A combination of two TBT teams, Red Rose War Ready look to make a deep run after disappointing tournaments last year
War Ready and Red Rose Thunder both played in last year’s tournament. Unfortuantely, both ended with a 1-1 record, losing by 4 points or less each. Hopefully, with a combined roster they can fare better in the new format. They bring in some Auburn alumni, as well as a mixed bag of other college and professional stars. One player you may see that stands out is Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the two time pro bowl cornerback. He’s been a staple of TBT the past few years, and has had decent success with his sponsored teams in the past.
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Current Roster:
- Dominique Jones (South Florida)
- Tavares Sledge (Wright State & USC Aiken)
- Jarron Cumberland (Cincinnati)
- Malik Dunbar (Auburn)
- Wendell Green Jr. (Auburn)
- Babatunde Akingbola (Auburn & George Washington)
- Ishmael Lane (Northwestern State)
- John Harrar (Penn State)
- LaRon Smith (Georgia State, Bethune-Cookman, & Auburn)
- Kevon Voyles (Marshall)
- Jordan Henderson (Canisius University)
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Tennessee State)
- Brandon Robinson (Seminole State & Clayton State)
- Hunter Woods (Portland State)
Coaching Staff:
- Matt Moschella (GM, Owner)
- Lucas Morrison (GM, Asst. Coach)
- Malin Morrison (Head Coach)
- Daniel Spangler (Asst. Coach)
All-time Record: 0-0
First Matchup: vs. Heartfire Elite (July 22 at 3 p.m. PDT)
Team MVP: Wendell Green Jr.
Wendell Green was a blast to watch at Auburn, weaving through defenses at 5’11 and making tough buckets. He came back for TBT, and was awesome last year, averaging 19 PPG in the 2 games. He also added 2 steals a game and even blocked two shots in the loss. He can play on and off the ball and brings a ton of energy which is contagious.
He’s not going to be the best player in the tournament, but he’ll be the spark and is fearless. Expect Green to lead the team in scoring, and don’t be surprised if he raises his assists totals as well.
Make-or-break Player: Jarron Cumberland
In 2023, Cumberland was once of the faces of TBT. He was on Nasty ‘Nati, the Cincinnati alumni team, and he was so good that he made the All-Tournament team despite losing in the quarterfinal. He averaged 23 points a game and 8 rebounds, and it felt like he couldn’t miss the entire tournament. Fast forward to 2025, and Cumberland scored just 7 points on 1-6 shooting for the Indiana alumni team.
Red Rose War Ready are already huge underdogs against Heartfire Elite, and they’ll absolutely need him to shine in this tournament to have a chance. He doesn’t need to score 23 a game, but without a doubt needs to be a top 2 scorer on this team, and an efficient one at that. He’s shown in the past he’s capable of that, so we’ll have to see if he can recreate that magic of the 2023 tournament. Jacob Evans, if you’re reading this, get on the court ASAP.
Team Outlook
Red Rose War Ready has a lot of talent, and almost everyone played in last year’s TBT, which should give them a bump. They have several Auburn players as mentioned, which should give them a bit of a chemistry boost, and hopefully a few Auburn fans in Vegas will show up to support them. This team has a nice blend of guards and wings, and watch out for John Harrar, who had 13 rebounds in his only game last year.
To be honest, Red Rose War Ready are huge underdogs to arguably the best team in the entire tournament, Heartfire Elite. However, with the two of three format, that can give them opportunities to adjust and find the best team to give them a chance for the 2 million dollar prize.