Team uKnighted Ready For Jamboree This Weekend

Saturday is finally the day that Team uKnighted, a Rutgers heavy alumni team, begin their quest to make The Basketball Tournament, the popular summer event entering it’s third year of play. We have covered their journey every step of the way. The formation of Team uKnighted was announced in early April. It was then announced back in mid-May that they would be one of four entrants to play in the inaugural Jamboree play-in mini-tournament in Philadelphia this weekend. There are four regions hosting these four team single elimination events this weekend, with the winner of each region advancing to play in The Basketball Tournament

Team uKnighted is playing to earn a spot in the Northeast Region bracket, which would also take place in Philadelphia the weekend of July 8th and 9th. There have been some recent roster changes, with former Rutgers player Jerome Coleman and former Stony Brook big man Dallis Joyner dropping out. However, there are still plenty of popular names on the current roster.

Update: Dallis Joyner will now play on Saturday, which is a big pickup for Team uKnighted,

Hopefully there will be at least a stretch in tomorrow’s game that the five players consist of an all-Rutgers alumni squad with Myles Mack at the point, Omari Grier at shooting guard, Dane Miller at the wing, along with Kadeem Jack and CJ Gettys down low. That’s not to say there isn’t some intriguing talent aside from the Rutgers alums on the roster. Stony Brook’s all-time leading scorer, Bryan Dougher, who is also Director of Operations for the program currently under head coach Steve Pikiell, is on the squad. Quincy Hankins-Cole is also on the team, as he played one season at Nebraska and has spent the past few years playing professionally overseas. The roster also includes former LaSalle guard Tyreek Duren, who scored 1,726 points and dished out 500 assists in his college career.

As for the rosters of all four teams playing Saturday in the Jamboree, there are some familiar names to basketball fans, including Earl Boykins and Kenny Satterfield. There will even be a reunion of sorts on the court when Team uKnighted takes on Silver Spring’s Willows, as former Rutgers guard Jerome Seagers is on their team. He was a part of former coach Mike Rice’s heralded 2011 recruiting class, along with Mack and Jack, before transferring to UNLV to finish his collegiate career.

Team uKnighted will play at Philadelphia University on Saturday at 5:45 p.m., with the winner advancing to Sunday’s play-in final at 4:15 p.m. against the winner of Champions versus Stars & Stripes.

The games will be streamed live on ESPN3. We will be following and sending updates via our twitter account. Best of luck to Team uKnighted and hopefully they can advance through this weekend and move on to The Basketball Tournament. If you are interested in attending, information is below.