NBA Summer League Recap
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – From July 11 to July 21, the University of Miami had five former Hurricane basketball players taking part in the NBA’s Summer League in Las Vegas. DeQuan Jones, Trey McKinney Jones, Kenny Kadji, Rion Brown and Shane Larkin participated in the 10-day mini season and tournament.
DeQuan Jones appeared in three games in Las Vegas for the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 21 minutes and 13.3 points while shooting 61 percent from the field (11-18). Jones signed a contract to play this season overseas in Italy for Cantu.
Kenny Kadji played in five games for the Milwaukee Bucks averaging 7.6 minutes. Kadji had a break out game in a 79-74 victory over the Golden State Warriors securing Summer League-highs with eight points and 10 rebounds.
After playing the first half of the Summer League in Orlando for the Miami Heat, former Hurricane sharp-shooter Trey McKinney Jones played in five games in Las Vegas for the San Antonio Spurs. He scored six points in a 100-71 win, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks.
Rion Brown made an impact with the Sacramento Kings’ Summer League squad, a team that made it to the tournament championship in Las Vegas. Brown averaged over 14 minutes per game scoring 6.3 points per game along with 2 rebounds. In 23 minutes against the Pelicans, Brown scored 16 points on 6-12 shooting, adding two rebounds. He followed up that performance with 10 points and three steals against the Knicks.
Brown recently signed a contract to play for Hapoel Tel Aviv Basketball Club in Israel.
Newly acquired by the New York Knicks from the Dallas Mavericks, former Miami All-American Shane Larkin started all five games for his team in Las Vegas. Larkin averaged over 27 minutes of playing time shooting 43 percent from the field, averaging 12.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He led the league in steals, averaging three per game.
Larkin was not afraid to attack the basket, scoring double-digits in four of the five games he participated in. With 28.5 seconds left against Portland, Larkin sunk a game-winning floater from the baseline.
In his last game, the point guard scored 16 points and notched seven rebounds against Charlotte and scored 14 twice in wins over Dallas and Charlotte. He was a perfect seven for seven from the free throw line for the season.
