Over the next 10 days, Las Vegas will essentially become the basketball version of Comic-Con with NBA Summer League in full effect starting Thursday.
Summer League at Thomas and Mack Center and Cox Pavilion is a melting pot of recent draft picks, undrafted players, fringe league players and international prospects β and the next week or so could determine their NBA fate this upcoming season.
Per usual, several former Arizona Wildcats will take part in NBA Summer League this year.
Hereβs a look at each one, along with a pair of former UA commits:
James Akinjo
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Position: Guard
Connection to UA: Transferred to the UA from Georgetown during the 2019-20 season. Akinjo was an All-Pac-12 guard during the pandemic-influenced 2020-21 season, averaging 15.6 points and 5.4 assists per game, but transferred to Baylor for one season after then-head coach Sean Miller was fired.
Arizona guard James Akinjo (13) gets manhandled splitting the lane between Washington guard Marcus Tsohonis (0), left, and guard Quade Green (55) in the second half of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 27, 2021.
Rundown: Akinjo went undrafted in this yearβs draft.
First game: Utah Jazz, Saturday, 4:30 p.m., NBA TV
Alex Barcello
Team: Toronto Raptors
Position: Guard
Connection to UA: Member of Arizonaβs star-studded 2018 recruiting class that was highlighted by former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton. Barcello was a reserve guard for two seasons, before transferring to BYU, where he became a two-time All-West Coast Conference selection.
Alex Barcello talks to reporters during a media event in the Jim Click Hall of Champions on July 20, 2018.
Rundown: Barcello went undrafted in this yearβs draft.
First game: Philadelphia 76ers, Saturday, 12:30 p.m., NBA TV
Terrell Brown Jr.
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Position: Guard
Connection to UA: Played for the Wildcats as a backup point guard during the 2020-21 season, then transferred to Washington after Miller was fired.
Washington Huskies guard Terrell Brown Jr. (23) gives Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) a hug following Arizona's 95-79 win over the Washington Huskies at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on Jan. 3rd, 2022.
Rundown: After a stellar season at UW and emerging as one of the top guards in the Pac-12, Brown, the godson of ex-Wildcat Jason Terry, went undrafted.
First game: Denver Nuggets, Friday, 6 p.m., NBA TV
Abdul Gaddy
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Position: Guard
Connection to UA: Gaddy, a former five-star point guard and McDonaldβs All-American from Tacoma, Washington, was committed to Arizonaβs 2009 recruiting class, but landed at hometown Washington after the late Lute Olson officially retired.
Arizona Wildcats guard/forward Kevin Parrom (3) wrestles the ball from Washington guard Abdul Gaddy (0), left, to force a turnover in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Alaska Airlines Arena, Thursday, January 31, 2013, Seattle, Wash.
Rundown: Gaddy went undrafted in 2013 and has played professionally in Italy, Germany, Latvia, Greece and Israel β and in the G League.
First game: Houston Rockets, Saturday, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Christian Koloko
Team: Toronto Raptors
Position: Center
Connection to UA: Played three seasons for the Wildcats and tied Loren Woods for the schoolβs single-season blocks (102) record in 2022. Koloko became the first player in Arizona history to earn Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) relishes the moment as the time runs off the clock in overtime with the Wildcats ahead 85-80 over the TCU Horned Frogs in their second round game in the NCAA Tournament, Viejas Arena, San Diego, Calif., March 20, 2022.
Rundown: Koloko was drafted No. 33 overall in the second round by the Raptors. The Cameroonian is the first Wildcat drafted by Toronto since Damon Stoudamire, who was the first-ever pick in franchise history, in 1995.
First game: Philadelphia 76ers, Saturday, 12:30 p.m., NBA TV
Bennedict Mathurin
Team: Indiana Pacers
Position: Guard
Connection to UA: The 2022 Pac-12 Player of the Year was the Wildcatsβ starting shooting guard for two seasons. The Montreal native averaged 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game during his sophomore campaign, leading the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in Tommy Lloydβs first season as head coach at Arizona.
Bennedict Mathurin poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected sixth overall by the Indiana Pacers in the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Rundown: Mathurin was taken No. 6 overall by the Pacers in this yearβs draft. Heβs the first UA guard to land in the top 10 of the NBA draft since Jason Terry in 1999.
First game: Charlotte Hornets, Friday, 6 p.m., ESPN2
Shareef OβNeal
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Position: Forward
Connection to UA: Decommitted from Arizona during the federal investigation into the program in 2018, then played at UCLA and LSU.
Rundown: The son of Hall of Famer Shaquille OβNeal is the latest member of his family to don the purple and gold. The younger OβNeal also joins Scotty Pippen Jr. as sons of NBA legends to play for the Lakers this summer.
First game: Phoenix Suns, Friday, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Dalen Terry
Team: Chicago Bulls
Position: Forward
Connection to UA: The South Phoenix native and βglue guyβ played two seasons at Arizona. Terry was named to the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team as a sophomore this past season. Despite several ex-Wildcats having standout careers for the Bulls, including Steve Kerr and Lauri Markkanen, Terry was the first one to be drafted by Chicago.
Rundown: Terry was selected No. 18 overall by the Bulls in this yearβs draft.
First game: Dallas Mavericks, Friday, 1 p.m., ESPNU
Brandon Williams
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Position: Guard
Connection to UA: Standout freshman at the UA during the 2018-19 season, before a congenital knee injury derailed his college career.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Williams (8) plays against the Detroit Pistons in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, Monday, March 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Rundown: The 22-year-old signed with the Westchester Knicks of the G League in 2021, then played for the Trail Blazers in 2022. In 24 games this past season, Williams averaged 12.9 points, 3.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds.
First game: Detroit Pistons, Thursday, 9 p.m., ESPN
Gabe York
Team: Indiana Pacers
Position: Guard
Connection to UA: The sharpshooter had a four-year career at Arizona from 2012-16.
Arizona guard Gabe York (1) runs off the court after helping the Wildcats to a comeback win over California at McKale Center, Thursday, March 3, 2016, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Rundown: York turned pro in 2016 and signed with multiple clubs in Italy, Israel, Germany and Greece, along with stints in the G League. This past season, York led the G League in steals. York made his NBA debut this past season with Indiana. York tallied seven points and two assists against the Sixers in his association debut.
First game: Charlotte Hornets, Friday, 6 p.m., ESPN2
