Best Virginia Withdraws from TBT After Positive COVID-19 Test

The WVU alumni team, Beat Virginia, will no longer be participating in this year’s TBT, the team announced on Twitter this morning. Best Virginia announced that a player tested positive for COVID-19 late Thursday night and as a precaution will be withdrawing from the tournament.

Out of an abundance of caution, all parties at our recent practices were notified, as well as the appropriate local health agencies, and our players and staff were tested. We will not be participating in @thetournament this year due to COVID-19.

— The Final Fourcast Podcast + BEST VIRGINIA TBT (@finalfourcast) June 22, 2020

“We learned late Thursday that one of our own had tested positive for COVID-19, a test taken out of precaution, though no symptoms were visible,” the team wrote on Twitter. “Out of an abundance of caution, all parties at our recent practices were notified, as well as the appropriate local health agencies, and our players and staff were tested. We will not be participating in (TBT) this year due to COVID-19.”

TBT published a release that said, due to the timing of the positive test, the rest of the Best Virginia could have allowed the rest of the Best Virginia players to enter into a 14-day quarantine and still compete, the team decided instead to just fully withdraw.

“This is a safety-first event,” Jon Mugar, founder and CEO of TBT said in a release. “We’re disappointed for the Best Virginia players and fans that they won’t get an opportunity to compete in TBT 2020, and our thoughts are with the player for a speedy recovery. While the virus remains a persistent threat, we have confidence in our health and safety plan and the many safeguards we have put in place to run this year’s tournament.”

The team said its withdrawal is a disappointment to all West Virginians and the love they felt from fans will continue to push the team forward.

“We will continue working with TBT to continue Best Virginia’s presence in future tournaments, as well as the hopes they consider bringing the tournament to West Virginia next year.”

TBT is scheduled to begin in Columbus, Ohio next Saturday, July 4. The No. 10 seed, Best Virginia would have faced the 23-seeded Herd That team made up of Marshall alums. The winner of that game would have moved on to face The Money Team in the second round. Best Virginia will be replaced by one of the two standby teams, Jimmy V.

Best Virginia’s roster included John Flowers (WVU 2007-11), Da’Sean Butler (2006-10), Kevin Jones (2008-12), Juwan Staten (2012-2015), Nathan Adrian (2013-17), Jaysean Paige (2014-16), Tarik Phillip (2014-17), Jonathan Holton (2014-16), Teyvon Myers (2015-17), Daxter Miles Jr. (2014-2018) and recent graduate Logan Routt (2016-2020).