The Basketball League (TBL) recently announced their annual TBL All-Rookie Team, and one Great Falls Electric player was one of the five rookies named to the prestigious squad.
Antwaan Cushingberry, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, averaged 22.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game for the Montana-based Great Falls Electric team, who played in their first season in the TBL during the 2024 season.
The 33rd overall pick in the 2024 TBL Draft played in all 20 regular season contests under head coach Johnny Clark. The Electric came up just short of making the playoffs but still managed to win ten games in their first TBL season (10-10 record).
His best performance came against the Vancouver (WA) Volcanoes on April 19th when he went 14-for-23 from the field and connected on eight three-pointers in a 116-99 loss in Great Falls, Montana.
“I would not have been able to show my abilities if it wasn’t for coach Johnny (Clark) and the Great Falls front office,” said Cushingberry. “They took a chance on me, and I proved them right.”
Antwaan praised his teammates, who pushed him and made him a better player daily. The Indiana basketball player wanted to thank his parents for their support and the amazing Great Falls fans and supporters, who made every home game special.
“Next year, we will continue to be better,” said the Great Falls All-Rookie team member.
Prior to arriving in Great Falls for the TBL season, he played at Warren Central High School and was a three-time All-American at the University of St. Francis (IN), an NAIA school located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The 5’10” guard averaged 20.1 ppg, 4.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game during the 2022-23 season for the Cougars. Cushingberry holds the all-time scoring record at St. Francis with 2,400 points. He led the team to three National Tournament appearances.
“I knew we got a steal in getting Antwaan Cushingberry late in the first round. He easily had top five ability, as is shown with his selection to the TBL All-Rookie Team,” said Great Falls Electric Head Coach Johnny Clark. “For what he had to do for our team, and basically doing it without a backup point guard, I feel he was the top rookie in the league.”
Clark stated that his numbers spoke for themselves, and good things happened for the Electric when he had the ball.
The other four members on the All-Rookie Team included Quentin Scott (Virginia Valley Vipers, TBL East Conference), Jaron Williams (Wichita Sky Kings, TBL Central Conference), Javon Adams (Reading Rebels, East Conference) and Osay Osifo (Jacksonville 95ers, East Conference).
