AfterShocks | 7/26/2025 1:06:00 PM
By
Paul Suellentrop
While the AfterShocks are a mere six years old, the summer basketball team is moving toward adding its biggest moment to its brief history.
It's done enough to deserve a retrospective. In a short span, the AfterShocks gave old Shockers a new stage to display their talents, reunited fans and alums and reinforced Wichita's love for basketball. TBT in Koch Arena features familiar Shocker themes such as physical defense, Frankamp jumpers and roaring crowds. It expanded the Shocker basketball universe with the McDuffie Slide, honorary Shockers, coach Zach Bush and Rashard Kelly as an offensive engine.
On Sunday, the AfterShocks play Heartfire in the quarterfinals of the 61-team The Basketball Tournament at 8 p.m. at Koch Arena (FS1). The AfterShocks are three wins from winning TBT's $1 million prize. Because the AfterShocks lead the eight remaining teams in ticket sales, all three games in the single-elimination bracket would be played at Koch Arena.
In 2019, former Shocker guard Karon Bradley started the AfterShocks to enter TBT, which started in 2014 and grew in popularity with college alumni teams. TBT carved out a niche in the late-summer sports scene with the backing of ESPN, a few recognizable names, the Elam Ending and a bracket celebration soon adopted by the NCAA.
The AfterShocks capitalized on all that and Wichita State's booming popularity. The first game in 2019 drew a TBT record crowd of 7,184 for an 85-76 win over Iowa United. An 87-79 loss to Sideline Cancer in the second round drew 5,970 and those turnouts ensured the AfterShocks could play at home for years in TBT.
"It was so amazing to be back in Koch Arena," guard Clevin Hannah said. "To be in front of those fans – when they called my name, they showed me love. I never thought I'd be back here playing in an official game."
That nostalgia and a lot of wins kept the AfterShocks rolling with a core of coach Gregg Marshall-era stars. They are 15-5 in their six appearances (sitting out the 2020 COVID tournament in Columbus, Ohio) with a 2022 trip to the Final Four and four quarterfinal spots.
"No better fans," said center Garrett Stutz, now an assistant coach, in 2019. "As soon as we walked out of the tunnel and got announced, you get that same adrenalin, that same hype."
They've beaten alumni teams from rivals such as Creighton, Houston and Memphis. They showed Kansas and Kansas State how to do it - after coming to Koch Arena in previous seasons, those schools partnered to host a regional in Kansas City this summer.
"It goes to show you the city of Wichita is a basketball city," former Wichita State coach Isaac Brown said in 2021. "There's some teams in some of these power conferences that don't get (7,000) during the regular season. It goes to show you all the love they have for former players and basketball in this city."
After two routine victories this summer, the AfterShocks added another highlight to the library with a 66-63 win over top-seeded Forever Coogs on Tuesday in the Wichita Regional championship. Marcus Keene, who played at Central Michigan locked up the win with a long three-pointer.
Year by year with the AfterShocks
2019
Conner Frankamp previewed his starring role with the team in the opener. He made 5 of 8 three-pointers in the win over Iowa United and scored 23 points.
Cleanthony Early led the AfterShocks with 25 points in the 87-79 loss to Sideline Cancer in the second round.
"That's what it made so special – being able to get back here and be with these guys," center Shaq Morris said. "I loved the trip up from Oklahoma and realizing that I'm going to compete again in Wichita. This is where I grew up. This is where most of us grew up."
2021
Kelly led a dominating defensive effort with 16 points, 13 rebounds and three assists in a 60-53 win over Ex-Pats in the opener. The defense of Kelly, Zach Brown and Markis McDuffie provided a constant for the AfterShocks throughout most of their run.
Against Omaha Blue Crew, Frankamp produced another signature game. He scored 11 of the team's final 13 points in a 76-73 win. A steal by McDuffie led to Frankamp's clinching layup and completed a comeback after the AfterShocks trailed 67-63 when the Elam Ending set the target score at 75.
"Craziest five seconds I've been a part of, and I've played a lot of basketball," Frankamp said.
In the third round, Frankamp scored 14 of his 15 points in the second half of a 69-65 win over Team Challenge ALS in front of 6,510 fans. His three off a blocked shot won it and he soaked up every cheer in his celebration.
"This dude hits big shot after big shot after big shot," AfterShocks coach
Zach Bush said. "The game plan is to get the ball in his hands. He is going to make something happen."
Those three wins sent the AfterShocks to Dayton for the quarterfinals. Florida TNT routed the AfterShocks 92-63.
2022
Four wins at Koch Arena sent the AfterShocks to the Final Four, where they lost 78-75 to Americana for Autism in Dayton.
They defeated We Are D3 83-52 in the first round. In a 70-60 win over Air Raiders (Texas Tech alum), Darral Willia scored 16 points in 19 minutes. Frankamp led the AfterShocks with 21.
In the third round, the AfterShocks defeated Bleed Green (North Texas alums) 70-69. Willis scored the winning basket on "Jacksonville," a favorite play of Marshall's teams.
A 74-67 over Gutter Cat Gang sent them to the semifinals in Dayton. McDuffie scored 17 points, making 4 of 6 threes.
"Tonight was amazing," Willis said. "I could hear every single one of the fans in the stands. That's how loud it was."
2023
The 10-year reunion of the 2013 Final Four team and a dramatic comeback over a talkative foe highlighted 2023.
A 66-54 win over B1 Ballers in front of 4,151 fans matched the AfterShocks with Beale Street Boys (Memphis alums). The American Conference (and former Missouri Valley Conference) rivalry isn't long on history, but the TBT matchup heated up quickly.
Beale Street Boys led 54-33 in the third quarter and 62-48 to start the final period.
"They were talking crazy, like the game was over," McDuffie said.
The AfterShocks disagreed.
They cut the lead to 62-56 on a three-pointer by Tyrus McGee with 6:41 to play. McDuffie's layup made it 62-58 and Frankamp scored to make it a four-point game entering the Elam Ending.
The AfterShocks tied it 67-all on Frankamp's basket. A dunk by McDuffie gave them the lead and two foul shots put them up 71-67, needing two points to clinch. Trey Wade ran to the middle of the lane and Tyrus McGee bounced a pass to him for the final basket.
"Something clicked," Bush said. "We never stopped battling."
The AfterShocks defeated Team Arkansas 63-59 in front of 5,032, TBT's fourth-largest crowd in its 10-year history, to advance to the quarterfinals. There they lost 76-53 to eventual champion Heartfire in Koch Arena.
2024
The AfterShocks defeated Wichita-based Midtown Prestige 86-71 with McDuffie scoring 17 points. Team Colorado ended their summer with a 79-74 win in the second round.
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit
GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
