It was Summer, 2015, and Errick McCollum (6'1''-G-88, college: Goshen) had a family vacation planned.
But, McCollum's agent, Drew Morrison, had other ideas and was begging his client to play in The Basketball Tournament, then in its second year of existence. Morrison's team, Overseas Elite, needed a fifth player for the opening game, and he needed McCollum. The point guard reluctantly agreed to play.
Twenty-five consecutive wins later, McCollum is glad he bypassed the vacation.
That Saturday afternoon at Clayton State University, a dynasty was born, and it continued on Friday night with Overseas Elite's fourth consecutive TBT title.
Justin Burrell (6'10''-F-88, college: St.John's) scored 15 points, including the final one on a free throw that hit the Target Score, sending Overseas Elite past Eberlein Drive, 70-58.
'He finishes inside,' said McCollum of Burrell. 'He's the first guy we had that could post up inside. He just changes the game. He's a beast.'
Tournament MVP DJ Kennedy (6'6''-F-89, college: St.John's) and McCollum scored 14 points apiece for the winners, who outscored Eberlein Drive, 18-8, in the fourth quarter.
'This is group of champions,' said coach Marcus Hughes . 'Guys who have championship attitudes first, not just championship talent-championship character.'
McCollum was asked to sum up the historic nature of his team's run.
'People don't give us the respect that we deserve because it's not the NBA or even the EuroLeague,' he said. 'But, this is open competition-the best players in the world outside the NBA. Everyone knows who we are, and they're stacking up to beat us….We just come out and do our job...and we'll leave it for all of you to debate. It's got to be something that's historic and something that will never be repeated again.'
Jerome Randle (5'9''-PG-87, college: California) and Donald Sloan (6'3''-G-88, college: Texas A&M) tallied 14 points apiece in the losing effort for Eberlein Drive, which was undone by 22% three-point shooting and 53% free-throw shooting.
Photo: TBT
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Hughes
