The 2025 champions, Aftershocks, look to become the first team to go back-to-back this decade
The Aftershocks have been a staple in TBT for years, bringing in one of the best crowds in Wichita and having consistent energy year after year. They could never reach the promised land, though, making the quarterfinals several times and the semifinals once. Last year, however, that all changed.
They cruised through the Wichita region, beating their first two opponents by an average of 20 points, then ousted the 1 seed Forever Coogs in the regional final. In the quarters, they knocked out the one-time champion Heartfire, then beat Cinderella We Are D3 by 12. In the final, it was all Aftershocks, winning by 15 and earning their well-deserved title.
This year, they’re back and hungry for more. They return most of their production from last year, including Marcus Kenne, who isn’t a Shocker, but an honorary one after his success last year. New Mexico’s alumni team, The Enchantment, have their hands full.
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Roster:
- Conner Frankamp
- Rashard Kelly
- Marcus Keene
- Trey Wade
- Nike Sibande
- Morris Udeze
- Markis McDuffie
- James Woodard
- Marcos Santos-Silva
- Chaunce Jenkins
- Corey Washington
- QJ Peterson
Coaching Staff:
- Zach Bush (GM, Head Coach)
- JR Simon (GM, Head Coach)
- Garrett Stutz (GM, Head Coach)
- Caden Lambert (Asst. Coach)
All-time Record: 23-5
First Matchup: vs. The Enchantment (July 20 at 9 p.m. EST)
Team MVP: Marcus Keene
There’s a strong argument to be made that Marcus Keene is a top 3 player in TBT history. He ranks 5th all-time in scoring with 375 points, and last year, added a national championship to his resume. He led the Aftershocks in scoring last year, with 82 total points, including 22 points in the championship game. He has the most Elam Ending winners in TBT history with seven, and shot 93% from three, which is so important in a format that rewards free-throw shooting so much late game.
The 2025 MVP will look to continue what he’s been doing with a team that he is now familiar with. He might not be the most efficient shooter and is definitely not the best defender on the court, but he’s the most valuable player in the entire tournament. As long as he’s in, Aftershocks are a threat on the basketball court.
Make-or-break Player: Marcus Santos-Silva
Santos-Silva was a true X-Factor on a team that was loaded with guards. He was never the flashiest player, but he was at times the most important. In that difficult matchup against Forever Coogs, he scored 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds on 7-8 shooting. If he doesn’t have that performance, they probably lose that game, and the whole narrative on the Aftershocks shifts. He had three games with 2+ steals and rarely turned the ball over.
If he can play that exact role again, the Aftershocks are in business. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands, but he’ll do the dirty work. If he fails to do that, though, then it becomes a concern of who can. McDuffie has always been that guy, but we’ve seen his production traject downwards in recent TBTs.
Team Outlook
It’s hard not to look at this team and not pick them to go back-to-back. As mentioned, they have arguably the best TBT player in Keene leading the way. Then, you see Nike Sibande, who made the All-Tournament team last year after averaging 13.5 PPG on 63-52-93 shooting splits. They get James Woodard back, who was third in scoring last year.
Then, you look a little deeper down on the roster, and you see QJ Peterson, who scored 20 points in his sole game last year. The year before, he scored 32 points in a game, and had a 30-point game in 2023. He can score in an instant, and if he and Keene are both on, they can beat teams by 20-30 points this year.
Then, you have the heart and soul of this team, Connor Frankamp and Markus McDuffie. The two of them are as proud alumni as one can be, and they still have plenty left in the tank. Charles Koch Arena has proven to be the best atmosphere time and time again, and coming off a championship, expect no different.
The Enchantment aren’t going to give up and die, but as long as the championship doesn’t get to their head, they’ll be solely in position to repeat, something that hasn’t been done since Overseas Elite.