La Familia forward Kerem Kanter lands on All-TBT team
By Alec Lasley
The Kentucky alumni TBT squad, La Familia, dipped out of the tournament in the Final Four to the ultimate champions in Carmens Crew on Friday night -- but it didn't come without some awards and honors.
Kerem Kanter, the brother of Enes Kanter, landed on the All-TBT Team.
Kanter was terrific for La Familia all tournament long, finishing with averages of 18.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He shot 62.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three in five games.
He had 20+ points in each of the first three games and finished with 17 points in their loss to Carmens Crew.
Kanter also had one double-double. He led La Familia in both scoring and rebounding in the tournament.
"Don't know where to begin," Kanter wrote on Instagram. "What an unbelievable experience. Thank you Kentucky family & La Familia for embracing me, it was an honor representing UK. Got some unfinished business!”
Joining Kanter on the All-TBT Team were Jared Sullinger -- the MVP -- Rob Gray, Sam Sessoms and Tyler Stone.
Kanter was one of the most significant pieces to any team this season and it's all due to the work from Twany Beckham -- the GM for La Familia.
This was the first year the Kentucky alumni squad apeared in TBT and because of the success, Beckham was awarded the GM of the Year award.
Willie Cauley-Stein was also awarded the Defensive Player of the Year award.
With the transition that the Kentucky basketball program was going through this offseason with the change from John Calipari to Mark Pope, having La Familia around the program was a terrific bridge into the new era of the program.
That, and the fact that La Familia hosted its regional inside Rupp Arena, gave Kentucky fans a lot to cheer for in what could have been a very uncertain and unfamiliar summer.