Top 10 Undrafted Rookies from NBA Summer League
By Rodney Halprin
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 2:21pm
While the NBA Summer League has come and gone and teams have for the most part filled out there rosters let’s take a look back at the top 10 undrafted players at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League:
Samardo Samuels
1. Samardo Samuels – 5 games 12.6ppg 7.4rpg 57fg% It came as no surprise that Samuels was one of the first undrafted rookies to get attention from an NBA team. Samuels is expected to sign with Cleveland after his strong summer league play. Samuels played with a chip on his shoulder, getting the better of DeMarcus Cousins in their match up late in the week. He is a physical player and was effective getting to the line. Despite being overlooked in the draft, Samuels may well prove to have the toughness and motor to be a solid rotation player in the NBA.
2. Jeremy Lin – 4 games 9.3ppg 2.8rpg 2apg 1.2spg 52fg%
In only 18 minutes a game, Lin was the story of this year’s summer league. In a matter of weeks, Lin went from undrafted Harvard graduate to Golden State Warrior. He became more confident in his shot and overall game as the week went on and his 11 point 4th quarter performance against #1 pick John Wall will likely be remembered as a defining moment that launched his NBA career.
3. Aubrey Coleman – 5 games 11.4ppg 3rpg 51.5fg% 81.8 free throw %
Coleman has the ability to play both guard spots which he displayed this year. He is a big time scorer who poured 11.4ppg in just 17 minutes a game. His penetration was effective and he showed a consistent touch on his 15-18 feet pull-ups. Coleman has received some attention from Asian and European teams following his solid summer league performances.
4. Matt Janning – 5 games 12.6ppg 5.8rpg 1.6apg 43 fg% 26.7 3 point fg%
Janning stood out on the Suns summer league squad and was one of the week’s pleasant surprises. He arrived in Vegas having come off a twenty point game to finish the Orlando SL. Janning is a good competitor who has a nice feel for the game. He also has a better stroke than his Vegas numbers suggest. Janning impressively was the second leading rebounder on the Suns summer league team. Janning's play saw him receive attention from a few teams with the Suns announcing his signing last week.
5. Ishmael Smith – 5 games 7.8 ppg 58 fg% 1 TO
Smith had a strong SL and told nbadraft.net he was pleased with his overall play after completing his schedule. His playmaking and transition game impressed the most in his 5 games. Smith isn’t a great shooter, collecting a lot of his baskets in transition and penetration, which explains his outstanding field goal percentage. Smith also looked after the ball, finishing the week with an impressive 24assists to just 5 turnovers.
6. Scottie Reynolds – 3 games 10.3ppg 4.7rpg 0.7rpg 47.6 fg%
Despite being an All-American, Reynolds went undrafted in June but looked good in his 3 games in Vgeas. After missing the first two games, He looked good running the point for the Suns, leading them to their only win in his SL debut. He put up good shooting numbers, took good shots and looked after the ball (14:5 a/t). Although he was invited to Suns training camp, Reynolds has signed a one year deal in Italy for next season.
7 Deon Thompson – 5 games 9.4ppg 6.8rpg 1apg 53.8 fg%
It was tough not to like the effort shown by Thompson this week. After getting a DNP-CD in the first game Thompson provided the reliable play he was known for at North Carolina, collecting two double doubles in his 4 games. Thompson’s attitude & work ethic may see him crack the NBA at some stage, however in the short term, he will be playing in the Greek league next season.
8. Omar Samhan – 4 games 10.5ppg 7.5rpg 1bpg 52.8 fg%
Omar Samhan
In 2009, Samhan was watching from the stands after finishing his junior year at Saint Mary’s. He got his chance to perform this year and was well supported by the fans in his 4 games. Samhan struggled at times however brought great energy to the Mavericks roster. He isn’t athletic enough to enjoy a long NBA career and is more suited to the European game (Signed to play for Euroleague team Žalgiris Kaunas). Samhan also showed his range out to 20 feet and while his touch around the basket isn’t the best, he effectively uses his post skills and footwork to get his looks.
9. Mac Koshwal – 5 games 5.4rpg 7.2rpg 0.8apg 47fg% 52.4 free throw %
Didn’t play many minutes but his 7 rebound average in just 18 minutes, gives an insight into his relentless hustle. His offence could use some refining & he still has some work to do before he makes it into the NBA. His efforts in Vegas didn’t go unnoticed however, with Spanish Team Canarias recently announcing his signing.
10. Wayne Chism – 5 games 5.4ppg 5.4rpg 57.1 fg%
Chism didn’t get the minutes or shots like some of his fellow rookies, however showed enough to be invited to the Kings training camp. Chism was overshadowed by his higher profile team mates but proved to be an effective rebounder/defender with some good range for a big man. He may well show up in the NBA one day, however he has secured a deal to start his professional career in Turkey.
Samardo Samuels1. Samardo Samuels – 5 games 12.6ppg 7.4rpg 57fg% It came as no surprise that Samuels was one of the first undrafted rookies to get attention from an NBA team. Samuels is expected to sign with Cleveland after his strong summer league play. Samuels played with a chip on his shoulder, getting the better of DeMarcus Cousins in their match up late in the week. He is a physical player and was effective getting to the line. Despite being overlooked in the draft, Samuels may well prove to have the toughness and motor to be a solid rotation player in the NBA.
2. Jeremy Lin – 4 games 9.3ppg 2.8rpg 2apg 1.2spg 52fg%
In only 18 minutes a game, Lin was the story of this year’s summer league. In a matter of weeks, Lin went from undrafted Harvard graduate to Golden State Warrior. He became more confident in his shot and overall game as the week went on and his 11 point 4th quarter performance against #1 pick John Wall will likely be remembered as a defining moment that launched his NBA career.
3. Aubrey Coleman – 5 games 11.4ppg 3rpg 51.5fg% 81.8 free throw %
Coleman has the ability to play both guard spots which he displayed this year. He is a big time scorer who poured 11.4ppg in just 17 minutes a game. His penetration was effective and he showed a consistent touch on his 15-18 feet pull-ups. Coleman has received some attention from Asian and European teams following his solid summer league performances.
4. Matt Janning – 5 games 12.6ppg 5.8rpg 1.6apg 43 fg% 26.7 3 point fg%
Janning stood out on the Suns summer league squad and was one of the week’s pleasant surprises. He arrived in Vegas having come off a twenty point game to finish the Orlando SL. Janning is a good competitor who has a nice feel for the game. He also has a better stroke than his Vegas numbers suggest. Janning impressively was the second leading rebounder on the Suns summer league team. Janning's play saw him receive attention from a few teams with the Suns announcing his signing last week.
5. Ishmael Smith – 5 games 7.8 ppg 58 fg% 1 TO
Smith had a strong SL and told nbadraft.net he was pleased with his overall play after completing his schedule. His playmaking and transition game impressed the most in his 5 games. Smith isn’t a great shooter, collecting a lot of his baskets in transition and penetration, which explains his outstanding field goal percentage. Smith also looked after the ball, finishing the week with an impressive 24assists to just 5 turnovers.
6. Scottie Reynolds – 3 games 10.3ppg 4.7rpg 0.7rpg 47.6 fg%
Despite being an All-American, Reynolds went undrafted in June but looked good in his 3 games in Vgeas. After missing the first two games, He looked good running the point for the Suns, leading them to their only win in his SL debut. He put up good shooting numbers, took good shots and looked after the ball (14:5 a/t). Although he was invited to Suns training camp, Reynolds has signed a one year deal in Italy for next season.
7 Deon Thompson – 5 games 9.4ppg 6.8rpg 1apg 53.8 fg%
It was tough not to like the effort shown by Thompson this week. After getting a DNP-CD in the first game Thompson provided the reliable play he was known for at North Carolina, collecting two double doubles in his 4 games. Thompson’s attitude & work ethic may see him crack the NBA at some stage, however in the short term, he will be playing in the Greek league next season.
8. Omar Samhan – 4 games 10.5ppg 7.5rpg 1bpg 52.8 fg%
Omar SamhanIn 2009, Samhan was watching from the stands after finishing his junior year at Saint Mary’s. He got his chance to perform this year and was well supported by the fans in his 4 games. Samhan struggled at times however brought great energy to the Mavericks roster. He isn’t athletic enough to enjoy a long NBA career and is more suited to the European game (Signed to play for Euroleague team Žalgiris Kaunas). Samhan also showed his range out to 20 feet and while his touch around the basket isn’t the best, he effectively uses his post skills and footwork to get his looks.
9. Mac Koshwal – 5 games 5.4rpg 7.2rpg 0.8apg 47fg% 52.4 free throw %
Didn’t play many minutes but his 7 rebound average in just 18 minutes, gives an insight into his relentless hustle. His offence could use some refining & he still has some work to do before he makes it into the NBA. His efforts in Vegas didn’t go unnoticed however, with Spanish Team Canarias recently announcing his signing.
10. Wayne Chism – 5 games 5.4ppg 5.4rpg 57.1 fg%
Chism didn’t get the minutes or shots like some of his fellow rookies, however showed enough to be invited to the Kings training camp. Chism was overshadowed by his higher profile team mates but proved to be an effective rebounder/defender with some good range for a big man. He may well show up in the NBA one day, however he has secured a deal to start his professional career in Turkey.
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