'Brotherhood' leads former East High star back to $1 million basketball tournament

SYRACUSE — Dontay Caruthers contemplated returning to Blue Collar U while watching summer league basketball games at his alma mater East High in mid-July.

What was there to think about? Blue Collar U, a team full of University at Buffalo alumni, entered this summer's The Basketball Tournament as the reigning champion. They won the $1 million grand prize while raising money for the families of the 10 victims who died in the May 2022 racist mass killing at an eastside Buffalo Tops supermarket. And he's built a bond with men who have combined for three Mid-Atlantic Conference titles and made four NCAA Tournament appearances.

In the end, Caruthers was pleased with his decision to return and defend the TBT title.

"It's just the brotherhood," Caruthers, 27, said. "I felt like I was letting my guys down (if I didn't return). It's nothing but love. Everybody. Our families are close. So for me it was more so just me saying, 'Hey, I'll give it another shot. I'm glad I did."

Dontay Caruthers is 'one of the toughest players I've ever coached'

How else could Caruthers restore the feeling of placing his share of the $1 million pot depositing into his Zelle account after winning the 2022 TBT championship?

A 6-foot-1 guard, Caruthers was a defensive menace Monday. He stood at the point of attack, guarding Big 5's best ball handlers will force. Caruthers battled through each screen. He shot 0-for-2 from the floor and didn't score, but the former University of Buffalo star grabbed five rebounds while logging 23 minutes off the bench.

Lessons from former a former NBA stud defender like Lindsey Hunter appears to have stuck with Caruthers.

"That's what Dontay Caruthers is for us," said coach Adam Bauman, whose BCU team made the TBT semifinals in 2021 before winning the 2022 title. "He runs through every screen he sees. He's one of the toughest players I've ever coached. I love that guy to death."

Caruthers is another one of Rochester's storied ball players. The East High grad won a Section V champion, is recipient of the 2014 All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year award, and was an all-state first teamer after averaging over 28 points as a senior. He was also named to the AGR Boys Basketball Team of the Decade. At UB, Caruthers was the 2017 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, and he helped the Bulls upset No. 1 Arizona in the NCAA Tournament. Now Caruthers is searching for back-to-back TBT titles.

"We had some big players hit some big time shots. We've got to string them together at this time," Caruthers said. "It's winner-take-all. You have to get tough for it."

A dramatic comeback win for Blue Collar U Monday

It was Nick Perkins, though, who was the hero Monday.

The 6-foot-8 center fought through an apparent leg injury just seconds before his game-winning jump shot. He pump faked a defender at the 3-point arc, stepped in and hit a jump shot above the free throw line to advance. Perkins scored 13 points despite shooting 4-for-16 from the field, but his clutch shot helped Blue Collar U overcome the largest comeback in TBT's Elam Ending history.

"I knew things would open up for me," Perkins said. "I'm a big guy. I'm going to get doubled and triple teamed sometimes, or I might miss some easy ones. But I had to stay focused (on the) next play and figure it out."

BCU trailed by as many as 13, and was in a 70-60 hole when the Elam Ending began. When the target score was set at 78, the UB alumni honed in on defense.

"It was great because he just got injured like 10 seconds before that," Caruthers said. "He's a tough guy. He's pretty big. That's Perk. Perk do Perk things. That's what I was happy to see."

C.J. Massinburg, the 2022 TBT MVP, led Blue Collar U with 26 points on four 3-pointers. Wes Clark was the hard hat recipient after his 24-point performance in Monday's first round win.

In 2022, BCU's jerseys memorialized the Tops victims on its way to winning $1 million. Caruthers donned Geraldine Talley's name. The team auctioned the jerseys and donated the earnings to the families.

How to help Blue Collar U

Expensive can be costly for teams advancing through TBT. Blue Collar U has about 80% of its expensive covered, but they're asking for help to take care of more costs. If you'd like to support the UB-based team, fans are asked to Venmo @coachinglove. BCU is also in need of a certified athletic trainer in the Syracuse area, a videographer and a massage therapist.

In other action, Boeheim's Army tops Team Gibson

Region host and TBT's 2021 champion Boeheim's Army made quick work of Team Gibson.

With legendary SU coach Jim Boeheim in the front row, and a sea of orange surrounding the arena, Dwight Buycks Jr.'s game-winning basket gave Boeheim's Army a 99-83 win. He was the only player to touch the ball on the possession. Buycks Jr. drove his defender left, spun right, and banked in a layup from the block to complete the Elam Ending.

"I wasn't giving it up, for sure," said Buycks, who scored 15 points. "I told them, 'Pick and roll.' I'm gone ... Let's get it done. ... Make a play. That's all it was. Make a play for the team, and I made a play and got to the basket. Thankfully it went in."

Andrew White and Grant Riller each led coach Ryan Blackwell's Syracuse-based team with 20 points apiece despite Team Gibson's fast start. They led 13-2 before Team Boeheim found its groove, leading by 31 in the third quarter. BJ Johnson's thunderous left-handed dunk that almost brought the house down was the biggest highlight of the game, by far.

Waiting for Boeheim's Army in Wednesday's second round is The Nerd Team, which defeated them in the very same round one year ago.

"Being in Syracuse too, you kind of feel that teams want to come in and knock us off, or hope for it," Jimmy Boeheim said. He scored two points. "But we're hungry too. We lost in the second round to (The Nerd Team). ... We're looking to get back on top hopefully. We just have to take it one game at a time, stay together and play hard."

What's next?

The Basketball Tournament's Syracuse Region will host second round games Wednesday. Blue Collar U takes on Virginia Dream and Boeheim's Army battles The Nerd Team. The Oncenter will host the Syracuse Region final Friday, and the winner will advance to the TBT quarterfinals Sunday in Philadelphia.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Dontay Caruthers again with Blue Collar U in $1M basketball tournament