Overtime Elite, the new professional basketball league for 16-18-year olds, announced its inaugural roster that will begin play this fall.
The roster consists of 24 professional players ages 16-19 from across the United States and around the world including Romania, the Philippines, Belgium, Spain, France and the Dominican Republic. The players will live, study, train and play in Atlanta.
“These 24 exceptional young men with the support of their families, have charted a new path for athletes to maximize their talent through elite coaching, specialized academics, professional training, and economic empowerment,” said Aaron Ryan, OTE Commissioner and President. “We are proud to recognize and partner with these trailblazers on their journey and look forward to bringing our fans closer to the game and players using the same innovation that has become synonymous with the Overtime brand.”
Overtime was announced on March 4 and by mid-April, Brandon Williams, OTE Head of Basketball Operations, and his team launched an international recruiting search for the world’s top basketball talent. In May, OTE announced the league’s first signings of blue chip prospects, Matt and Ryan Bewley, and over the next three months added twenty-two additional elite players.
“Through our scouting efforts, we tapped relationships around the world to find 24 extraordinary young men who possess the talent, drive, and confidence to pioneer and disrupt an entrenched system,” said Williams. “This recruiting process has been enlightening and rewarding for players, families, program directors and coaches throughout the ecosystem. The diligence and persistence of the staff meant working though opposition, many sleepless nights, long discussions and in-person meetings, to get to these historic contract signings. The group has become family, forged in the fire of challenge, all striving for excellence. We are ecstatic with our inaugural roster and are counting the minutes until we are together in Atlanta.”
2021-2022 OTE Roster
🇪🇸 – ESP – Izan Almansa – Forward
🇺🇸 – USA – Dominick Barlow – Forward
🇺🇸 – USA – Matt Bewley – Forward
🇺🇸 – USA – Ryan Bewley – Forward
🇺🇸 – USA – Malik Bowman – Forward
🇺🇸 – USA – TJ Clark – Guard
🇺🇸 – USA – De’Vontes Cobbs – Guard
🇺🇸 – USA – Jazian Gortman – Guard
🇺🇸 – USA – Bryce Griggs – Guard
🇺🇸 – USA – Jahzare Jackson – Center
🇺🇸 – USA – Jalen Lewis – Forward/Center
🇵🇭 – PHI – Francis ‘Lebron’ Lopez – Guard
🇵🇷 – PUR – Emmanuel Maldonado – Guard
🇺🇸 – USA – Jaylen Martin – Forward
🇧🇪 – BEL – Nathan Missia-Dio – Forward
🇩🇴 – DOM – Jean Montero – Guard
🇫🇷 – FRA – Alexandre Sarr – Forward
🇺🇸 – USA – Jai Smith – Forward
🇺🇸 – USA – Tyler Smith – Forward
🇷🇴 – ROU – Tudor Somacescu – Guard
🇺🇸 – USA – Amen Thompson – Guard
🇺🇸 – USA – Ausar Thompson – Guard
🇺🇸 – USA – Bryson Warren – Guard
🇺🇸 – USA – Kok Yat – Forward
* Additional players may still be added
(Release via Overtime)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram