La Familia Finalizes TBT Roster Adjustments Ahead of Saturday Opener
La Familia, the Kentucky alumni team competing in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), is finalizing its roster for this weekend’s highly anticipated series against The Ville. The team has navigated a turbulent week of personnel changes, losing two key players while successfully securing a late addition to bolster its frontcourt.
The team is set to open its best-of-three series against The Ville on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET at Memorial Coliseum, with the game broadcast on FOX. The series will continue to Freedom Hall on Monday night and, if necessary, return to Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday, July 22.
Roster Shakeups: Injuries and Personal Matters
La Familia’s preparation for the tournament has been marked by significant roster turnover. On Tuesday, Reid Travis withdrew from the event due to a back injury. Shortly thereafter, sources confirmed that former Kentucky point guard Quade Green would also be unable to participate due to a personal matter at home.
These absences leave the team managing a tight timeline to meet TBT regulations, which require alumni teams to include at least seven former players to compete. Additionally, guard Archie Goodwin is confirmed to be unavailable for Saturday’s opening game due to a scheduling conflict. Goodwin is expected to rejoin the roster for Game Two at Freedom Hall and Game Three, should the series require it.
General Manager Twany Beckham acknowledged the difficulties in managing these shifts. “We exhaust all efforts getting guys committed to play and securing their travel plans to Lexington,” Beckham said. “Unfortunately, things happen that are totally out of our team’s control.”
Marcus Lee Joins Frontcourt Rotation
In a successful effort to stabilize the roster, La Familia secured the commitment of former Kentucky forward Marcus Lee. Lee, who played for the Wildcats from 2013 to 2016 before transferring to Cal, brings significant size and professional experience to the team. Following his college career, Lee spent time in the G League and has played internationally in countries including Greece, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Poland, and the Philippines. Most recently, he signed with the Johor Southern Tigers in Malaysia.
Lee’s addition is particularly relevant given his history with the Kentucky program; he memorably stepped into a larger role during the 2014 Sweet 16 after Willie Cauley-Stein suffered an injury. He later earned Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team honors during that postseason. Lee also carries prior TBT experience, having played for the Bluegrass Boys in 2019 and the Aftershocks in 2023.
Current Roster and Tournament Outlook
As of Wednesday, La Familia’s roster stands at ten players, with nine available for the Saturday opener. The team is coached by Jon Hood, with Twany Beckham serving as General Manager. The roster includes the following personnel:
| Name | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Willie Cauley-Stein | Center | Kentucky |
| Andrew Harrison | Point Guard | Kentucky |
| Kahlil Whitney | Small Forward | Kentucky |
| Archie Goodwin* | Guard | Kentucky |
| DeAndre Liggins | Shooting Guard | Kentucky |
| Marcus Lee | Power Forward | Kentucky / Cal |
| James Mainor-Bell | Guard | Talladega College |
| Sean McNeil | Guard | West Virginia / Ohio State |
| Chris Coffey | Forward | Georgetown College (KY) |
| Darryl Morsell | Guard | Maryland / Marquette |
*Not available for Game 1
The matchup against The Ville comes as Willie Cauley-Stein prepares for what he has stated will be his final year participating in the tournament. He noted that the annual commitment required to prepare for the event has become increasingly difficult. As the team prepares for Saturday, La Familia officials indicated they remain active in exploring the addition of further players to strengthen the squad before the series begins.
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