Layne’s Hope is making their TBT debut, but comes in with a few players with past experience playing in the summer tournament.
Even though they’ve never played a game in TBT, Layne’s Hope has a roster that matches up well with We Are D3, the team they’ll play in the first round. However, how they play together on this team will be important against a We Are D3 squad that should come in with some of the most chemistry in the tournament, and especially the Syracuse region.
Roster:
- Ben Middlebrooks (NC State)
- Charlie Marquardt (Molloy College)
- Frankie Policelli (College of Charleston)
- Ishmael El-Amin (Ball State & URI)
- Jalen Hawkins (Norfolk State)
- Jeff Ledbetter (Idaho)
- Joe Cremo (Villanova)
- Jordan Roland (Northeastern)
- Lucas Sutherland (Le Moyne)
- Shadell Millinghaus (Texas Tech)
- Symir Torrence (Syracuse & Binghamton)
- Trevor Booker (Clemson)
Coaching Staff:
- Aric Kucel (Asst. Coach)
- Eddy Davis (Asst. Coach)
- EJ Gallup (Head Coach)
- James Jones (Asst. Coach)
- Mike Sugamosto (GM, Asst. Coach)
- TJ Czeski (Asst. Coach)
Region: Syracuse
All-time Record: 0-0
First Matchup: vs. We Are D3 (July 19 at 1 p.m. EST)
Team MVP: Symir Torrence
I’ve got Torrence as the team MVP for a few reasons. First off, last summer, with Herkimer Originals, Torrence played a solid game, with 7 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. He will probably have a similar role on this team as a key guard. But to add to that, Torrence is from Syracuse and playing in his hometown region. I’m sure Layne’s Hope will make sure Torrence has the ball in his hands a lot and have the opportunity to lead his team to at least a first-round win.
Make-or-break Player: Ben Middlebrooks
Playing in his first-ever TBT, Ben Middlebrooks figures to be a player to watch for Layne’s Hope. Middlebrooks was a key player on NC State’s Final Four team in 2024 and should be able to transition well on this squad. Middlebrooks was always a great role player and should have the same impact on his new team.
Team Outlook
Layne’s Hope has a very winnable game for their first round matchup in TBT. With semi-notable college players like Torrence, Middlebrooks, and former NBAer Trevor Booker, this squad is an underrated one to watch if they get hot and can play with chemistry from day one.