PC, URI Stars Showcased in NBA Summer League
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
PC, URI Stars Showcased in NBA Summer League
The Las Vegas Summer League features six players, spread across five different teams, with Rhode Island connections.
"It's great to see these guys get the opportunity, to then earn another opportunity to play in the NBA," said Providence College legend and former NBA player, Joe Hassett.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTURI has three alumni in the summer league with Gilvydas Biruta playing for Denver, Jimmy Baron playing for the Knicks, and Xavier Munford playing for the Lakers.
Meanwhile, Providence College also has three representatives in the league starting with Bryce Cotton playing for the Jazz, Ricky Ledo with the Knicks, and LaDontae Henton with the Golden State Warriors.
See How They are Doing in the Slideshow Below
The NBA Summer League is now in tournament mode to determine a champion before the league wraps up on July 20.
Once Summer League ends, players will hope to earn an invite to training camp and will look to make the team from there.
"Every NBA team has two, maybe three guys that are good at everything, to fill one of those other spots, you have to be really good at one thing," Hassett said about the key to latching on with an NBA team.
For more information on the NBA Summer League, or to find team schedules, click here.
Former PC, URI Stars in NBA Summer League
Gilvydas Biruta
In three Las Vegas Summer League games with the Denver Nuggetts, Gilvydas Biruta has averaged four points and two rebounds in 12 minutes of action per game.
Biruta had nine points, two steals and one rebound in 18 minutes of play during a July 10 game against the Atlanta Hawks. Biruta went 4-of-4 from the field.
Ricky Ledo
Through three Las Vegas Summer League games with the New York Knicks, Providence native Ricky Ledo has averaged five points in just under 13 minutes per game.
In New York's most recent game against the 76ers, Ledo had four points in 11:30 of play time.
Ledo had four points in 14 minutes of play in the Knicks July 13 game against the Lakers and eight points in 12 minutes of play against the San Antonio Spurs on July 11.
Xavier Munford
In two NBA Summer League games with the Lakers, Xavier Munford has averaged 3.5 points in eight minutes of play per game.
Munford had seven points and two rebounds in 12 minutes against Philidelphia on July 11.
LaDontae Henton
In four games with the Golden State Warriors, LaDontae Henton averaged seven points in 19 minutes per game.
"LaDontae Henton's chances of making the Golden State roster are almost impossible but if he can play well, other teams will see him and give him a shot," Hassett said.
However, in the Warriors last game, a tournament game against the Sacramento Kings, Henton poured in 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Henton also had 13 points in a July 12 game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Jimmy Baron
In three Las Vegas Summer League games with the New York Knicks, Jimmy Baron averaged two points, 2 rebounds and one assist in 11 minutes of play per game.
"If he can be a consistent shooter, there is a place for him in the league," Joe Hassett said of Jimmy Baron.
Baron had no points in the Knicks last game against the 76ers in 11 minutes of play.
Baron had five points in a July 11 game against the Spurs and zero points in the July 13 game against the Lakers in nine minutes of play.
Baron did make the highlights with this great hustle play against LA in which he dives into the scorers table to and keeps the ball in bounds. The play turned into two points for the Knicks with Baron picking up the "hockey assist."
See the Play Below
Bryce Cotton
In four NBA Las Vegas Summer League games with the Utah Jazz, former Friar Bryce Cotton leads all Jazz scorers, averaging 16 points, five assists and four rebounds in 25 minutes of action per game.
"I've been watching Bryce Cotton's games and he is playing really well, I think they are gonna have to make a spot for him. He is as good as any guard in the back court as a possible three guard," said Joe Hassett.
In Utah's most recent game against the Wizards in tournament play, Cotton led the Jazz with 20 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Cotton poured in 28 points against Miami on July 11 and 20 against Philidelphia on July 9.
See Highlights of Cotton's 28 point performance below:
