TBT 2022: A look at the roster for Zip 'Em Up, Xavier's alumni team

Adam Baum, Cincinnati Enquirer
·4 min read

Basketball returns next month to Cintas Center and Zip 'Em Up, Xavier's second-year alumni team, has rounded out a roster filled with many former fan favorites preparing to play in The Basketball Tournament, a 64-team single-elimination tournament with $1 million going to the winning team.

Zip 'Em Up debuted last year in the Columbus regional and this year, Xavier was named a first-time regional host.

The Xavier regional runs from July 18-21. The bracket for the regional will be announced on Wednesday in a press conference.

Return of the Musketeers: How Xavier's fan base helped start an alumni basketball team

Currently, there are 12 players on Zip 'Em Up's roster, though the roster is always subject to change because of injuries or other factors.

Former Xavier assistant coach Rick Carter will return as Zip 'Em Up's head coach.

Tickets for the Xavier TBT regional

Here's a breakdown of who fans will see next month in Cintas Center.

Mar 7, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Dee Davis (11) dribbles against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha on March 7, 2015.
Mar 7, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Dee Davis (11) dribbles against the Creighton Bluejays at CenturyLink Center Omaha on March 7, 2015.

Dee Davis

Zip 'Em Up's general manager moves from the bench back to the court this season. Davis starred at Xavier from 2011-15, playing in 133 career games for the Musketeers. Davis went on to have a successful professional basketball career overseas.

Semaj Christon

A local product from Winton Woods High School, Christon played for Zip 'Em Up last season. He played two seasons at Xavier from 2012-14, averaging 16.2 points per game in 64 career games.

Christon was drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft. He bounced from the G League to overseas and eventually made his NBA debut in 2016. Since 2017, Christon's enjoyed a professional career overseas. He's currently playing professionally in Italy.

Xavier's (left to right) Jason Love, Mark Lyons and Jordan Crawford get together on the bench in the final minutes of their game against Saint Bonaventure at the Cintas Center Saturday March 6, 2010.
Xavier's (left to right) Jason Love, Mark Lyons and Jordan Crawford get together on the bench in the final minutes of their game against Saint Bonaventure at the Cintas Center Saturday March 6, 2010.

Mark Lyons

Lyons enjoyed a memorable Xavier career from 2009-12, playing in 98 games for the Musketeers before transferring to Arizona. He played last year for Zip 'Em Up and currently plays professionally in the Israeli National League.

Lyons is in his ninth season as a professional basketball player.

Xavier Musketeers guard J.P. Macura (55) comments toward Providence Friars head coach Ed Cooley after a play in the first half of the NCAA Big East game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Providence Friars at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. At halftime Xavier led 40-37.
Xavier Musketeers guard J.P. Macura (55) comments toward Providence Friars head coach Ed Cooley after a play in the first half of the NCAA Big East game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Providence Friars at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. At halftime Xavier led 40-37.

J.P. Macura

Macura played in 141 career games for Xavier from 2014-18. Macura played briefly in the NBA for the Charlotte Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Macura now plays professional basketball in Italy.

He played in one game for Zip 'Em Up last season before being sidelined by an injury.

Xavier Musketeers guard Trevon Bluiett (5) scores on a layup in the first half during the college basketball game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Xavier Musketeers, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
Xavier Musketeers guard Trevon Bluiett (5) scores on a layup in the first half during the college basketball game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Xavier Musketeers, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.

Trevon Bluiett

One of the best players in Xavier history, Bluiett should receive a warm welcome from the home crowd when he makes his return to Cintas Center next month.

Bluiett starred at Xavier from 2014-18, starting in 136 of his 142 career games and scoring 2,261 points for the Musketeers.

Bluiett spent three seasons in the NBA's G League and he's currently playing professionally in Germany. Bluiett played last season for Zip 'Em Up.

Xavier's Matt Stainbrook reacts during the second half.
Xavier's Matt Stainbrook reacts during the second half.

Matt Stainbrook

Stainbrook played at Xavier from 2013-15 as a transfer from Western Michigan. He played in 70 career games for the Musketeers, averaging 11.5 points and 7.2 rebounds a game.

After college, Stainbrook's enjoyed a consistent professional career overseas. He's currently playing in Spain.

He'll be making his Zip 'Em Up debut this year.

Xavier Musketeers forward Kaiser Gates (22) catches a pass in the first half of the NCAA Big East Conference basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Georgetown Hoyas at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018.
Xavier Musketeers forward Kaiser Gates (22) catches a pass in the first half of the NCAA Big East Conference basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Georgetown Hoyas at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018.

Kaiser Gates

Gates was an integral part of Xavier's success from 2015-18. He left Xavier after his junior season to pursue professional opportunities and played three years in the G League. Most recently, Gates has been playing professionally in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

Xavier Musketeers forward Kerem Kanter (11) reacts after scoring a layup in the second half of the NCAA Tournament Second Round game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Florida State Seminoles at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Sunday, March 18, 2018. The 1-seeded Xavier Musketeers were upset by the 9-seed Florida State, 75-70.
Xavier Musketeers forward Kerem Kanter (11) reacts after scoring a layup in the second half of the NCAA Tournament Second Round game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Florida State Seminoles at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Sunday, March 18, 2018. The 1-seeded Xavier Musketeers were upset by the 9-seed Florida State, 75-70.

Kerem Kanter

Kanter joined the Musketeers for the 2017-18 season and made quite an impact, averaging 10.9 points in 35 appearances.

Since 2018, Kanter's played professionally overseas. He currently plays professionally in Japan.

Justin Martin

Martin played in 94 games for Xavier from 2011-14 and had his best season for the Musketeers during Xavier's first season as part of the Big East Conference when he averaged 11.7 points per game.

The final three players on Zip 'Em Up's roster didn't play at Xavier. Riley LaChance is a guard from Vanderbilt University who currently plays in the G League. Devin Davis is a forward from Indianapolis who played collegiately at Indiana and Houston. Davis now plays in France. Carlton Bragg Jr. played college basketball at Kansas and New Mexico. Bragg now plays professionally in Turkey.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: TBT 2022: A look at the roster for Zip 'Em Up, Xavier's alumni team