For North Carolina’s former college and high school basketball favorites seeking the glory and prestige of the NBA, the time is now.
NBA Summer League play began this month, giving former local basketball stars an opportunity to showcase what they can provide in the game’s highest level.
The race for a roster spot started with the California Classic from July 6-10 while the Salt Lake City league simultaneously ran from July 8-10. The NBA 2K25 Summer League, hosted in Las Vegas, began Friday and will run until Monday.
Here’s a look at how some former North Carolina basketball standouts, both fresh and experienced, have done so far in Summer League play as of Sunday:
Jared McCain (Duke, Philadelphia 76ers)
The 16th overall pick in the 2024 draft is off to a rough shooting start in summer league play. In three games in the Salt Lake City summer league, McCain averaged just 9.7 points per game while shooting an average of 29.4% from the field and 18.8% from three. The shooting struggles carried over into the NBA 2K25 schedule as he made just one of six three-point attempts and scored 11 points in the 76ers’ 94-81 win over Detroit Saturday.
Kyle Filipowski (Duke, Utah Jazz)
In three Salt Lake City games in which he played an average of 17.2 minutes, early second round pick Filipowski averaged just 2 points per game while shooting 20% from the floor. Filipowski played much better in the Jazz’s 90-89 win over Dallas in Las Vegas Saturday. In that game, Filipowski scored 10 points on an average shooting clip of 50% while grabbing six rebounds.
Harrison Ingram (North Carolina, San Antonio Spurs)
Ingram, the second-round pick, is having one of the better summers out of the rookie local players so far, averaging 10 points and seven rebounds while shooting an average of 41.4% from the field in three California Classic games. His numbers have dropped in the Spurs’ two games in Las Vegas games, however. Ingram’s best game came against China in the California Classic in which he recorded a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Bobi Klintman (Wake Forest, Detroit Pistons)
Klintman, another second round pick, had an impressive showing in his one game in the NBA 2K25 Summer League so far. In the Pistons’ 94-81 loss to the 76ers Saturday, Klintman recorded 13 points, five rebounds and five assists on a 50% shooting clip from the field, including 42.9% from three.
DJ Horne (NC State, San Antonio Spurs)
California Classic: Two games, 4.5 points, 3 rebounds, 30% FG%
NBA 2K25: One game, 7.0 points, 28.6% FG%
DJ Burns (NC State, Cleveland Cavaliers)
NBA 2K25 (averages): Two games, 13.6 minutes, 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 55% FG%
Mohamed Diarra (NC State, Los Angeles Lakers)
California Classic: One game, 13.7 minutes, 1.0 point, 6.0 rebounds
Rob Dillingham (Kentucky, Hickory native, Minnesota Timberwolves)
NBA 2K25: Two games, 24.6 minutes, 9.0 points, 6.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 28% FG%, 25% 3-point %
Armando Bacot (North Carolina, Utah Jazz)
Salt Lake City: One game, 7.3 minutes, 4.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 block, 25% FG%
Leaky Black (North Carolina, Charlotte Hornets)
California Classic: Three games, 20.4 minutes, 4.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 45.5% FG%, 20% 3-point %
NBA 2K25: One game, 24.3 minutes, 6.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 50% FG%, 50% 3-point %
Pete Nance (North Carolina, Cleveland Cavaliers)
NBA 2K25: Two games, 19.7 minutes, 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 56.3% FG%, 50% 3-point %
Marques Bolden (Duke, Golden State Warriors)
California Classic: Three games, 20.4 minutes, 7.7 points, 9.0 rebounds
NBA 2K25: One game, 4.9 minutes, 3.0 points
AJ Griffin (Duke, Houston Rockets)
NBA 2K25: Two games, 27.8 minutes, 10.5 points, 2.0 steals
Dariq Whitehead (Duke, Brooklyn Nets)
NBA 2K25: Two games, 25.5 minutes, 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals
DJ Steward (Duke, Chicago Bulls)
NBA 2K25: Two games, 31.4 minutes, 12.5 points, 7.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 41% FG%
Terquavion Smith (NC State, Portland Trailblazers)
NBA 2K25: One game, 8.4 minutes, 3.0 points, 20% FG%, 25% 3-point %
Jarkel Joiner (NC State, Atlanta Hawks)
NBA 2K25: Two games, 15.8 minutes, 5.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 57.1% FG%
Jake LaRavia (Wake Forest, Memphis Grizzlies)
Salt Lake City: One game, 35.6 minutes, 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals, 35.7% FG%, 25% 3-point %
NBA 2K25: One game, 34.1 minutes, 22.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.0 steals, 46.7% FG%, 33.3% 3-point %
Isaiah Miller (UNC Greensboro, Memphis Grizzlies)
Salt Lake City: One game, 16.8 minutes, 4.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists
NBA 2K25: One game, 15.0 minutes, 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 50% FG%
