Billy Preston fills stat sheet, propels KU’s alumni team to opening win in TBT
Former Kansas Jayhawks forward Billy Preston played pro basketball for teams in both the Middle East and Mexico during the 2024-25 season.
According to former KU guard Tyshawn Taylor, who played two seasons in the NBA and several overseas, the versatile 6-foot-10, 240-pound Los Angeles native should have been making money in locales much closer to home.
“He’s a (bleeping) NBA player,” Taylor, general manager of KU’s JHX Hoops alumni team, said of Preston.
Preston followed his 16-point performance in Thursday’s 78-72 exhibition win over Kansas State’s alumni team with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists in Saturday’s 91-78 first-round TBT victory over New York all-star team OffDaHook at Municipal Auditorium.
Preston scored four straight points to open Saturday’s game and also altered a shot at the rim on defense as KU built an early 11-point lead (21-10). He had eight points and four assists in the first half, helping JHX to a 41-38 halftime advantage.
Preston had the play of the game, skying high to flush a lob pass from Lagerald Vick to give KU a 76-67 lead in the fourth quarter.
Vick (six points, three assists) followed that with a 3-pointer that put the KU squad up 78-67.
For good measure, Preston hit a 3-pointer during the Elam Ending. He was 1 of 3 from 3-point range and 7 of 11 overall.
“He’s 6-10 with handles,” Taylor said of Preston. “He’s smooth and definitely should be in the NBA.”
“Elite,” former KU forward Cliff Alexander said of Preston after the game. The 6-9, 245-pound Alexander finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds while another big man, 6-10 Marcus Bell, who played at five colleges (including Idaho), had 15 points and six rebounds.
Preston’s output helped JHX Hoops advance to Monday’s round-of-32 game against K-State’s Purple Reign team, which also won Saturday. Game time is 8 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium.
Preston, 27, did play in the NBA G League for a period of time after his 2017-18 season with the Jayhawks. At KU, however, he played in just four exhibition games — never an actual game — because of an NCAA investigation into his recruitment.
Since then he’s played in various countries over past several years, but he has not been able to land an NBA deal. In last year’s TBT he averaged 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for KU’s alumni team, which went 2-1.
“He has moves of a guard,” KU alumni coach Sherron Collins said of Preston. “It’s been fun just seeing what I can do with him.
“We put him in different situations. He guards 5s and 1s. He’s a matchup problem for opponents. He’s coachable. He looks at you and says, ‘I got you.’ He just goes out and does it.”
Like Taylor, Collins added this: “That dude should be in the NBA.”
Preston is happy that Collins and Taylor think so highly of his game.
“I believe them,” Preston said with a smile when told of their NBA comments. “I think a lot of people feel like that. I’ll keep working and hopefully God’s plan will help me out. I believe everything those two are saying for sure.”
Preston said he’s more comfortable playing for KU’s TBT team this summer than last.
“I’m actually in better shape than I was last year,” he said. “Last year it was my first time in the TBT. I was more anxious to come play. I’m definitely a little more prepared.”
He was pleased when Taylor asked if he’d like to represent KU again.
“It wasn’t even a question,” Preston said of accepting the offer. “I feel like the tournament we had last year, and the momentum we had with that team, was special. I said last year that I was gonna run it back for KU this year. So already had it in my mind, man, without question.”
Zeke Mayo beyond the arc
Former KU guard Zeke Mayo went 1 for 5 from deep in the first half.
He finished with five points in the first half and was 2 of 9 overall beyond the arc. Mayo drilled a key 3-pointer the second half, giving KU a 55-49 lead. He had hit a driving layup and free throw to give the Jayhawks a 52-47 advantage.
Mayo finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.
JHX dominates the boards
KU outrebounded the New York team 22-12 in the first half yet led by just three points at the break. The Jayhawks won the rebounding battle overall, with 44 to the opponents’ 22.
“We had to play through our bigs today,” JHX coach Collins said. “New York had just six players.
“We shared it (the ball). We got open 3s because the ball went inside and out and they had to collapse. It was a good win. They say the first one is the toughest to get, and we got that one.”
This story was originally published July 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM with the headline "Billy Preston fills stat sheet, propels KU’s alumni team to opening win in TBT."
