On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
When it comes to The Basketball Tournament – the annual winner-take-all summer tournament featuring alumni teams from colleges – one ex-Hoosier is running it back. Another is giving it his first go.
The Assembly Ball team comprised primarily of former Indiana Hoosiers announced on Tuesday via its social media account that former Hoosiers James Blackmon Jr. and Yogi Ferrell will be a part of the team that will participate in the July tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
LET’S GO!!!!!
— Assembly Ball - Indiana University’s TBT Team (@TBTAssemblyBall) May 6, 2025
We got @YogiFerrell11 BACK and James Blackmon is joining the SQUAD‼️‼️‼️
WE ARE ASSEMBLING A TEAM OF LEGENDS!!!!
Come see us in Indy: https://t.co/LZPQY3dhlz https://t.co/z5D051mXB1 pic.twitter.com/lWPvjMN8Hf
“Hoosier fans, I’d like to announce I’m back. I’ll be with the team this summer – Assembly Ball,” Blackmon said in a video. “I’m excited to see everyone there.”
Blackmon played at Indiana from 2014-17. He averaged 16.3 points and 4.9 rebounds for the Tom Crean-coached Hoosiers. Blackmon signed a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017, but did not make the final roster.
Blackmon played in the G League with the 76ers affiliate Delaware 87ers and also played in the G League for the Wisconsin Herd. Blackmon later continued his career in Europe, playing in Italy and Turkey.
Ferrell was the key player on Assembly Ball’s 2024 team. In their three games, Ferrell averaged 20.3 points. He had 27 points in Assembly Ball’s opening win against The Cru – comprised of Valparaiso alumni.
Ferrell was a standout point guard for the Hoosiers from 2012-16. He averaged 14.5 points and 4.6 assists during his Indiana career.
Ferrell had a five-year NBA career with the Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers from 2016-21. He averaged 7.7 points in his NBA career.
Ferrell continues to play professionally. After stops in Greece, Slovenia and China, Ferrell has played for KK Buducnost in Montenegro since 2023. Former Hoosier Juwan Morgan also plays for Buducnost.
Buducnost plays in the competitive ABA League, a multi-national league consisting of teams from the former Yugoslavia as well as the United Arab Emirates.
No other players have been announced for Assembly Ball. So far, three teams are assigned to the Indianapolis Regional. Co-hosts Assembly Hall and All Good Dawgs (Butler alumni) and The Cru are slated to participate.
In 2024, former Hoosiers Devonte Green, Jordan Hulls, Miller Kopp, Race Thompson, Noah Vonleh, Troy Williams, Ferrell and Morgan played for Assembly Ball, along with players from other universities.
Assembly Ball went 2-1 in the 2024 TBT. It defeated The Cru 89-79 in its first game, then knocked off the Men Of Mackey – Purdue alumni – in a 68-55 victory. Assembly Ball fell to Eberlein Drive – a team consisting of alumni from several universities – in the Butler Regional final, 82-79.
The allure of the tournament – besides giving fans a chance to see former players on the court again – is that the winning team takes home $1 million.
More must-reads:
- NFL Draft intel: Big Ten QB's elite arm turning heads among scouts
- Hero RB explained: Top fantasy football targets for 2025
- The 'MLB franchise home run leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Rising Junior Javon Bardwell Reels in Kansas Basketball Offer
While the Kansas basketball program is still looking for its first commitment in the 2026 recruiting cycle, Bill Self and his coaching staff are also scouting talent in next year's class. On Monday, the Jayhawks extended a scholarship offer to one of the best players in the Class of 2027. Javon Bardwell is the most recent recruit to be offered by KU. Bardwell, a 6-foot-6, 175-pound small forward, has caught the attention of many national scouts in recent months. With over 10 offers on the table, he has quickly become one of the most coveted prospects in his graduating year. He is a rising junior at PHH Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, after beginning his high school career at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale and later transferring to Hillcrest Prep. According to 247 Sports rankings, Bardwell is the No. 6 small forward, No. 2 player out of Arizona, and No. 14 overall player in the 2027 class. MORE: Bill Self and Kansas Basketball Offer Ascending 2027 Recruit 247 Sports scouting director Eric Bossi said this about Bardwell at a Pro16 event where he competed for BTI United: "Bardwell impressed with his all-around game. He looks to be pushing 6-foot-7 at this point and the product of PHHoenix Prep can do so many things out there. He was initiating offense off the dribble, delivering crisp passes and then going and getting his offense on slashing drives to the rim pretty much whenever he wanted to. A good athlete, he's starting to develop some confidence with his jumper and as good as he is already, he still has another level that he can get to." At his size, Bardwell might be the most fluid athlete in his class. He is exceptionally quick and easily blows by defenders to score around the basket. Although his jump shot is still developing, he has two years of high school to refine it, and his athleticism helps offset some of his current limitations. Scouts have noted that he is also a particularly impressive passer, often finding the open man when he is driving to the rim. Bardwell also competes in the Overtime Elite league for the Diamond Doves. According to OE's website, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 45.7% field goal shooting. As the recruitment for the Harlem, New York native heats up, Kansas could become one of his top suitors. Watch Bardwell closely once the Jayhawks focus on the 2027 class.
Five best NFL offseason value signings on offense: Bills get great deal with RB extension
Few know how to spend money like an NFL front office. This offseason, teams handed out over $4 billion in extensions alone, not to mention the several other billions spent in free agency. But which were the shrewdest investments? Below, we examine the best value signings at five positions on offense: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith Contract: Two years, $75 million ($65.5M guaranteed) Shortly after acquiring Smith in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders extended the 2022 Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year to a contract that raises the Raiders' floor while maintaining flexibility. Smith has a manageable $26.5M cap hit in 2026, when Over The Cap projects Las Vegas to have the third-most cap space ($78.7M) based on an estimated 5.8 percent cap increase. Since 2022, Smith has the third-highest completion percentage (68.5 percent) among 32 quarterbacks with at least 20 starts during that span. He's also tied with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the second-most fourth-quarter comebacks (10) and trails only Mahomes in game-winning drives. Buffalo Bills running back James Cook Contract: Four years, $48M ($30M guaranteed) Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams pierced Cook's bubble when he signed a three-year, $33M extension on Aug. 5. The Bills running back sought $15M per year, making his $12M in annual average value (AAV) a huge win for Buffalo. Over Cook's first three seasons, he's averaged 4.9 yards per carry. In 2024, he led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns. With just 533 career tackles, Cook doesn't have the wear-and-tear of other backs who've made splashes early in their careers, raising hopes that he can withstand the workload that comes with being Buffalo's featured back. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins Contract: Four years, $115M ($40.9M guaranteed) The Bengals retained Higgins at a remarkable price, keeping him in Cincinnati at less than $30M per year, the going rate for the league's top wideouts. Per Spotrac, while Higgins is No. 10 in AAV among wide receivers, he ranks just outside the top 20 in guaranteed money. Last season, Higgins averaged 75.9 receiving yards per game, his most since 2021, and scored a career-high 10 touchdowns despite missing five games due to injury. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride Contract: Four years, $76M ($43M guaranteed) The 2024 first-team All-Pro ranks No. 1 among tight ends in guaranteed salary. However, if he continues producing numbers more akin to WR1s — last season, he had 111 receptions, 1,146 receiving yards and two touchdowns — his contract will be one of the league's better bargains. Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley Contract: Three years, $60M ($44M guaranteed) Stanley's journey back from a devastating 2020 lower leg injury culminated in the 2019 first-team All-Pro being named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his first nine seasons last year. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was rewarded with a contract that will keep him in Baltimore through his age-33 season. In terms of average annual value, his extension ranks below other left tackles who signed contracts this offseason, and not just younger players such as Rashawn Slater (Los Angeles Chargers), who was recently lost for the season, and Bernhard Raimann (Indianapolis Colts). Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews, 33, is averaging $22.5M on his current deal, while Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller, 29, is set to earn $22M per year through 2028.
The 'MLB franchise home run leaders' quiz
For the past three and a half decades, Darryl Strawberry held the New York Mets' home run record. That ended on Tuesday night, as Pete Alonso mashed two homers to bring his career total up to 254 and break Strawberry’s record of 252. The record-breaker was a line drive two-run shot that came in the bottom of the third inning against Atlanta’s Spencer Strider. It also almost never happened. Alonso was a free agent until Feb. 12, and there was uncertainty about whether he’d return to Queens as a Met at all before he signed a two-year, $54 million deal with a player option for 2026. Which brings us to today’s quiz. Alonso now has 254 home runs, 682 RBI and 900 career hits. With that being said, how many of the MLB franchise record holders for career home runs can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Steelers' Free Agent Addition Shaping Up To Be A Disappointment After Several Weeks Of Training Camp
The Pittsburgh Steelers have brought in a ton of new faces throughout the 2025 offseason, as the organization seemed willing to spend a bunch in order to turn the franchise into a true contender. The major additions included players like Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, and Darius Slay, but there were other new guys brought into the fold that should be able to contribute. This includes the majority of the 2025 draft class, as well as smaller free agent additions like Brandin Echols, or even Malik Harrison. Pittsburgh signed Harrison to a two-year deal worth a total of $10 million with just over $4 million guaranteed at signing. He was never going to be one of the primary inside linebackers for Pittsburgh as the organization rosters both Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson, but there was some hope he could fill the role of being the run-stopper, similar to Elandon Roberts. Harrison is also expected to play a role on special teams, but insider Mark Kaboly had the newly acquired linebacker listed as a "loser" up until this point in training camp. "The free agent signing from Baltimore is a solid special teamer and a good downhill run stopper, but he didn’t show much in his coverage ability, which will limit how the Steelers can use him," Kaboly wrote. Essentially, Kaboly noticed a lack of versatility up to this point of the summer when it came to Harrison. Unfortunately for Harrison, that is an area where the other inside linebackers in Pittsburgh shine. Wilson and Queen are both able to play a role in stopping the run and can shine in coverage. Cole Holcomb is a reliable tackler who is getting used to playing again after missing the entire 2024 season, and he could wind up being better than Harrison in coverage. Harrison spent five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens where he started 34 games and recorded 174 total tackles. Now, Pittsburgh might be put in a spot where the organization is paying him $3.2 million in 2025 to only be on the field in running situations and special teams. Thankfully, Pittsburgh can get out of the deal following the 2025 season for a dead cap charge of just over $2 million. There is still time for Harrison to move up the ranks at inside linebacker, but he is going to have to put on quite a showing during the team's next two preseason games. Queen and Wilson being the primary starters seems to be set in stone, but Harrison is competing with Holcomb, Mark Robinson, Devin Harper, and Carson Bruener for positioning on the 53-man roster. Pittsburgh kept five inside linebackers on the team in 2024, so Harrison shouldn't be in danger of losing his roster spot. However, the organization certainly wants him to perform better moving forward. Steelers Could Break Intriguing Streak Under Omar Khan's Tenure The inside linebacker position is an interesting spot to analyze when it comes down to who is going to be on the final roster. Queen and Wilson are locks, Harrison probably is as well, but that is it. Holcomb is bouncing back from an injury and carries a cap hit of $3.6 million, and Robinson has been able to make plays on special teams. There is a world where Pittsburgh is going to have to cut seventh-round pick Carson Bruener, which would mark the first time in Omar Khan's time as general manager where the Steelers cut a draft pick. It will be interesting to see how the entire situation plays out, as Holcomb could also be traded for some additional draft capital if he performs well in the last two preseason contests.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
