Heartfire (TBT)
American TBT team originally named after Michael Jordan's number.
Heartfire, originally called Team 23, is an American basketball team that plays in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a yearly winner-take-all event. The team has taken part in every TBT since 2015, skipping only the 2020 edition. Its players come from Arizona. As of 2025, the general manager is Michael Illiano, and the head coach is Michael Illiano or others, not LaPhonso Ellis.
The team was first named Team 23 after Michael Jordan’s primary jersey number. General manager Michael Illiano explained that his love of basketball began with Jordan.
In TBT 2015, Team 23 entered with 165 registered fans. They beat West Coast Ronin 91–67, then defeated Richard Roby and Team Colorado 78–72 behind 28 points from Davin White. White again led the way in an 86–72 win over Team B-Ball Breakdown, sending the team to the Super 17 round in Chicago. There, they crushed 7outz 105–64, allowing only two opponents to score more than 10 points. A 77–56 win over LA Unified—who were missing Ekene Ibekwe—put Team 23 in the semifinals as the tournament’s most efficient team. On August 1 in New York City, they beat Ants Alumni 87–76 to reach the final. On August 2, they lost narrowly to Overseas Elite, 67–65.
In TBT 2016, Team 23 was the top seed in the West Region, playing in Los Angeles. After winning their first two games, they lost to eventual runner-up Team Colorado, 78–73.
In TBT 2017, as the fifth seed in the West Region in Las Vegas, they beat 12th-seeded Pedro’s Posse 107–92, then fell to fourth-seeded Armored Athlete, 84–77.
In TBT 2018, seeded eighth in the West Region in Los Angeles, they lost in the first round to ninth-seeded CitiTeam Blazers, 82–71.
In TBT 2019, as the sixth seed in the Greensboro Regional, they lost in the first round to third-seeded Power of the Paw (Clemson alumni), 82–78.
The team did not compete in the reduced 24-team TBT 2020.
In TBT 2021, Team 23 was the sixth seed in the West Virginia Regional. They beat Georgia Kingz 91–64, Herd That 74–71, and second-seeded Best Virginia 75–67. In the regional final, they defeated top-seeded Sideline Cancer 78–71. They then beat Blue Collar U 78–62 in the semifinals on August 1. In the championship game on August 78th, they lost to Boeheim’s Army, 69–67.
In TBT 2022, the newly renamed Heartfire was the first seed in the New Mexico regional.
Quick Facts
- Sponsor
- Choreo Advisors
- Leagues
- The Basketball Tournament
- Founded
- 2015
- History
- Team 23 / (2015–2019, 2021) / Heartfire / (2022–present)
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Gm
- Homer Drew
- Coach
- LaPhonso Ellis
- Championships
- 1 (2023)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The team was originally named Team 23 after Michael Jordan's primary uniform number during his professional career. General manager Michael Illiano wrote that his 'basketball passion started with MJ'. In 2015, Team 23 entered TBT with 165 registered fans and advanced to the championship game, where they narrowly lost to Overseas Elite, 67–65. The team reached the semifinals in 2021, falling to Boeheim's Army 69–67. In 2022, the team rebranded as Heartfire and was the first seed in the New Mexico regional, reaching the fourth round before losing to Blue Collar U. In 2023, Heartfire was the second seed in the Wichita 1 regional but did not win the tournament championship; the 2023 TBT champion was Carmen's Crew.
Reader's Guide
Heartfire (formerly Team 23) represents a consistent presence in The Basketball Tournament, a high-stakes winner-take-all event. The team's origins are tied to a fan-driven campaign honoring Michael Jordan, and it has evolved into a competitive squad composed of Arizona-connected players. Its most notable achievement came in 2023 when Heartfire won the TBT championship, defeating Bleed Green in the final. The team has also reached the championship game in 2015 and 2021, demonstrating sustained success. The franchise's rebranding from Team 23 to Heartfire in 2022 marked a new chapter, while the leadership of general manager Homer Drew and head coach LaPhonso Ellis as of 2025 underscores its continued ambition. Heartfire's legacy lies in its ability to compete at a high level in a tournament that attracts former college and professional players.
Origins & Identity
Heartfire, the Arizona-based basketball squad competing in The Basketball Tournament's annual winner-take-all bracket, traces its roots to a simple tribute. When the franchise first entered TBT in 2015, it carried the name Team 23, a nod to Michael Jordan's iconic jersey number. General manager Michael Illiano explained that his own love of the game was sparked by watching Jordan, and the team's identity was built around that admiration. Over the years the franchise evolved, rebranding to Heartfire by the 2022 season while maintaining its Arizona player base. As of 2025, the organization is steered by general manager Homer Drew, a Valparaiso alumnus, with LaPhonso Ellis serving as head coach. The team's commitment to TBT has been remarkable: they have fielded a roster in every edition of the tournament from 2015 onward, with the sole exception of the shortened 24-team 2020 event. That unwavering presence, combined with a roster drawn from the Arizona basketball community, has made Heartfire one of the more recognizable names in the TBT landscape.
The 2015 Championship Run
The 2015 edition of TBT remains the defining moment in Heartfire's history. Entering the bracket with 165 registered fans, Team 23, as they were then known, stormed through the early rounds with authority. They dispatched the West Coast Ronin 91–67 before Davin White erupted for 28 points in a 78–72 victory over Team Colorado. A third straight win over Team B-Ball Breakdown, 86–72, carried them to the Super 17 stage in Chicago, where they held 7outz to just two players in double figures and won 105–64. The run continued with a 77–56 dismantling of LA Unified, capped by an 11-point run to open the second half. By the time they reached the New York City semifinals, Team 23 had won five consecutive games by double-digit margins and entered as the most efficient squad in the entire field. An 87–76 semifinal victory over Ants Alumni set up a final against Overseas Elite. On August 2, 2015, the Arizona contingent fell short by just two points, 67–65, in a heartbreaker that still echoes through the franchise's lore.
Championship Contenders: 2021 and 2023
Two subsequent deep runs cemented Heartfire's reputation as a perennial contender. In 2021, seeded sixth in the West Virginia regional, the squad punched well above its standing. After routing Georgia Kingz 91–64 and edging Herd That 74–71, they toppled second-seeded Best Virginia 75–67. The regional final brought a clash with top-seeded Sideline Cancer, which Heartfire handled 78–71. Their semifinal against Blue Collar U, who had come through the Columbus regional, ended 78–62 in Heartfire's favor. The championship game against Boeheim's Army, the Illinois regional champions, proved agonizingly close, with the Arizona team losing 69–67. Three years later, Heartfire finally captured the title. Seeded second in the Wichita regional, they won all six of their games, including a 73–68 semifinal over Herd That and a 78–73 championship victory over Bleed Green, the North Texas alumni squad. That 2023 title was the culmination of a decade of near-misses and grinding tournament basketball.
The Long Road: Consistency Between Peaks
Between their championship-caliber runs, Heartfire's story is one of steady commitment in a tournament where most teams go home after a single game. In 2016, as the top seed in the Los Angeles West regional, they won two before falling 78–73 to Team Colorado, who would finish as the tournament runner-up. The following years brought early exits: a second-round loss to Armored Athlete in Las Vegas in 2017, a first-round defeat to CitiTeam Blazers in Los Angeles in 2018, and a narrow 82–78 first-round loss to Clemson alumni Power of the Paw in Greensboro in 2019. The team sat out the compressed 2020 field of 24. Under the new Heartfire banner in 2022, they entered as the number-one seed in New Mexico and won three games before a 74–66 fourth-round loss to Blue Collar U. Yet through every seed position, every regional city, and every close loss, the Arizona group returned year after year, building the foundation that would eventually produce two championship games and one title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Heartfire (TBT)?
Heartfire is an American basketball squad that competes in The Basketball Tournament, a single-elimination, winner-take-all event. The organization was originally known as Team 23 before adopting its current name.
Why was the team originally called Team 23?
The name was a direct nod to Michael Jordan's iconic jersey number. General manager Michael Illiano has said that Jordan was the player who first ignited his love of the game.
Who leads Heartfire as of 2025?
Michael Illiano serves as both general manager and head coach for the team. He has been the central figure guiding the franchise through its tournament runs.
How consistently has Heartfire entered The Basketball Tournament?
The squad has competed in every TBT since the event launched in 2015, missing only the 2020 edition. That streak makes them one of the most regular participants in the competition's short history.
Where do Heartfire's players come from?
The roster is drawn from Arizona, giving the team a clear regional identity within the wider TBT field. That local connection has remained a defining feature of the squad's makeup.
More in Basketball teams in the United States 1-21
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