The Basketball League (TBL) continues to roll out their annual end-of-the-year awards.
The professional basketball league announced their 2024 TBL All-Conference West First Team this week and one local player from the Great Falls Electric player was named to the five-player team.
Antwaan Cushingberry received his second award in his first season with the inaugural Great Falls Electric team. Earlier, the Indiana native was named as the TBL Rookie of the Year and is now named to the First Team All-Conference Team in the West Division.
Cushingberry, the 33rd overall draft pick in the 2024 TBL Draft, stood out to the Great Falls Electric supporters and the TBL with his statistics. He averaged 22.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and seven assists per contest while playing in all 20 regular season games. Great Falls ended the season with ten victories.
Great Falls Head Coach Johnny Clark praised his young talented player. “When I saw Antwaan at the TBL Combine in Indianapolis in February, I watched him for five minutes and I knew I needed him on the team.”
His play reminded him of Clark’s playing days by continuing to put the ball in the basket when needed. His play at the Combine helped the Great Falls head coach see what he was going to get from Antwaan when other TBL Coaches and General Manager’s did not see.
“I’m not one bit surprised at his astounding season and the accolades it’s gotten him,” said Clark.” “(Cush)ingberry was receptive to coaching all season and combined with his positive attitude and work ethic throughout my time with him, here we are with him named one of the top five players in the TBL West.”
In a 116-99 loss to the Vancouver (WA) Volcanoes, he successfully made eight three-pointers while going 14-for-23 from the field in front of the home fans on April 19, 2024.
Antwaan started his prep career at Warren Central High School (Indiana) and then starred for the NAIA’s St. Francis (Ind.) Cougars in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The 5’10” guard became a three-time All-American averaging 20.1 points per contest during the 2022-23 season. His scoring has been him in the record book at the University of St. Francis as he is the all-time scoring leader with 2,400 points while leading the NAIA squad to three National Tournament appearances.
Joining Cushingberry on the All-Conference (West) First Team were Vancouver Volcanoes standout Markus Golder, Nazhiah Carter of the Seattle Super Hawks, Tremont Robinson White from the Wenatchee Bighorns, and the Los Angeles Ignite’s Marcus Bell.
Cushingberry competed against Golder, Carter, Robinson White but Great Falls did not challenge the Los Angeles Ignite this season.
