Former University of Houston forward Justin Ford is always a Cougar at heart.
So it was a no-brainer this summer when Ford received a call inviting him to be a part of the Forever Coogs, a team of former UH players who will compete in the Basketball Tournament where the grand prize is $1 million.
“Anytime somebody hits you up to be a part of something that’s the University of Houston, it’s hard to turn down,” Ford said this week while working out with his teammates at the Guy V. Lewis Development Facility on the UH campus. “I’m the player that I am, the person that I am because of this program. So I couldn’t turn down this opportunity to come and play in front of the University of Houston and the fans.”
Ford and other former Cougars members open up play Friday when the No.2 seeded Forever Coogs open the eight-team regional tournament playing seventh-seeded Austin’s Own (UT’s alumni team) at 8 p.m. at the Fertitta Center. There are three other regional sites.
This is the first year UH has fielded an alumni team in the TBT, which is a testament to the respect and prowess the program has regained since the arrival of head coach Kelvin Sampson.
“It’s Kelvin Sampson. It’s all Coach Sampson,” said former Cougar Devin Davis. “He keeps us together.”
The Forever Coogs squad consists of former UH standouts like Fabian White, Rob Gray, Justin Gorham, DeJon Jarreau, and Wes VanBeck. The team also features former players from Tulane, BYU, and Richmond in addition to the return of TaShawn Thomas, who was an all-conference player for the Cougars before transferring to the University of Oklahoma before Sampson’s arrival.
The majority of the participating players are still playing basketball overseas.
“First and foremost, people have to be available and want to play,” said Gray, who was one of the point people that put the team together. “A lot of guys play overseas and it’s a long grind and in the summertime those days are precious.”
They will compete in a 32-team single-elimination tournament where the winning team will split the $1 million prize. The chance for the payday is nice, but the players know it will be a tough road to get there.
“That’s the biggest draw,” Gray said. “They see that $1 million, they hear that $1 million, but not knowing how hard it is. But rightfully so, $1 million will get anybody excited. It’s nothing new. We all play for money, but not this type of money in a $1 million tournament.”
This is the first time most of the Forever Coogs players are playing in the TBT, although it will be Davis’ third time playing in the tournament that is mostly like a normal basketball game until the end when the rules shift to make for a more exciting ending.
“It’s a good environment, it just comes down to competing,” Davis said. “You can’t come out there thinking you are better than somebody just because of your past or what the media is saying. You really have to come to compete.”
Fans can purchase TBT tickets and parking passes by clicking here.
FOREVER COOGS ROSTER
| Player | Pos. | Yrs. at Houston | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Davis | F | 2016-18 | Leading rebounder (6.3 rpg) on 2017-18 team… Will be first time to play in Fertitta Center |
| Melvin Frazier Jr. | Tulane | ||
| Justin Gorham | F | 2018-21 | Starting forward for 2021 NCAA Final Four team |
| Rob Gray | G | 2015-18 | Eighth-leading scorer in Houston history… Will be first time to play in Fertitta Center |
| Jahshire Hardnett | BYU/UMKC | ||
| DeJon Jarreau | G | 2018-21 | Starting point guard for 2021 NCAA Final Four team |
| Shawndre Jones | Richmond | ||
| TaShawn Thomas | F | 2011-14 | Spent first three seasons at Houston… 19th leading scorer and ninth leading rebounder in Houston history… Will be first time to play in Fertitta Center |
| Wes VanBeck | G | 2014-18 | Walk-on and four-year team member…. Will be first time to play in Fertitta Center |
| Eric Weary Jr. | G | 2014-16 | Member of 2014-15 Houston team, first team under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson |
| Fabian White Jr. | F | 2017-22 | Winningest student-athlete in Houston history with 121-28 career record |
| Lawrence Paye | Head Coach | Played as walk-on for final two collegiate seasons at Houston | |
| LeRon Barnes | Assistant Coach | Played in 112 games during his Houston career to rank among school’s Top-25 leaders | |
| Matthew McDonald | Assistant Coach | Houston video coordinator since 2022 |
TBT HOUSTON REGIONAL SCHEDULE
| Friday, July 19 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | ||
| Game 1 | 1 p.m. | #4 The Program NYC for Autism vs. #5 Team Challenge ALS |
| Game 2 | 3 p.m. | #3 The Enchantment (New Mexico Alumni) vs. #6 Once a Bronco (Boise State Alumni) |
| Game 3 | 6 p.m. | #1 Bleed Green (North Texas Alumni) vs. #8 LA Ignite |
| Game 4 | 8 p.m. | #2 Forever Coogs (Houston Alumni) vs. #7 Austin’s Own (Texas Alumni) |
| Sunday, July 21 | ||
| Session 3 | ||
| Game 5 | 4 p.m. | TBD |
| Game 6 | 6 p.m. | TBD |
| Tuesday, July 23 | ||
| Session 4 | ||
| Game 7 | 8 p.m. | TBD |
