Team No Excuses is back with a new name.
No Excuses (formerly Competitive Choice) makes its return after a three-year hiatus. This team’s lone matchup is the 2023 champion, Team Heartfire. This team comprises athletes from the No Excuses Pro League, the official professional-amateur basketball league in Houston. Team No Excuses is playing to raise money and awareness to support The No Excuses Foundation 501c3 that offers programs, support services, and scholarships for disadvantaged youth (TBT).
This Houston-based team comes to Wichita with a revamped roster. The two returning players are Andre Potts, Jerran Young, and Shaquille Burrell, as well as Assistant Coach John Thomas.
For more TBT team profiles, click here.
Roster:
- Andre Potts (Concordia University)
- Andrew Abedo (University of St. Thomas)
- Brandon Swannegan (Tulsa)
- Calvin Williams (University of St. Thomas)
- Jerran Young (Wright State & McLennan CC)
- Joshua Aldrich (USC Upstate & UNC Charlotte)
- Julian Powell (Lincoln College)
- Larry Kuimi (Edwards Waters University)
- Shaquille Burrell (Ranger Junior College)
- Trey Pulliam (San Diego State University)
Coaching Staff:
- John Thomas (Assistant Coach)
Region: Wichita
All-time Record: 0-1
First Matchup: vs. AfterShocks (July 18 at 9 p.m. EST)
Team No Excuses MVP: Trey Pulliam
Trey Pulliam will likely be the team’s leader. He is currently a pro in the UK. Pulliam has applied the skills he learned at SDSU. He is a good size and sees the floor well. He looks to make shots, create lanes and shots for others, and can score from anywhere. Pulliam can score from anywhere, but his biggest skill is his lockdown defense. He moves quickly laterally and causes issues for other players. Pulliam is excellent in the fast break, plays under control, and sees the floor well. Pulliam works downhill and doesn’t force the shot, but he also stops on a dime, losing defenders left and right to create space.
Make-or-break Player: Larry Kuimi
Kuimi is playing for Tampereen Pyrintö in the Finnish League 1. He is someone who could have a lot of success as a dunker and the guaranteed points—the expectation for him to be step-for-step with Pulliam as an outlet, or to finish the run out. Kuimi has good footwork and a soft touch around the rim. While he will be a massive part of the pick-and-roll with Pulliam, he will likely be the one ready for put-backs and a must-have player in TBT. He is going to be a bruiser down low, fighting for rebounds on both ends.
Team Outlook
Team No Excuses will play the AfterShocks in the first round. With the roundhouse favorites, Team No Excuses should put up a big fight. The issue will remain the crowd and the inexperience in the TBT. If they step up, this could be a team that shocks a couple of teams with the unknowns.