 0-0
First Matchup: vs. JHX Hoops (July 19 at 4 p.m. EST)
Team MVP: Shane Gatling
As mentioned earlier, Gatling is the only player on this team with TBT experience. He didn’t put up incredible numbers last year, averaging 4.8 PPG and 1.8 RPG, but he was part of a Colorado team that played four games, so he was able to get that experience. He also played against and beat JHX Hoops, and while he wasn’t a key contributor, he might know a thing or two that can help.
Professionally, he’s coming off a great season as well. He averaged 17.3 PPG in the Hungarian league. If he can be the leader on the court, it will give OffDaHook a chance to come out on top.
Make-or-break Player: Brian Bridgeforth
This team is relatively small, with Bridgeforth being the only player over 6’7 on the current roster. Compare that to the opponent, who has five. If they don’t want to get dominated physically, they’ll need Bridgeforth to hold his own down low. This means offensively, being a presence in the paint, and defensively, limiting inside opportunities.
That’s a big ask, and it might be too much for the 31-year-old. If he holds it down, though, the game opens up for the rest of his team, giving them the best chance for success.
Team Outlook
To be honest, on paper, this looks like one of, if not the weakest team in the tournament. They don’t have the size or experience, and nearly half their team doesn’t currently play basketball. However, in a single-elimination tournament, anything can happen, and we see that every single season.
They face JHX Hoops in round one, the Kansas alumni team, who will draw a big crowd in Kansas City. Expect the ratio of fans to be 99.99% JHX and 0.01% OffDaHook. All that matters is what happens on the court though, and these guys will bring intensity and toughness, which is all you can ask for.