Tar Heels’ NBA Summer League Wrap-Up

The 2017 NBA Summer League season is wrapping up within the next few days in Las Vegas. Although it seems like the headlines have been dominated by a rookie from Duke and the shoe choices made by a former UCLA point guard, many Tar Heel alumni have made an impact and hopefully a lasting impression for their respective teams. A total of nine former UNC players took part in the three sessions of NBA Summer League, and here is a quick recap of their numbers:

Justin Jackson:

The 15^th overall pick in the 2017 NBA had no problem getting buckets in the Vegas session of the summer league. Jackson averaged 16.7 points in six games with the Sacramento Kings. The Kings have revamped their roster, and with their young core Justin will have plenty of scoring opportunities.

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Tony Bradley:

Bradley only played in three games in the Utah session and showed glimpses of why he became a first round pick after only one season. He ran the floor well and averaged eight points a game in 20 minutes played. In Las Vegas he played five games and jumped to 10.6 points and 6.6 points a game with 1.2 blocks. He still needs to develop, and with Rudy Gobert and Derek Favors on the front line for the Jazz, he has solid players to work with. Eventually Bradley will be an impact player for Utah.

Isaiah Hicks:

The national championship hero didn’t get a ton of action for the Clippers in the Summer League that included three former Heels, but when he was on the floor he took advantage. Isaiah averaged eight points on 60% FG percentage and three rebounds in only 14 minutes per game. If he doesn’t get a roster spot with LAC right away, Hicks seems like a player who can use the G League to develop and get the call to the NBA sooner than later.

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Kennedy Meeks:

The undrafted big man definitely made a positive impact to the Raptors summer squad by averaging 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the Las Vegas session. Toronto already has a good amount of big men, but they have raved about Kennedy’s attitude while with the team. It feels like of all the undrafted Tar Heels in the summer league, Meeks has the best chance to find himself in the NBA

Nate Britt:

Another undrafted player from the 2017 team, Nate didn’t get much playing time in the Las Vegas session. Only averaging eight minutes in three games and attempting eight shots from the floor.

Marcus Paige:

Paige began his Summer League session in Orlando for the Thunder. He averaged 8.3 points and two assists per game before switching to the Minnesota Timberwolves squad for the Vegas session. He had a larger impact with the T-Wolves averaging 12.4 points, five assists, and 1.6 steals in five games. Minnesota is rather thin at PG with trading both Ricky Rubio and Kris Dunn while signing Jeff Teague. Hopefully Marcus can make the T-Wolves roster and make his NBA debut in the 2017-2018 season

Brice Johnson:

One of three former Heels on the roster for the Clippers in Las Vegas, Brice averaged 14.5 points and five rebounds in only 23.8 minutes of action for LA. With his 2016-2017 season derailed by a back injury, it will be fun to watch Brice blossom into an NBA player this upcoming season.

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JP Tokoto:

Tokoto was on the Jazz Summer League roster as well. He averaged 4.5 points and three rebounds in the Utah session, and 2.7 in the Vegas session. The athletic swing man has spent his entire professional career in the G league, and it looks like he will begin there for the 2017-2018 season also.

Kendall Marshall:

The third and final Heel on the Clippers roster, Marshall put on the same passing display for LAC as he did for Roy Williams. He averaged 7.8 assists and 6.3 points in the four games he played with the Clippers. Even with Chris Paul making the move to Houston, the Clippers have 3 PGs on the roster and drafted Jawun Evans from Oklahoma State in the 2^nd round of the 2017 draft. Kendall may not make the final LAC roster, but his play could have been good enough for another team to take notice.

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The Tar Heel basketball program was represented well in the NBA Summer League. Hopefully all of these Heels have tremendous NBA careers.