The Moneyball Pro-Am basketball tournament is set to kick off on June 23 at Holt High School in mid‑Michigan, bringing together a mix of college players, alumni and local standouts for a series of games that will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays through July 30.
Organizers have imposed a strict limit: no team may field more than two athletes from Michigan State University, a rule that adds a strategic layer to the weekly matchups and forces coaches to think carefully about roster construction.
Among the participants, student‑manager Matthew Watkins has earned a walk‑on spot on one of the squads after being spotted by legendary coach Tom Izzo, who is rumored to have a hand in deciding which of his protégés are paired together.
The tournament’s pairing logic pairs the starting point guard with the presumed backup center, while the backup point guard is matched against the presumed starting center, creating intriguing on‑court dynamics that will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
A Fresh Take on an Established Format
Heading up Team Tristar, K.J. Torbert — son of former Spartan Kelvin Torbert and the 2025‑26 Michigan Mr. Basketball — will be joined by Coen Carr and Jesse McCulloch, promising a fresh storyline for the event. The trio brings a blend of high school stardom and college potential that could reshape expectations for the summer circuit.
The roster will be missing Kur Teng and the Walton brothers, Colin and Brennan, who opted out of this year’s competition, leaving a noticeable gap in the field and opening opportunities for other players to step up.
Beyond the basketball action, the tournament offers a welcome distraction from the ongoing university administration controversies that have dominated campus headlines in recent weeks, providing a community‑focused outlet for athletes and supporters.
Each week, recap articles will break down the two days of play, giving readers a steady stream of highlights, analysis and behind‑the‑scenes stories from the court.