SlamBall announced today the individual award winners for its return season, and, as expected, the undefeated Mob dominated the selections. Mob stopper and team captain Gage Smith (Elizabeth, Colo.) was named SlamBall League: Series 6 Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. The Wrath’s Ty McGee (Littleton, Colo.) earned Offensive Player of the Year honors, while the Mob’s Brendan Kirsch (Indianapolis, Ind.) was tabbed Coach of the Year and Mob gunner Cam Hollins (Avon, Ind.) was selected 5th Man of the Year.
Joining Smith and McGee on the All-SlamBall First Team were Mob gunner Darius Clark (Blue Springs, Mo.) and Slashers handler Tony Crosby II (Long Beach, Calif.). The All-SlamBall Second Team features Gryphons’ gunners KyShawn Jones (Danville, Va.) and Justin Holmes (Roseville, Calif.), Mob handler Cameron Horton (Jacksonville, Ala.) and Buzzsaw stopper Tyquan Scott (Long Beach, N.Y.).
“It was clear when we opened training camp back in June that we had assembled the most talented group of players that we’ve ever had, and at that time I was certain we would create superstars during this summer run. That’s exactly what happened,” said Mason Gordon, SlamBall’s creator and CEO. “The players honored today are among the finest we’ve seen in the sport’s history, providing an incredibly robust foundation to continue growing the sport. I can’t say enough about the spectacular job Coach Kirsch did with the Mob this season. He was able to get the most out of every player on his roster within the framework of his team’s system. The results speak for themselves. When I look at the list of individuals we honored today, I could not be more excited about SlamBall’s future.”
While leading the Mob to a perfect 16-0 regular season record, Gage Smith, the team’s captain, emerged not only as the league’s best defensive player but also put together one of the greatest all-around seasons in SlamBall history. Smith regularly filled the stat sheet, but on August 5 against the Buzzsaw, he took it to a new level, notching the first triple-double in SlamBall history. Smith led the league in loose ball recoveries per game (9.8) and total steals (28) while finishing second in stops per contest (9.1). He led the league in most games with double-digit stops (eight) and double-digit LBRs (eight). He was credited with the most stops in a game (14) and LBRs in a game (16, tied) during the season. He was also dangerous on the offensive end of the court, leading all stoppers with 116 points. He finished third in the league in rim-attack percentage (67.7, 40-59) and was 7-for-7 on offensive Face Offs. Smith was named Defensive Player of the Week twice during the season.
Ty McGee was by far the most productive offensive player in SlamBall this season. He ran away with the league’s scoring title, generating 26.9 points per game, 7.1 more than the next closest player (Mob’s Darius Clark, 19.8). McGee posted a league-most five games with 30 or more points, including a 43-point outburst against the Rumble on July 22 that briefly gave him SlamBall’s single-game scoring record. He also led the league with 7.6 dunks per contest and was second with 68 total slams. When McGee wasn’t scoring points, he was often setting up his teammates. He finished fifth in the league with an average of 2.6 assists per game. He also ranked eighth in both LBRs per game (5.7) and total hits (19).
Cam Hollins was an essential cog in the Mob’s machine-like march over the competition this season. Despite coming off the bench in 12 of the Mob’s 16 games, Hollins was second on the team and eighth in the league with 13.4 points per game. One of the league’s most innovative leapers, Hollins finished fourth in the league with 65 dunks. He was exceptionally efficient around the hoop, ranking second in the league in field goal accuracy (65.7) and sixth in rim-attack percentage (65.4). On July 30, he outscored the opposition 55 to 54 in the Mob’s two games. That earned him Offensive Player of the Week honors in Week 2.
What the Mob accomplished under Brendan Kirsch’s direction this season was beyond comprehension. Not only did the Mob win all 16 regular season games, but they did so in dominating fashion. The squad won every game by at least 13 points, including nine by 30-plus and two by 40 or more. The Mob led the league in PPG (61.6), PPG allowed (33.3), PPG differential (plus-28.3), field goal percentage (58.5), dunks per game (16.5), offensive Face Off percentage (81.8), assists per game (9.5) and stops per game (10.4). The Mob were the only team to score 70 or more points multiple times, doing so on four occasions, including a league-high 88-point explosion in the regular season finale against the Gryphons.
Darius Clark proved to be one of SlamBall’s most dynamic performers, finishing second in the league in scoring (19.8 PPG) and first in total dunks (77). In the August 13 Main Event win over the Gryphons that completed the Mob’s perfect 16-0 regular season, Clark soared for a SlamBall single-game record 44 points, breaking the old standard of 43 set by the Wrath’s Ty McGee on July 22. He also finished sixth in the league with 21 hits.
Despite being the shortest player in the league, Tony Crosby II made a big impact during SlamBall’s return season. He ranked in the Top 5 in points per game (17.7, fifth), total dunks (67, third) and assists (2.9, fourth). And, despite being 5-6, 175 pounds, Crosby made twice as many hits (48) as any other player in the league. A marked man, Crosby attempted the most offensive Face Offs (18) and converted the second-most (14) in the league.
KyShawn Jones ranked third in the league with a 19.7 points-per-game average and was second with three games with 30 or more points. Justin Holmes was 10th in points per game (12.3) and tied for second in assists per game, while converting an astounding 15 of 16 offensive Face Offs. Cameron Horton led the league with 4.4 assists per game and ranked fourth with a 67.6 field goal percentage. Tyquan Scott averaged 8.3 stops per game and 8.3 LBRs per contest, ranking third and second in the league, respectively.
SLAMBALL LEAGUE: SERIES 6 AWARD WINNERS
Most Valuable Player: Gage Smith, Mob
Offensive Player of the Year: Ty McGee, Wrath
Defensive Player of the Year: Gage Smith, Mob
5th Man of the Year: Cam Hollins, Mob
Coach of the Year: Brendan Kirsch, Mob
All-SlamBall First Team
Gunner: Ty McGee, Wrath
Gunner: Darius Clark, Mob
Handler: Tony Crosby II, Slashers
Stopper: Gage Smith, Mob
All-SlamBall Second Team
Gunner: KyShawn Jones, Gryphons
Gunner: Justin Holmes, Gryphons
Handler: Cameron Horton, Mob
Stopper: Tyquan Scott, Buzzsaw