HBCUnited is back and ready to make another run in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) for the one million dollar prize with a roster full of talent.
HBCUnited, the only HBCU alumni team competing in the 10th Anniversary of The Basketball Tournament, TBT, returns for their third year with fresh faces and a few returners. This year’s roster is stacked with the talent and experience needed to power HBCUnited deep into the tournament with the chance of winning it all in the championship.
After taking down highly ranked seeds Skip To My Lou and YGC in last year’s tournament, HBCUnited would come up short in the Sweet Sixteen in a tight game against the eventual runner-up, Americana for Autism. HBCUnited looks to build on last year’s success to officially establish itself as a strong program.
The highly anticipated roster is complete and they are on their way to Lubbock, Texas to open up the first round against In The Lab on Wednesday, July 19 at 4 p.m. EST on ESPN. Check out the 2023 roster below:
DEVANTE CARTER
POSITION
Guard
LAST TEAM
Charlotte Purple Jackets (TBL North Carolina)
COLLEGE
Norfolk State & Nicholls State
AGE
25
HEIGHT
6’3
ABOUT
Devante Carter will return with HBCUnited for his second year for TBT 2023. In TBT 2022 Carter led HBCUnited in assists with averages of 9.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 7 rebounds a game. Carter had a 2-year career at Norfolk State before transferring to Nicholls State for his final season in 2021-22. He had career averages of 12.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. The Virginia native played his high school ball at the well-known Montverde Academy in Florida.
MALIQUE TRENT
POSITION
Guard
LAST TEAM
Ironi Nahariya (Israel)
COLLEGE
TCU & Hampton
AGE
29
HEIGHT
6’3
ABOUT
Malique Trent will appear in this year’s TBT once again with HBCUnited. Trent played collegiately at TCU for two years (2015-2017) before transferring to Hampton. In his only year with the Pirates, he averaged a career-high 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Since college, he has been playing overseas in Ukraine, Romania, Iran, Russia, and most recently Israel. Last TBT, Trent put up 10.3 PPG.
KYLE O’QUINN
POSITION
Center
LAST TEAM
San-En Neophoenix
COLLEGE
Norfolk State
AGE
33
HEIGHT
6’10
ABOUT
Kyle O’Quinn will be making his TBT debut this summer as he will be playing for HBCUnited, as well as being an assistant coach. Kyle attended Norfolk State to play at the collegiate level, who are known for upsetting the then-#2 seed Missouri Tigers in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. After completing his collegiate eligibility, he was drafted 49th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, who would play three seasons with them and would then see stops for the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and lastly with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2019-2020 season. Currently, he plays overseas in Japan for San-en NeoPhoenix and is averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
DANA TATE JR.
POSITION
Power Forward
LAST TEAM
Norfolk State
COLLEGE
Norfolk State
AGE
23
HEIGHT
6’7
ABOUT
Dana Tate Jr joins HBCUnited after spending this past season playing collegiately for Norfolk State. Tate played two seasons for the Spartans, where he averaged 9.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He is reuniting with his college coach, Robert Jones, as they look to make a run towards the $1 million.
DERRICK GRIFFIN
POSITION
Power Forward
LAST TEAM
Texas Legends
COLLEGE
Texas Southern University
AGE
29
HEIGHT
6’8
ABOUT
Derrick Griffin will bring athleticism and size to HBCUnited in this year’s tournament. Griffin is a two-sport athlete from Houston, Texas, and was the third-ranked wide receiver in the 2013 football recruiting class. Playing both sports at Texas Southern, he led the SWAC in touchdown catches as a redshirt freshman and was named to the 2015 All-SWAC Football Team. On the court, he averaged a double-double along with over 2 blocks per game. In the 2015-16 season, he set the conference single-season record for consecutive double-doubles with 12 and was named SWAC Player of the Year. Griffin has spent his professional career with four different NBA G-League teams, most recently with the Texas Legends.
ROGER RAY JR.
POSITION
Point Guard
LAST TEAM
Black Star Mersch (Luxembourg)
COLLEGE
Livingstone
AGE
26
HEIGHT
5’10
ABOUT
The North Carolina native is looking to set his The Basketball Tournament debut this summer season with the HBCUnited. Roger Ray Jr. played all four years at Livingstone College, averaging 23 points, 5 assists per game, and 37% beyond the arc. During his time there he earned many honors such as being the Livingstone College All-Time Leading Scorer, Assist Leader, Steals Leader, MVP, 4 Time All-Conference, and 4 time All-American among others. The dynamic scoring guard has played professionally overseas since graduating college. He has most recently played for Black Star Mersch in Luxembourg.
SAIQUAN JAMISON
POSITION
Power Forward
LAST TEAM
Vitória SC (Portugal)
COLLEGE
Bowie State
AGE
25
HEIGHT
6’7
ABOUT
Saiquan Jamison is set to make his TBT debut with HBCUnited this summer. Jamison played collegiately at Bowie State before taking his talents overseas to continue his basketball career. Since becoming pro, he has played in the United Kingdom, Finland, and most recently Portugal for Vitória SC. This past season in Portugal he averaged 7.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest.
STANLEY DAVIS JR.
POSITION
Shooting Guard
LAST TEAM
Lidors (Lebanon)
COLLEGE
Morgan State
AGE
24
HEIGHT
6’5
ABOUT
Stanley Davis Jr will play for HBCUnited in this summer’s TBT. The Chester, Pennsylvania native played college ball at Morgan State from 2016-20. He averaged 13.7 PPG 6.0 RPG 2.5 APG and was named All-MEAC Third Team his senior season. He played in Lebanon for the Liders this past season and averaged 20.3 PPG 5.0 RPG 4.0 APG.
TAJH GREEN
POSITION
Power Forward
LAST TEAM
Manchester Giants (England)
COLLEGE
Benedict College
AGE
25
HEIGHT
6’8
ABOUT
Tajh Green will be joining HBCUnited at The Basketball Tournament in 2023 after his first season of professional basketball with the Manchester Giants. Green previously spent his last three seasons of college ball at Benedict College in his hometown of Columbia, South Carolina.
THOMAS “SNACKS” LEE
POSITION
Shooting Guard
COLLEGE
Jackson State
AGE
26
HEIGHT
6’0
ABOUT
Thomas “Snacks” Lee will suit up for HBCUnited in TBT 2023. Snacks was a manager for the Jackson State basketball team during his college career. He is most known for the viral moment on Jackson State’s Senior Night when Snacks was subbed into the game with just over two minutes left and then proceeded to drain a deep three-pointer. The Jackson State alum was awarded an ESPY in 2020.
WALTER WILLIAMS III
POSITION
Guard
LAST TEAM
Black Frogs (Luxembourg)
COLLEGE
Virginia State
AGE
26
HEIGHT
6’5
ABOUT
Walter Williams will be back in TBT, but this time with HBCUnited for the 2023 tournament. Williams played his entire collegiate career at Virginia State. Averaging 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game in his senior season. He has most recently been playing professionally in Luxembourg with the Black Frogs. Last summer in his first TBT appearance, Williams dropped 16 points and 6 boards in Fully Loaded’s lone game.
ROBERT JONES
ABOUT
Robert Jones will be the Head Coach of HBCUnited for The Basketball Tournament in 2023. Jones has been the Head Basketball coach of Norfolk State University for the past ten seasons.