The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a single-elimination competition with 24 teams playing for $1-million in winner-take-all prize money, starts Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.
The 11-day tournament will have the national spotlight as the first televised basketball event since the NBA and NCAA suspended their seasons in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s event also will give fans their first glimpse of spectator-free games played in quarantined conditions. TBT’s “bubble” for the event includes a hotel, an arena and a convention center, all within a few blocks.
Players were tested three days prior to traveling to Columbus and again upon their arrival. More tests are being conducted throughout the tournament. Teams are eliminated if any player tests positive. Three teams already had to be replaced with alternates.
There are a trio of former area standouts playing in this year’s tournament, starting Saturday. Here is the list.
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G Thomas Dziagwa
High school: Tampa Catholic
College: Oklahoma State
TBT team: Stillwater Stars
First game: vs. Brotherly Love, Saturday, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
G Justin Gray
High school: Berkeley Prep
College: Texas Tech
TBT team: War Eagle
First game: vs. House of Paign, Saturday, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

F Scottie James
High school: Tarpon Springs
College: Liberty
TBT team: War Eagle
First game: vs. House of Paign, Saturday, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
More on the TBT
Los Angeles Times: The Basketball Tournament will offer a COVID-19 test sample for NBA
ESPN: TBT 2020 — What to know about every team in the 24-team bracket
Bleacher Report: The Basketball Tournament 2020: Odds, Format, Rosters, TV Schedule, Live Stream