K-State alumni team reunites for shot at $2 million in The Basketball Tournament

Five years have passed since Martavious Irving last danced his way down the tunnel and played basketball at Bramlage Coliseum, but it doesn't feel like that long to the former Kansas State guard.

Not right now, anyway.

Irving is preparing to reunite with many of his old K-State basketball teammates later this week for a shot at $2 million in The Basketball Tournament, a winner-take-all event that features 72 teams comprised mostly of former college players and professionals who play overseas. The K-State alums call their team Purple and Black. This will be their third year together.

Whenever they team up, it feels like they are in back in college.

"There's no Bramlage, but outside of that it's the same. We just got older," Irving said. "In the locker room, we are still joking and being crazy. On the court, we are still fierce competitors ready to go to war with each other. That will never change."

The K-State alumni team is once again filled with familiar faces from some of the Wildcats best recent squads. Irving helped K-State reach the Elite Eight as a freshman and win a Big 12 championship as a senior. So did Purple and Black ring leader Jordan Henriquez. Thomas Gipson, D.J. Johnson and Curtis Kelly are all expected to join them for the team's first game at 8:50 p.m. on Saturday in Richmond, Va.

Adding a new twist to this year's team is the presence of Nick Russell and Michael Orris, a pair of K-State transfers. Carl Hall (Wichita State), Marquis Addison (Missouri Southern State) and Quinton Chievous (Hampton) will also be on the roster.

"Our roster is a little different this year," Irving said. "There are a lot of K-State guys, but also some new pieces from other schools. It will be fun to see how we all interact. I'm excited about it. Hopefully we can go on a run. Not having bigger K-State names on the team, it would mean a lot to show people we are professionals also. That will be big motivation for me."

One more surprise: Shane Southwell, currently a graduate assistant on Bruce Weber's staff, will serve as coach.

"I'm excited to play for him," Irving said. "He has been under the tutelage of a few good coaches. I remember watching film with Shane and thinking he a future in coaching. He is going to make us play really well."

Irving has played professionally in China, Indonesia and Slovakia. Kelly recently moved to France. Henriquez has played in Argentina, Mexico, Panama and the G-League. Many of them return to Manhattan during down months to work out and check in on the Wildcats.

But nothing beats joining up for a summer basketball tournament.

"Just playing with the guys again is a lot of fun," Irving said. "We don't get to see each other like we used to until the summer. We are all in different countries during basketball season. Some of us have families. It's great to compete with each other again, especially against some of our old foes."

The Basketball Tournament debuted with little fanfare in 2014, but it has grown in popularity since. ESPN now streams early games and televises the later rounds. Many schools have alumni teams. Purple and Black was one of the first and advanced to the Super 16 a year ago.

K-State fans have supported them the whole way, donating money through GoFundMe pages, and showing up at games to cheer on the players they used to watch at Bramlage Coliseum. A few have gone out of their way to inform Irving they grew up watching him play for the Wildcats. One even called Irving his favorite player.

Hearing those words from current college students is the only thing that makes him feel old this time of year.

"I am so grateful I chose this school nine years ago," Irving said, "because Kansas State fans are die-hards. No matter how old you get, they are always going to love you."

This story was originally published July 11, 2018 at 1:23 PM.