![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/USATSI_23801879.jpg\")
The Ville\u2019s Montrezl Harrell (5) goes for a layup against Sideline Cancer\u2019s Chris Coffey (22) during their game on Monday, July 22, 2024 in Louisville, Ky. at Freedom Hall during the second round of The Basketball Tournament.<\/p>\nThis year\u2019s La Familia team turned to players from outside Kentucky\u2019s alumni base to help chase The Basketball Tournament\u2019s $2 million prize. The nostalgia of former Wildcats sells tickets, but after a disappointing 2025 run, La Familia needed proven TBT talent. They found it in Chris Coffey.<\/p>\n
The Louisville native may not be a former Wildcat, but Kentucky fans will appreciate one line on his resume. Last summer, Coffey helped eliminate Louisville\u2019s alumni team, The Ville, from TBT\u2019s second round, posting 11 points and nine rebounds in Sideline Cancer\u2019s upset victory at Freedom Hall.<\/p>\n
Coffey was one of TBT\u2019s top performers in 2025, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds while shooting 56 percent from the field over four games. Sideline Cancer reached the tournament semifinals before its run came to an end. He played 35 minutes per game.<\/p>\n
Before his TBT success, Coffey starred just down the road at Georgetown College. He helped lead the Tigers to the 2019 NAIA Division I national championship, earning Tournament MVP and All-American honors. The following year, he was named NAIA National Player of the Year as a senior in 2020, as the Tigers finished 30-2 overall and won the Mid-South Conference\u2019s regular-season and conference tournament championships before the COVID-19 pandemic ended Georgetown\u2019s opportunity at a title defense.<\/p>\n
Now, he\u2019s back playing basketball in Central Kentucky.<\/p>\n
The Ville\u2019s Montrezl Harrell (5) goes for a layup against Sideline Cancer\u2019s Chris Coffey (22) during their game on Monday, July 22, 2024 in Louisville, Ky. at Freedom Hall during the second round of The Basketball Tournament.<\/p>\n
Why La Familia?<\/p>\n
Sideline Cancer does not have a team in the new 14-team format this year, so Coffey was a free agent when La Familia\u2019s general manager, Twany Beckham, gave him a call.<\/p>\n
\u201cLa Familia called, and I was ready,\u201d the five-year TBT veteran told KSR during La Familia\u2019s media day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sounded like a regular call. He checks up on you and then hits you with the news, and it\u2019s like, you\u2019ve got a decision to make. Do you want to play with us or do you want to think about it? But I knew from the jump that I wanted to play, and he gave me the opportunity so I took it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coffey grew up on the Louisville side of the UK-UofL rivalry, watching legends like Russ Smith, who is a player\/GM\/owner of The Ville this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, I love Louisville, but I\u2019m with Kentucky now, so my heart\u2019s here right now so I\u2019m going to go out there and play my best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Playing college ball 15 minutes from Lexington, Coffey knows the passion of Big Blue Nation and how Kentucky fans support the Wildcats. He spent a lot of time on UK\u2019s campus while at Georgetown.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all love,\u201d he said of his connection to BBN. \u201cI\u2019m a family man, and these are my brothers right now, so we\u2019re going to go to war.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for what he adds to the team, Coffey described himself as La Familia\u2019s energy guy both on and off the court, bringing dunks, rebounds, and putbacks. <\/p>\n
They\u2019ll need his expertise in beating The Ville, too. Coffey and La Familia begin their best-of-three series against the former Cards on Saturday.<\/p>\n