PREVIEW: La Familia opens TBT Lexington Regional on Friday against Stroh's Squad

The 2025 edition of The Basketball Tournament begins this week across the country. Only 61 teams make up this year’s bracket, with three number one seeds receiving automatic first-round byes. Kentucky’s alumni team, La Familia, was not lucky enough to advance without having to play in the opener, but that’ll just make the team’s run to winning $1 million that much sweeter.

Games begin on Thursday, but La Familia’s start isn’t until Friday night. Up first? 8-seed Stroh’s Squad in the Lexington Regional. As the host team, the UK alums will look to win three games in Memorial Coliseum, which could potentially set up another Kentucky-Louisville TBT quarterfinal showdown, which was easily the most exciting game of last year’s tournament (you remember spitgate, right?) and the most-watched attended game in TBT history.

We won’t look too far ahead, though. La Familia has to take care of business Friday night against Stroh’s Squad. Tipoff inside Memorial is set for 9:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FS1. Tickets are still available if you want to come see the many former Wildcats suiting up on this year’s roster.

La Familia returns a handful of players from last summer, including the Harrison twins, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Kerem Kanter. But several new faces have been added this time around, such as Kahlil Whitney, Archie Goodwin, Doron Lamb, DeAndre Liggins, and even Ansley Almonor, who was on Mark Pope‘s first Kentucky team in 2024-25.

Rounding out the roster will be a couple of non-UK alums, but guys who hold connections to the state. Marques Warrick, who was born in Lexington and attended Henry Clay, was a star at NKU before spending last season at Missouri. DJ Burns played under La Familia head coach Sean Woods when the two were together at Southern, and he even had a stop at Murray State. Also of note, Kanter, who became a fan favorite last year, is the brother of former Wildcat center Enes Kanter.

After making it to the semifinals in its debut last summer, La Familia has an even deeper and arguably more talented roster going into year two. Will that be enough to win six games and take home the grand prize? Let’s learn a little bit more about what lies ahead for La Familia in KSR’s preview of the Lexington Regional.

2025 La Familia roster

• Ansley Almonor (2024-25)
• Kahlil Whitney (2019–2020)
• Aaron Harrison (2013-15)
• Andrew Harrison (2013-15)
• Willie Cauley-Stein (2012-15)
• Archie Goodwin (2012–2013)
• Doron Lamb (2010–2012)
• DeAndre Liggins (2008–2011)
• DJ Burns (Southern, Murray State, & Youngstown State)
• Kerem Kanter (Wisconsin-Green Bay & Xavier)
• Marques Warrick (Northern Kentucky & Missouri)

Head Coach: Sean Woods
General Manager: Twany Beckham

TBT Lexington Regional Seed List

#1 Seed: La Familia (Kentucky Alumni)

#2 Seed: Eberlein Drive

• AJ Slaughter (Western Kentucky)
• Anthony Clemmons (Iowa)
• Aubrey Dawkins (Michigan & Central Florida)
• Christian Mekowulu (Tennessee State & Texas A&M)
• Coty Clarke (Arkansas & Lawson Community College)
• Dayvion McKnight (Western Kentucky & Xavier)
• Gabe York (Arizona)
• Junathaen Watson (Providence)
• Pedro Bradshaw (Bellarmine)
• Rion Brown (Miami)
• Terrell Brown (Washington)
• Terry Taylor (Austin Peay)
• Tommy Rutherford (UC Irvine)

Those of you who hail from the Bluegrass State will notice a couple of names on this year’s Eberlein Drive roster. AJ Slaughter (WKU) and Dayvion McKnight (WKU, Xavier) will suit up for what is one of only two teams still involved from the inaugural TBT back in 2014. Slaughter, who has played in TBT multiple times before, is a Louisville native who attended Shelby County High School before his time at WKU. McKnight is from Shelbyville and won the 2020 Mr. Basketball award with Collins before embarking on his college career, which wrapped up this past season with Xavier. Pedro Bradshaw is a Bellarmine alum. Keep an eye on Gabe York, too, who spent time in the NBA after an All-Conference career at Arizona.

#3 Seed: Dunkin Dogs (Louisiana Tech Alumni)

• Alex Hamilton (Louisiana Tech)
• Collin Holloway (Georgetown, Tulane, & Samford)
• Darius Washington (Memphis)
• Dravon Mangum (Louisiana Tech)
• Erik McCree (Louisiana Tech)
• Ishmael Lane (Northwestern State)
• Jackson Trapp (Florida Atlantic)
• Keith Clanton (Central Florida)
• Raheem Appleby (Louisiana Tech)
• Tahlik Chavez (Louisiana Tech)
• Tyree Appleby (Cleveland State)
• Victor Ohia-Obioha (Pepperdine)

Made up mostly of Louisiana Tech alums, there aren’t many recognizable names on this roster, but there is plenty of mid-major college talent. Several players were All-Conference members during their time at LA Tech, including Alex Hamilton (three times), Raheem Appleby (three times), Erik McCree (two times), and Tahlik Chavez (one time). Most of the players on this roster were highly productive talents at their respective schools. Don’t sleep on the Dunkin Dogs as a potential upset pick in this region.

#4 Seed: War Ready (Auburn Alumni)

• Antoine Mason (Auburn)
• Babatunde Akingbola (Auburn, George Washington)
• Darin Green Jr. (Florida State)
• Ja’Heim Hudson (Georgia State, SMU, & Auburn)
• Jomaru Brown (Eastern Kentucky)
• KD Johnson (Georgia, Auburn, & George Mason)
• Laron Smith (Auburn)
• Malik Dunbar (Auburn)
• Naheem McLeod (Florida State & Syracuse)
• Romani Hansen (Albany)
• Terell Smith (Limestone)
• Tim Dalger (Tulsa)
• Travis McConico (Charleston Southern)
• Wendell Green Jr. (Auburn)
• Xavier Brewer (Morehouse & Alabama A&M)

The Auburn alums will be an easy team for the Big Blue Nation to root against, especially with KD Johnson serving as one of the headliners. Other notable former Tiger players on the roster include Malik Dunbar and Wendell Green Jr., who both spent two seasons at Auburn. Darin Green Jr. is only a year removed from averaging 11.3 points per game at Florida State. Jomaru Brown spent four seasons at Eastern Kentucky (2018-22; All-OVC as a sophomore) before finishing his college career at Coastal Carolina.

#5 Seed: X-Rayted

• Brandon Armstrong (Lincoln Memorial)
• Chanceler Gettys (Rutgers)
• Damian Young (Valdosta State)
• Daniel Ochefu (Villanova)
• Elijah Pemberton (Hofstra)
• Jaiden Delaire (Stanford)
• Jaylen Johnson (Louisville)
• Jordan Allen (Lynn)
• Josh Hagins (Arkansas-Little Rock)
• Lance Thomas (Memphis)
• New Williams (Auburn & Fresno State)
• Nico Galette (Youngstown State)
• Trevon Duval (Duke)
• Wildens Leveque (Texas A&M)
• Zahir Porter (Weber State)

Slotted as the 5-seed in this region, X-Rayted’s roster includes plenty of talent. Daniel Ochefu is nearly a decade removed from college, but the 6-foot-11 big man won a national title at Villanova as a starter his senior season in 2015-16. New Williams averaged 11.9 points per game as a senior at Fresno State in 2019-20, while Trevon Duval was a one-and-done at Duke following the 2017-18 season, although he went undrafted. Former Louisville forward Jaylen Johnson (2014-17) is also on the roster, along with Wildens Leveque, who spent three seasons at South Carolina (2019-22) and one more at Texas A&M (2023-24).

#6 Seed: Tampa Florida Pickup Basketball

• Brandon Stroud (South Florida)
• David Collins (South Florida)
• Devin Harris (Jacksonville)
• Dionte Bostick (New Mexico State)
• Francis Sio (Wingate & Saint Leo)
• Garrett Denbow (Anderson)
• Isaiah Adams (Toledo)
• Jamille Reynolds (South Florida)
• Justin Blanks (McKendree)
• Mason Harrell (Winston Salem State)
• Trey Doomes (Nova Southeastern)

David Collins, who spent four seasons at South Florida and one at Clemson as a double-figure scorer, will be a name to know for Tampa Florida Pickup. Brandon Stroud and Devin Harris were the A-SUN Defensive Players of the Year in 2022-23 and 2017-18, respectively. Jamilee Reynolds was an All-ACC player just last season at South Florida. The likes of Isaiah Adams and Dionte Bostick were also productive college players. With plenty of solid top-end talent, this team could be another sleeper pick in the Lexington Regional

#7 Seed: Richards Elite

• Ange Yapo (Bridgton Academy)
• Brett Thompson (Tennessee Tech & Youngstown State)
• Calvin Godfrey (Memphis)
• Chase Adams (Jackson State)
• Chase Audige (Northwestern)
• D’Angelo Hunter (Nicholls State, WVU, & Navarro College)
• Harry Godwin (Myerscough)
• Johnny Hughes III (UIW)
• Joshua Phillips (Grambling State)
• Marlon Johnson (New Mexico Highlands)
• Michael Mays (King)
• Myles Hesson (East London)
• Walt Lemons Jr. (Bradley)
• Will Perry (Lenior-Rhyne)

Nearly half of Richards Elite roster features guys who did not make it to the Division I level, but there are players to pay attention to. Walt Lemon Jr. (who spent some time in the NBA several years ago) was a two-time All-MVC/MVC All-Defense talent at Bradley, Brett Thompson is a year removed from averaging 12.6 points per game at Youngstown State, Chase Audige was an All-Big Ten player at Northwestern, and Chase Adams recently put up solid numbers for Jackson State.

#8 Seed: Stroh’s Squad

• Austin Burdue
• Brian Harris Jr. (Lakeland Community College)
• David Johnson (Mount Mercy)
• Jack Appleby (Hope International)
• Jordan Burdue (Bluffton)
• Marlon Sierra (Bowling Green State)
• Matthias Nicoletti (Lakeland Community College)
• Philip Snow (Bluffton)
• Riley Grigsby (Seattle)
• Torin Washington (New Mexico Highlands)
• Trey Phills (Yale)

Stroh’s Squad is La Familia’s first matchup — and they shouldn’t be much of an issue for the Kentucky alums. They’re the 8-seed for a reason. 6-foot-6 guard Riley Grigsby is the most well-known of the bunch, having spent five seasons at Seattle, where he was named All-WAC twice. Trey Phils was also a solid player at Yale, even making the All-Ivy League team as a junior. But otherwise, the team is made up of community college or non-Division I-level hoopers.

The Lexington Regional bracket

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