Team Colonial Crowned 2019 3X3U National Champions

By: CofC Sports Media

College of Charleston senior forward Jarrell Brantley (Columbia, S.C.) and Team Colonial Athletic Association were crowned the 2019 Dos Equis 3X3U National Champions on Sunday at the Mall of America.

Brantley and fellow All-CAA First Team selections Justin Wright-Foreman of Hofstra, Vasa Pusica of Northeastern and Devontae Cacok of UNCW won the event’s coveted $100,000 grand prize. The CAA quartet went 3-0 in Pool G play to advance to the knockout round. They posted a perfect 7-0 record and outscored their opponents by 43 points in that stretch.

In front of approximately 2,000 fans surrounding the four levels of the Mall of America Rotunda and an ESPN2 national audience, the Colonial used a balanced perimeter and inside game to overwhelm its opponents throughout the tournament.

In the championship game on Sunday, Team Colonial defeated Team West Coast Conference, 21-13, after wins over Team Southern Conference (W, 21-13)in the Round of 16, Team Conference USA (W, 21-19) in the quarterfinals and Team Mid-American Conference (W, 21-19) in the semifinals.

Brantley had eight points against the WCC and his two late free throws clinched the tournament title for the CAA. Including $1,000 for each of their three pool play wins, Wright-Foreman, Brantley, Cacok and Pusica will share $103,000. They have also earned the right to compete in the 2019 USA Basketball 3×3 Open National Championship in Las Vegas next month.

In seven 3X3U games played, Brantley scored 34 points including three 3-pointers, brought down 29 rebounds, dished out a team-high nine assists, four steals and team-best three blocked shots. He also shot 40.4 percent from the field and 90.9 percent from the free throw line.

Brantley, Pusica and Cacok were also winners on Friday as members of the East Team that defeated the West Team, 110-105, in the Reese’s College All-Star Game at U.S. Bank Stadium – site of the 2019 NCAA Final Four. In that game, Brantley recorded eight points and game-high 15 rebounds in 21 minutes of action.

He is only the second CofC Basketball player in program history to play in the College All-Star Game next to the school’s all-time leading scorer and 2011 NBA Draft pick Andrew Goudelock. Brantley was also the second-ever player to participate in the 3X3U National Championship next to former star and current NBA Charlotte Hornets 2-Way Player Joe Chealey in 2018.

In the last decade, College of Charleston has had success on the national stage at Final Four tournament events hosted by Intersport as Goudelock was crowned Mercedez Benz 3-Point Champion in Houston in 2011, and now, Brantley as 3X3U National Champion in Minneapolis.

TEAM COLONIAL RESULTS

Game 1 – CAA 22, Summit League 12

Game 2 – CAA 21, Big 12 Conference 18

Game 3 – CAA 21, Conference USA 16

Round of 16 – CAA 21, Southern Conference 13

Quarterfinals – CAA 21, Conference USA 19

Semifinals – CAA 21, Mid-American Conference 19

Championship Game – CAA 21, West Coast Conference 13

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