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Carmine CarcieriESPN
It has been over three months since we organized hoops in the United States, but basketball officially returns this weekend with July 4th fireworks. The Basketball Tournament begins its 11-day tournament, which includes nine alumni teams and a four-time champion, starting with the round of 24 on ESPN networks on Saturday.
After reviewing each team on the field and breaking down the top talents across all rosters, let’s dive into the top 10 players to watch on the TBT 2020 field.
1. Joe Johnson (Elite Abroad)
It is no secret that “Iso Joe” is the best and most successful TBT player this year. Among his seven appearances in the All-Star Game and 20,405 total points in the NBA, Johnson has a unique resume like any other he has played in this event. The guard is just two years away from adjusting to the Houston Rockets, so there’s a lot of intrigue as to whether Johnson will dominate like the good old days despite being on a loaded roster.
2. Aaron Craft (Carmen’s Crew – Ohio State students)
With medical school on the horizon, this is Craft’s last event before retirement. Carmen’s Crew is coming off its first TBT title, but Craft & Co. will face a whole new challenge this year with the Overseas Elite reload and a much deeper field overall. While William Buford is the team’s top scorer, Craft’s intangibles are the main reason the Ohio State alumni team returns as the best seed.
3. Isaiah Austin (Team Heartfire)
It’s not every day that we get to see this 7-foot-1 defensive force, as Austin is playing in his second organized event in the United States since he was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome. Its length and strength in the paint give Team Heartfire a chance to perfectly match opponents in their tie, such as Isaac Haas and Men of Mackey, as well as the Boeheim Army.
4. DJ Kennedy (Elite Abroad)
While Johnson is the best overall talent in Overseas Elite, there is no doubt that the former St. John Kennedy striker has the best credentials at the TBT level. Kennedy, a two-time MVP of the event, helped guide his team to four consecutive titles, thanks to his overall skills. It’s hard to forget when Kennedy lost 24 points in the 2015 final or when he averaged 15 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 2017.
5. Eric Devendorf (Boeheim Army – Syracuse Alumni)
There are certainly more flashy players in the Boeheim Army, but Devendorf is a two-time scoring champion in the New Zealand National Basketball League and has a history of success on TBT. While Malachi Richardson is the best player on Syracuse’s alumni team, there is no question that Devendorf’s scoring skills make him stand out.
6. Dwight Buycks (Golden Eagles – Marquette alumni)
After averaging the fifth highest number of points on TBT last year, Buycks returned to help lead the Golden Eagles alongside Jamil Wilson. As evidenced by his French MVP Pro A Foreign award and his appearance in the All-Star Game in 2013, Marquette’s former guard possesses the skill set to take over a game in a hurry due to his ability for easy cubes.
7. Jarrett Jack (Elite Abroad)
There’s no denying how stacked the Overseas Elite roster is, as this 13-year-old former NBA veteran is the team’s third player to appear on this roster. What can the point guard bring to the table at age 36 and two years removed from his last NBA stint with the New York Knicks? We’ll know when he partners with Johnson in his first appearance on TBT.
8. Mike Daum (‘Paign House – Illinois Alumni)
As a third-team All-American, three-time Summit League Player of the Year, and 3,000-point scorer, this former South Dakota state legend is one of the most successful former college players in this tournament. Its versatility and ability to play inside and out will give the Illinois alumni team a different dimension as they try to make a Cinderella career.
9. Hasheem Thabeet (Playing for Jimmy V)
A former No. 2 overall pick and a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year on a replacement team? That’s exactly what’s happening for Playing For Jimmy V, as the former UConn big man landed earlier this week. It’s been a while since we saw the 33-year-old tie the kicks on national television, so this could be an opportunity for him to progress slowly toward another NBA deal.
10. Wade Baldwin (The Money Team)
There’s one thing you can never question with this former Vanderbilt guard: his talent. Baldwin was a four-star high school recruit and averaged 14.1 points per game in his second college season before being selected in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft. At just 24 years old, Baldwin can push for a place on an NBA roster leading Floyd Mayweather’s team deep into the bracket.
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