Duke’s Trevon Duval, UNC’s Theo Pinson and Joel Berry and the Wake Forest duo of Doral Moore and Bryant Crawford were among those players that weren’t selected in the recent NBA draft, forcing them to take the indirect route to the league.
That difficult journey will begin this week as they look to open some eyes in one of three NBA summer league tournaments.
Of the five, Pinson has the most optimistic chance for success after signing a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets. The two-way deal guarantees him a spot on the Nets’ G-League roster if he isn’t able to make the NBA squad.
Wake’s Crawford will also suit up for the Nets this summer with hopes of earning an invitation to the team’s preseason training camp while fellow Deacon Doral Moore will play for the Washington Wizards and Duval for the Houston Rockets. Pinson’s former Tar Heel teammate Berry will cast his lot with Los Angeles Lakers
In addition to the newly minted undrafted free agents, a collection of other veterans looking to earn training camp invites as well as young players already under contract will take part in the action in Salt Lake City, Sacramento and Las Vegas.
The four-day Utah Jazz Summer League begins Monday with the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs and host Jazz participating. The California Classic will also be held from July 2-5 between the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings.
The more prestigious Vegas Summer League, involving all 30 NBA teams, runs from July 6-17. Games in all three leagues will be televised by NBA TV and ESPN.
Here is a list of all players with North Carolina ties set to take part in summer league action:
ATLANTA HAWKS
John Collins, 6-10, F, Wake Forest
BOSTON CELTICS
Pierria Henry, 6-5, G, Charlotte
BROOKLYN NETS
Theo Pinson, 6-6, G, UNC
Bryant Crawford, 6-5, G, Wake Forest
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
Gabe Devoe, 6-2, G, Shelby (Clemson)
Terry Henderson, 6-4, G, NC State
Brice Johnson, 6-10, F, UNC
Devonte Graham, 6-2, G, Raleigh (Kansas)
CHICAGO BULLS
Wendell Carter Jr., 6-10, F, Duke
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Dennis Smith Jr., 6-3, G, NC State
DENVER NUGGETS
Kennedy Meeks, 6-10, C, UNC
DETROIT PISTONS
Luke Kennard, 6-5, G, Duke
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
J.P. Tokoto, 6-6, F, UNC
HOUSTON ROCKETS
Trevon Duval, 6-3, G, Duke
LA CLIPPERS
Jerome Robinson, 6-5, G, Raleigh (Boston College)
LA LAKERS
Joel Berry, 6-0, G, UNC
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
Frank Jackson, 6-3, G, Duke
NEW YORK KNICKS
Isaiah Hicks, 6-9, F, UNC
ORLANDO MAGIC
Rodney Purvis, 6-4, G, Raleigh (UConn/NC State)
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
Gary Trent Jr., 6-6, G, Duke
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Allerick Freeman, 6-3, G, NC State
Harry Giles, 6-11, F, Duke
Justin Jackson, 6-8, F, UNC
Marvin Bagley III, 6-11, F, Duke
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Maverick Rowan, 6-7, G, NC State
TORONTO RAPTORS
Codi Miller-McIntyre, 6-3, G, Wake Forest
UTAH JAZZ
Grayson Allen, 6-5, G, Duke
Peyton Aldridge, 6-8, F, Davidson
Tony Bradley, 6-10, C, UNC
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Doral Moore, 7-1, C, Wake Forest
