Heartfire (formerly known as Team 23) is an American

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

team that competes in

The Basketball Tournament The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an open-invitation, single-elimination tournament, single-elimination tournament played each summer in the United States, with the stakes being a cash prize (the most recent tournament in The Basketball Tournam ...

(TBT), an annual winner-take-all competition. The team has competed in each tournament since 2015, except for 2020. The team is composed of players from Arizona. , the team's

general manager A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P&L) responsibility. A general manager usually oversees most or all of ...

is Valparaiso alumnus

Homer Drew Homer Walter Drew Jr. (born September 29, 1944) is an American former college basketball coach and administrator who coached at Washington State Cougars men's basketball, Washington State, LSU, Bethel College (Indiana), Bethel College, Indiana-S ...

, and the head coach is

LaPhonso Ellis LaPhonso Darnell Ellis (born May 5, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player and college basketball analyst. He played for 11 years in the National Basketball Association after starring at Notre Dame. He worked as a broadcaster ...

History

The team was originally named after

Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player, who is currently a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Ass ...

's primary uniform number during his professional career—Team 23's general manager Michael Illiano wrote that his "basketball passion started with MJ".

2015

After being accepted into TBT 2015 with 165 registered fans, Team 23 opened its tournament run by defeating the West Coast Ronin, 91–67. The team notched another win in the second round, against

Richard Roby Richard Roby (born September 28, 1985) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Shinshu Brave Warriors of the Japanese B.League. He attended high school at Lawrence Academy at Groton, Massachusetts. Roby attended th ...

and Team Colorado, behind 28 points from

Davin White Davin White (born December 31, 1981) is an American professional basketball player for Venados de Mazatlán of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP). High school White played high school basketball at North High School, in Phoenix, ...

, by a score of 78–72. White was effective once more as Team 23 bested Team B-Ball Breakdown in the following game, 86–72, pushing them to the Super 17 round in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. At the Super 17, Team 23 defeated 7outz, 105–64, in their first game, allowing only two of their opponents' players to score over 10 points. Team 23 made the semifinal round of the tournament after they won their fifth straight game by double figures. The losing team, LA Unified, missed one of their players,

Ekene Ibekwe Ekenechukwu "E-Beks" Ibekwe (born July 19, 1985) is a Nigerian American professional basketball player for Urunday Universitario of the Liga Uruguaya de Básquetbol. He played college basketball for the University of Maryland at College Park ...

, and allowed Team 23 to score 11 straight points to begin the second half, en route to a 77–56 win. Team 23 entered the semifinals as the most efficient team of the tournament. In

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

on August 1, they defeated Ants Alumni, 87–76, to advance to the championship game. In the finals on August 2, Team 23 narrowly fell to

Overseas Elite Overseas Elite was an American basketball team that participated in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), an annual winner-take-all single-elimination tournament. The team won the tournament four consecutive times: 2015 (prize money $1 million), 201 ...

, 67–65.

Games

Roster

Zach Andrews Zachary Leon Andrews (born March 9, 1985) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Northern Arizona Suns of the NBA G League. He grew up in Rancho Cordova, California and played college basketball for Yuba College an ...

*Travis Gabbidon *Andrew Kelly *Augustine Okosun * Larry Owens *Dwight Pederson *Gabriel Sandoval * Alex Scales *Marcus Wells *

Source:

2016–2019

In TBT 2016, Team 23 was the top seed in the West Region, played in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. After winning their first two games, they fell to Team Colorado, the eventual tournament runner-up, by a score of 78–73.

Games

In TBT 2017, Team 23 was the fifth seed in the West Region, played in

Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

. They defeated 12th-seeded Pedro's Posse, 107–92, then lost to fourth-seeded Armored Athlete, 84–77.

Games

In TBT 2018, Team 23 was the eighth seed in the West Region, played in Los Angeles. They lost in the first round to the ninth-seeded CitiTeam Blazers, 82–71.

Games

Roster

*Augustine Okosun * Charlie Westbrook *Dermaine Crockrell * Larry Owens *

* David Bell *

Gabe Freeman Gabriel DeAndre Freeman (born November 5, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player. Freeman also has experience with the London Lightning in the NBL Canada and steered them to a 2012 Finals victory. He won the ASEAN Basketball L ...

Brandon Wood Richard Brandon Wood (born March 2, 1985) is an American former professional baseball infielder and Minor League Baseball manager (baseball), manager. He played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Basebal ...

* Anthony Stover *Andrew Kelly Source: In TBT 2019, Team 23 was the sixth seed in the

Greensboro Greensboro (; ) is a city in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 census, its population was 299,035; it was estimated to be 307,381 in 2024. It is the third-most populous city in North Carolina, af ...

Regional. They lost in the first round to third-seeded Power of the Paw ( Clemson alumni), 82–78.

Games

The team did not compete in the reduced-size (24 teams) TBT 2020.

2021

In TBT 2021, Team 23 was seeded sixth in the West Virginia Regional. They defeated Georgia Kingz in the first round, 91–64, Herd That in the second round, 74–71, and second-seeded Best Virginia in the regional semifinals, 75–67. Team 23 next faced top-seeded Sideline Cancer in the regional final, registering a 78–71 win. Team 23 then met Blue Collar U—who advanced from the Columbus Regional—in a tournament semifinal game on August 1; Team 23 won, 78–62. Team 23 met

Boeheim's Army Boeheim's Army are an American basketball team that participates in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), an annual winner-take-all single-elimination tournament. The team's roster consists of professional basketball players who compete outside of the ...

—who advanced from the Illinois Regional—in the championship game on August 78th; the game was won by Boeheim's Army, 69–67.

Games

Roster

* Daniel Ochefu *

Marcus Hall Marcus Thomas Jackson Hall (born 24 March 1976) is an English former footballer who played as a defender from 1994 until 2011. He had two spells with Coventry City, playing in the Premier League in his first, as well as playing in the Footba ...

*Victor Nickerson *

Charles Mitchell Charles Mitchell or Mitchel may refer to: * Charles Mitchell (academic) (born 1965), professor of law at University College, London * Charles Mitchell (American football) (born 1989), American football player * Charles Mitchell (basketball) (born ...

*Ashaun Dixon-Tatum * Dakarai Tucker * Craig Sword *

Michale Kyser Michale De’Vonta Kyser (born November 26, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played college basketball for Louisiana Tech. Early life Kyser was born in Victoria, T ...

* Walter Lemon Jr. *Terrell Smith *Eric Washington Source:

2022

In TBT 2022, The newly branded Heartfire was the first seed in the New Mexico regional. In the first round, they played Competitive Choice and won 84-75. In the 2nd round they played The Enchantment, (New Mexico alumni team) and won 79-74. In the third round, they played the LA Cheaters from the Drew League and won 86-72. In the fourth round, they played Blue Collar U (Buffalo alumni team) and lost 74-66

Games

2023

TBT 2023, Heartfire was the second seed in the Witchita 1 regional. In their first matchup they played Juco Products, (junior college alumni) and won 69-66. In their second matchup they played the LA Cheaters, (from the Drew league) and won 62-57. In their third matchup they played Mass Street, (Kansas alumni) and won 73-60. In their fourth matchup they played the Aftershocks, (Wichita State alumni) and won 76-53. In the semi-finals they played Herd That, (Marshall alumni) and won 73-68. In the Championship, they played Bleed Green, (North Texas alumni) and won 78-73.

Games

Roster

Eric Griffin Eric Griffin may refer to: * Eric Griffin (musician), American bass guitarist with Murderdolls * Eric Griffin (boxer), American boxer * Eric Griffin (basketball), American basketball player See also * Erik Griffin Erik Griffin (born March 12, ...

* Larry Owens * Tevin Mack *

* Richard Solomon * Raphiael Putney * Craig Sword *Walter Ellis *Justin Tuoyo *TreVion Crews * John Gillon Source:

2024

Games

Roster

* Tevin Mack *

Jordan Bell Jordan Trennie Bell (born January 7, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Indiana Mad Ants of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks. As a junior in 2017, Bell earned second-tea ...

* Richard Solomon * Larry Owens * Craig Sword * Raphiael Putney *Bryan Griffin * D. J. Kennedy * Eric Washington *

*Walter Ellis Source:

2025

Games

Roster

*Bryan Griffin * Craig Sword * D. J. Kennedy *

* Eric Washington *Jordan Stevens * Larry Owens *

* Raphiael Putney * Tevin Mack *Walter Ellis Source:

Record by years

Awards

All-Tournament teams have been named since 2016; MVPs since 2014.

Logo and uniforms

File:Team 23 logo.jpg, Logo, 2015–2021 File:Team 23 uniforms.png, Uniforms, 2015–2021

Roster

References

External links

Official team page
*
TBT Flashback - 2015 Championship Game
via

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

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