A mere four months after their “one shining moment” in March, collegiate superstars who dominated the NCAA Tournament once again find themselves at the bottom of the proverbial pecking order. Most heralded draft picks and undrafted rookie free agents are getting their first taste of life in the NBA out in Las Vegas, where the NBA’s most prominent summer league will take place over the course of three weeks. The early going has had mixed results for some of the biggest names in college basketball last year. Here’s a look at some of the summer seasons fast learners.
- Derrick Caracter Perhaps more famous as a 6’8” 8th grader than his actual playing days at Louisville and Texas-El Paso, Caracter is quickly turning the underachiever tag he earned in college upside down. Once an elite pro-prospect, the Lakers selected Caracter with the 58th pick in the second round, but so far this summer he has far surpassed that billing. Averaging double-doubles over the course of his first three games, Caracter has consistently outhustled opponents of all sizes for rebounds and shown tenacity on both ends of the floor.
- Jordan Crawford The Hawks summer league team was expected to be paced by second year PG Jeff Teague, but the rookie out of Xavier has looked like its best player out of the gates. There was no dispute as to whether Crawford could score, quickly showcasing his deep range and shooting ability, but Crawford’s court vision and quick hands have been an added bonus. All signs indicate the Hawks landed, at the bare minimum, a solid contributor and rotation player with the 27th pick.
- John Wall To say that John Wall has exceeded his hype would be simply impossible, though he has certainly justified it. The 1st overall pick has looked comfortable leading a team and showcased the elite speed that separated him from other prospects in the draft. As with any young point guard prospect, he will still have to learn how to limit turnovers and control the game to a higher degree, but the Wizards are very excited about the early returns on their investment.