Best Virginia, Herd That learn their draws for The Basketball Tournament

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Best Virginia and Herd That will hit the road for the opening rounds of the 2024 edition of The Basketball Tournament. The TBT announced their 64-team tournament draw on Wednesday morning.

Herd That is seeded No. 1 in the eight-team Lexington Regional at the University of Kentucky’s Rupp Arena. The Marshall alumni team will face No. 8 seed Jackson TN Boom in the opening round of the single-elimination tournament on July 19 at 3 p.m. Kentucky alumni team La Familia is seeded second. Jackson TN Boom is making their TBT debut.

Herd That advanced to the TBT National semifinals in 2023 after winning the West Virginia Regional and defeating Boeheim’s Army in the quarterfinals. Herd That owns an 8-4 all-time record in the TBT.

Eight players are confirmed on Herd That’s roster. Founding member Jon Elmore returns to lead the roster. Elmore spent this past season in the NBA Developmental League, competing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Cleveland Charge and the Stockton Kings.

Fellow Marshall graduates Jarrod West (Notre Dame H.S.), Rondale Watson, Ryan Taylor and Stevie Browning are also back to compete for Herd That once again.

Best Virginia won the West Virginia Regional in 2022 and the WVU alumni team will compete in the Pittsburgh Regional at the Petersen Events Center. Regional quarterfinal games are set for July 20. Best Virginia is the No. 3 seed in the region and they will meet No. 6 Brotherly Love in the opening-round contest at 3 p.m. Brotherly Love is a Philadelphia-based team.

Stars of Storrs (UConn alumni) is the No. 1 seed in the Pittsburgh region. If Best Virginia wins their opening-round game, they will face the Zoo Crew (Pittsburgh alumni)/Million $ Worth of Game winner in the regional semifinals on July 22.

Best Virginia owns a 7-4 all-time TBT record. In addition to his role as general manager, WVU and Wheeling Central High School graduate Chase Harler will serve as the team’s head coach. Harler steps in for James Long, who was recently named the head coach at the University of Charleston.

Kevin Jones, Best Virginia’s top player in the history of the event, will transition into the role of assistant coach. Current players listed on the Best Virginia roster are Harler, Esa Ahmad, former general manager John Flowers, Jonathan Holton, Sagaba Konate, Sean McNeil, Taz Sherman, Tarik Phillip, Teyvon Myers and Wes Harris. Former Indiana State forward Xavier Bledson is scheduled to join Best Virginia this summer.

Best Virginia is scheduled to play an exhibition game at Buckhannon-Upshur High School on Friday, July 12.