SE: K-State Hoops Alumni Back for More Than Million-Dollar Prize
Jun 30, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
Somewhere between the rehearsal dinner and the wedding vows, Jordan Henriquez was going to get his guys on a basketball court.
Former K-State Men's Basketball player Nino Williams was getting married in Kansas City and the guest list included plenty of names that Henriquez will coach later this summer.
He will be on the sidelines for Purple & Black, a team of K-State Men's Basketball alumni competing in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) for a $1-million-dollar prize on ESPN.
The opportunity in KC earlier this summer was too good to pass up.
"We had like a two-day minicamp with about five or six of us there," Henriquez said. "We had some gym availability and a really good trainer who was able to let us in a gym. It was a good opportunity to get after it."
TBT began in 2014, a summer showcase for former college and NBA players with eye-catching prize money, a hook - the Elam Ending used at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game - and an ESPN deal that will televise games across the country.
For Henriquez, the opportunity is a little more personal.
"It's about being able to regroup, share memories with each other and grow our friendships," he said. "That's what it's all about. Everybody goes their separate ways once they graduate, whether it's playing basketball or a different profession. This gives us a reason to get together."
The roster in 2021 will include former K-State Men's Basketball players Curtis Kelly, Martavious Irving, Thomas Gipson, D.J. Johnson, Justin Edwards, Cartier Diarra, Kamau Stokes and Ron Freeman.
Purple & Black last competed at TBT in 2019, but the squad has been a regular at the tournament, with the 2017 team making the sort of run that keeps former 'Cats coming back.
That year, Purple & Black advanced through the Peoria Regional with a victory over the Canton Bulldogs and a team of Iowa State alumni, before their run ended at the tournament's Super 16 in Brooklyn.
Gipson was a big part of that team, as the K-State alumnus has made TBT a regular part of his offseason plans during a six-year professional basketball career in Europe and Mexico.
"It was nice to have a mix of the older generation, not saying that they're old, but the people that came in before mixed in with some fresh talent," he said. "It's coming back around now, where guys like me are looked at as the older generation of former K-State players. I'm just happy to play with these guys again. That's what makes TBT so special."
Gipson and Irving will be the veterans on Purple & Black this summer, while players like Stokes and Diarra will make up the younger generation of former Wildcats on the team's 12-man roster, announced earlier this month.
That also gives Purple & Black a pair of players from the 2010 and 2018 K-State teams that reached the Elite Eight.
And every former Wildcat on the team was coached by K-State head coach Bruce Weber, the sort of common ground that makes life easier for Henriquez.
"Everybody played for Coach, and it shows the job that Coach did keeping that connection between us," Henriquez said. "We did our part as well, but Coach has done the little things whether it's inviting us back for camps or giving us an opportunity to come back for games and to watch practice. Things like that have helped our friendships and relationships down the line."
Purple & Black will kick off TBT in Wichita, with a first-round matchup against Omaha Blue Crew, a team of Creighton alumni, on July 16.
Henriquez is also the team's GM, responsible for organizing a squad of former Wildcats based across the globe during basketball season, from Gipson in Turkey to Stokes in Sweden.
To fill out the roster, Henriquez recruited four other players he's crossed paths with during his basketball career.
Marquis Addison (Missouri Southern State) is a Purple & Black veteran and longtime friend of former K-State player Will Spradling. Other players include Trevor Gaskins (Ole Miss/Louisiana Tech) and Moses Morgan (DePaul/Cal State Fullerton), former teammates of Henriquez.
Marvin Clark (Michigan State/St John's) was a player that Henriquez met as a K-State recruit.
Henriquez recently completed his second season as a member of the K-State Men's Basketball coaching staff, a two-year role as a Graduate Student Manager.
As he continues to plot the next step in his coaching career, Henriquez will be focused exclusively on the sidelines for Purple & Black this summer.
"That was probably the hardest decision for me," he said. "But knowing guys like Thomas Gipson and D.J. Johnson are in their prime, going at it every season and making money for their families, I was fine passing it off. I know how hard they go and what they can do for this team."
All of them have the same goal this summer.
"You've got to understand, these are guys who are playing overseas and guys that are former professionals. This is high-level basketball," Gipson said. "We prepare for any game like it's a real, professional game. That's what I learned in the last tournament. Are we here to just hang out? Or are we here to win a million dollars?"
Somewhere between the rehearsal dinner and the wedding vows, Jordan Henriquez was going to get his guys on a basketball court.
Former K-State Men's Basketball player Nino Williams was getting married in Kansas City and the guest list included plenty of names that Henriquez will coach later this summer.
He will be on the sidelines for Purple & Black, a team of K-State Men's Basketball alumni competing in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) for a $1-million-dollar prize on ESPN.
The opportunity in KC earlier this summer was too good to pass up.
"We had like a two-day minicamp with about five or six of us there," Henriquez said. "We had some gym availability and a really good trainer who was able to let us in a gym. It was a good opportunity to get after it."
TBT began in 2014, a summer showcase for former college and NBA players with eye-catching prize money, a hook - the Elam Ending used at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game - and an ESPN deal that will televise games across the country.
For Henriquez, the opportunity is a little more personal.
"It's about being able to regroup, share memories with each other and grow our friendships," he said. "That's what it's all about. Everybody goes their separate ways once they graduate, whether it's playing basketball or a different profession. This gives us a reason to get together."
The roster in 2021 will include former K-State Men's Basketball players Curtis Kelly, Martavious Irving, Thomas Gipson, D.J. Johnson, Justin Edwards, Cartier Diarra, Kamau Stokes and Ron Freeman.
Purple & Black last competed at TBT in 2019, but the squad has been a regular at the tournament, with the 2017 team making the sort of run that keeps former 'Cats coming back.
That year, Purple & Black advanced through the Peoria Regional with a victory over the Canton Bulldogs and a team of Iowa State alumni, before their run ended at the tournament's Super 16 in Brooklyn.
Gipson was a big part of that team, as the K-State alumnus has made TBT a regular part of his offseason plans during a six-year professional basketball career in Europe and Mexico.
"It was nice to have a mix of the older generation, not saying that they're old, but the people that came in before mixed in with some fresh talent," he said. "It's coming back around now, where guys like me are looked at as the older generation of former K-State players. I'm just happy to play with these guys again. That's what makes TBT so special."
Gipson and Irving will be the veterans on Purple & Black this summer, while players like Stokes and Diarra will make up the younger generation of former Wildcats on the team's 12-man roster, announced earlier this month.
That also gives Purple & Black a pair of players from the 2010 and 2018 K-State teams that reached the Elite Eight.
And every former Wildcat on the team was coached by K-State head coach Bruce Weber, the sort of common ground that makes life easier for Henriquez.
"Everybody played for Coach, and it shows the job that Coach did keeping that connection between us," Henriquez said. "We did our part as well, but Coach has done the little things whether it's inviting us back for camps or giving us an opportunity to come back for games and to watch practice. Things like that have helped our friendships and relationships down the line."
Purple & Black will kick off TBT in Wichita, with a first-round matchup against Omaha Blue Crew, a team of Creighton alumni, on July 16.
Henriquez is also the team's GM, responsible for organizing a squad of former Wildcats based across the globe during basketball season, from Gipson in Turkey to Stokes in Sweden.
To fill out the roster, Henriquez recruited four other players he's crossed paths with during his basketball career.
Marquis Addison (Missouri Southern State) is a Purple & Black veteran and longtime friend of former K-State player Will Spradling. Other players include Trevor Gaskins (Ole Miss/Louisiana Tech) and Moses Morgan (DePaul/Cal State Fullerton), former teammates of Henriquez.
Marvin Clark (Michigan State/St John's) was a player that Henriquez met as a K-State recruit.
Henriquez recently completed his second season as a member of the K-State Men's Basketball coaching staff, a two-year role as a Graduate Student Manager.
As he continues to plot the next step in his coaching career, Henriquez will be focused exclusively on the sidelines for Purple & Black this summer.
"That was probably the hardest decision for me," he said. "But knowing guys like Thomas Gipson and D.J. Johnson are in their prime, going at it every season and making money for their families, I was fine passing it off. I know how hard they go and what they can do for this team."
All of them have the same goal this summer.
"You've got to understand, these are guys who are playing overseas and guys that are former professionals. This is high-level basketball," Gipson said. "We prepare for any game like it's a real, professional game. That's what I learned in the last tournament. Are we here to just hang out? Or are we here to win a million dollars?"
Players Mentioned
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