timvp
07-12-2010, 06:17 AM
Over the course of the next week, the San Antonio Spurs summer league squad will play a total of five contests. Although draft picks James Anderson (injury) and Ryan Richards (overseas contractual issues) won't suit up, the Spurs will learn a lot about a handful of players who have a legit chance of making the roster in the fall. Here's what to watch for:
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
In his rookie campaign, DeJuan Blair lived up to expectation -- and then some. This summer, the 21-year-old from Pittsburgh will be looking to expand his game with the goal of being able to play power forward. Last year, Blair was a 6-foot-7 center, and while he played well, he'll hold much more value as a forward. To make the transition, Blair needs to knock down face-up jumpers on the offensive end. Defensively, Blair has to become more mobile, more comfortable defending the perimeter and learn how to defend the pick-and-roll.
Garrett Temple
http://image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com/pics22/200/EA/EAKOXZMOQLFNMMA.20080911173753.jpg
Garrett Temple came out of nowhere late last season to start four games at point guard for the Spurs. In those starts, he averaged 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists while knocking down 51.7% of his shots from the floor and 53.8% of his three-pointers. His height (6-foot-6), ball-handling ability and defensive mindset make him an interesting prospect who could potential play three positions. Preferably, the Spurs would like Temple to be able to run the show on offense while being a lockdown defender on the other end. A very poor offensive player in college, Temple needs to show that he's truly made strides as a shooter and scorer. On the defensive end, if he can show the ability to defend players of various sizes, it would help his chances of making the team next year.
Alonzo Gee
http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/ALONZOGEEADIDAS150.JPG
Alonzo Gee bounced around last year. After going undrafted out of Alabama, Gee was on the Spurs summer league team but hardly played -- averaging 2.2 points in seven minutes per game. But with the Toros, Gee flourished. He averaged 21 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 50.9% from the floor and 39.3% from downtown. Gee was called up to the Washington Wizards and averaged 7.4 points and three rebounds in 17 minutes per contest on a pair of ten-day contracts. Before the Wizards could sign him for the rest of the season, the Spurs swooped in and gave Gee guaranteed money to woo him back to San Antonio. In this year's summer league, the 6-foot-6 swingman is perhaps the most important man on the roster. An elite athlete, Gee needs to keep developing his basketball talents. Offensively, hitting outside shots will be key, as will showing he can dribble well enough to consistently attack the rim and utilize his hops. On defense, Gee has the athleticism and strength to be a really good defender -- now he just needs to put it all together. Defensive rebounding is another area he can separate himself.
Curtis Jerrells
http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/CURTISJERRELLSADIDAS150.JPG
Last season, Curtis Jerrells almost made the Spurs out of training camp. He went on to star with the Toros, averaging 20.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 40.2 minutes per game while connecting on 47.1% of his field goals and 37.6% of his three-pointers. At this point of his development, the 6-foot-1 Jerrells is truthfully more of a shooting guard. To make it in the NBA, he'll obviously need to become a point guard. On offense, the Spurs are looking for him to improve his ball-handling, decision-making and court vision. Jerrells is inconsistent defensively. He can sometimes be really good ... and sometimes be really bad. If he can do more of the former and less of the latter during summer league play, there's no reason for him not to be invited to training camp yet again.
James Gist
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/rivals/full.48103/768d6dbd83e734380a291f9ca8732201/james-gist.jpg
Ah, the enigma that is James Gist. A second round pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Gist played really well in the 2008 summer league, averaging 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game. Last year's summer league didn't go quite as swimmingly. In 19.2 minutes per game, Gist averaged only 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds as he massively struggled in making the transition from power forward to small forward. In a perfect world, the 6-foot-9 Gist could play out on the floor at either forward position. This summer, it'll be interesting to see which position the Spurs have Gist play. Either way, Gist needs to bounce back from his poor showing last year if he wants to continue to be considered a legit NBA prospect.
Gary Neal
http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/thumbnails/199_150/Imatges/2007-2008/basquet/noticies/Jugadors/neal/neaL-ficha.jpg
Of the players on this team without direct ties to the Spurs, Gary Neal is by far the best prospect. He played in Italy last year and did quite well, averaging 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 21 Italian league games. Even though he's technically a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Neal has the ability to run halfcourt sets and create for others. On the European level, he has three-point range and is also considered a decent defender. The 25-year-old went to Towson University and doesn't have summer league experience so this is really his first time for him to show what he can do against top notch athletes. He's definitely the potential sleeper of this group.
Michael Cuffee
http://www.goblueraiders.com/content.cfm/id/11224
Malik Hairston was originally on the summer league roster but he was replaced by Michael Cuffee. The Spurs say they are happy with what Hairston brings to the table so a third year of summer league play wasn't necessary. As for Cuffee, he's been off the radar lately. Last season, he played for Unione Cestistica Casalpusterlengo in Italy, averaging 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-5 swingman out of Middle Tennessee State averaged 9.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game with the Utah Flash of the NBA D-League in 2007-08.
Tyler Wilkerson
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mars/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/3749280.jpeg
A bigman out of Marshall got a lot of attention in the 2010 NBA Draft. Hassan Whiteside, a seven-foot jumping jack, was the third pick of the second round by the Sacramento Kings. Tyler Wilkerson is the other bigman out of Marshall. He actually led the Thundering Herd in scoring at 14 points per game and was second to Whiteside in rebounding (7.2). The 6-foot-8 power forward showed a bit of three-point range (14-for-46) and appeared to steadily improve in his four years at Marshall. He's not a horribly impressive prospect on paper but if he can show NBA three-point range, the Spurs could be interested in adding another perimeter shooting bigman.
Bryan Davis
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tam/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/2375879.jpeg
A 6-foot-9 bigman out of Texas A&M, Bryan Davis was very solid on the college level. In his senior season, he averaged 9.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Unfortunately, it's doubtful that Davis' skill-set will translate to the NBA. He plays like a center but doesn't have enough athleticism or size to play that position on the next level. Davis is strong and hustles but that is doubtful to be enough. A native of Texas, Davis has a good chance to play for the Toros if he so wishes. Otherwise, he could make it in Europe.
Josh Lomers
http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/JOSH-LOMERS150.JPG
Josh Lomers went to high school about thirty minutes north of San Antonio in Boerne and played his college basketball at Baylor ... and that's about the extent of why the Spurs have him on their summer league roster. He's 7-feet and around 280 pound but averaged only 6.6 points and 3.7 rebounds as a senior. Lomers isn't a total stiff but a combination of fouls and asthma limits his ability to stay on the court. To his credit, Lomers played the best basketball of his life as Baylor made their Elite Eight run. During summer league, he will simply be looking to pique the interest of international scouts.
Squeaky Johnson and Eric Dawson
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/93/m_83f66fa35d8c4964a18bdcbdf4d2c1ed.jpg
Both Squeaky Johnson and Eric Dawson have spent parts of the last three seasons with the Austin Toros. Their involvement on this team is mostly a reward for their loyalty and for practice purposes. Don't expect to see either one play more than a couple of minutes.
DeJuan Blair
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.0/global/basketball/nba/players/4642.jpg
In his rookie campaign, DeJuan Blair lived up to expectation -- and then some. This summer, the 21-year-old from Pittsburgh will be looking to expand his game with the goal of being able to play power forward. Last year, Blair was a 6-foot-7 center, and while he played well, he'll hold much more value as a forward. To make the transition, Blair needs to knock down face-up jumpers on the offensive end. Defensively, Blair has to become more mobile, more comfortable defending the perimeter and learn how to defend the pick-and-roll.
Garrett Temple
http://image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com/pics22/200/EA/EAKOXZMOQLFNMMA.20080911173753.jpg
Garrett Temple came out of nowhere late last season to start four games at point guard for the Spurs. In those starts, he averaged 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists while knocking down 51.7% of his shots from the floor and 53.8% of his three-pointers. His height (6-foot-6), ball-handling ability and defensive mindset make him an interesting prospect who could potential play three positions. Preferably, the Spurs would like Temple to be able to run the show on offense while being a lockdown defender on the other end. A very poor offensive player in college, Temple needs to show that he's truly made strides as a shooter and scorer. On the defensive end, if he can show the ability to defend players of various sizes, it would help his chances of making the team next year.
Alonzo Gee
http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/ALONZOGEEADIDAS150.JPG
Alonzo Gee bounced around last year. After going undrafted out of Alabama, Gee was on the Spurs summer league team but hardly played -- averaging 2.2 points in seven minutes per game. But with the Toros, Gee flourished. He averaged 21 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 50.9% from the floor and 39.3% from downtown. Gee was called up to the Washington Wizards and averaged 7.4 points and three rebounds in 17 minutes per contest on a pair of ten-day contracts. Before the Wizards could sign him for the rest of the season, the Spurs swooped in and gave Gee guaranteed money to woo him back to San Antonio. In this year's summer league, the 6-foot-6 swingman is perhaps the most important man on the roster. An elite athlete, Gee needs to keep developing his basketball talents. Offensively, hitting outside shots will be key, as will showing he can dribble well enough to consistently attack the rim and utilize his hops. On defense, Gee has the athleticism and strength to be a really good defender -- now he just needs to put it all together. Defensive rebounding is another area he can separate himself.
Curtis Jerrells
http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/CURTISJERRELLSADIDAS150.JPG
Last season, Curtis Jerrells almost made the Spurs out of training camp. He went on to star with the Toros, averaging 20.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 40.2 minutes per game while connecting on 47.1% of his field goals and 37.6% of his three-pointers. At this point of his development, the 6-foot-1 Jerrells is truthfully more of a shooting guard. To make it in the NBA, he'll obviously need to become a point guard. On offense, the Spurs are looking for him to improve his ball-handling, decision-making and court vision. Jerrells is inconsistent defensively. He can sometimes be really good ... and sometimes be really bad. If he can do more of the former and less of the latter during summer league play, there's no reason for him not to be invited to training camp yet again.
James Gist
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/rivals/full.48103/768d6dbd83e734380a291f9ca8732201/james-gist.jpg
Ah, the enigma that is James Gist. A second round pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Gist played really well in the 2008 summer league, averaging 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game. Last year's summer league didn't go quite as swimmingly. In 19.2 minutes per game, Gist averaged only 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds as he massively struggled in making the transition from power forward to small forward. In a perfect world, the 6-foot-9 Gist could play out on the floor at either forward position. This summer, it'll be interesting to see which position the Spurs have Gist play. Either way, Gist needs to bounce back from his poor showing last year if he wants to continue to be considered a legit NBA prospect.
Gary Neal
http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/thumbnails/199_150/Imatges/2007-2008/basquet/noticies/Jugadors/neal/neaL-ficha.jpg
Of the players on this team without direct ties to the Spurs, Gary Neal is by far the best prospect. He played in Italy last year and did quite well, averaging 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 21 Italian league games. Even though he's technically a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Neal has the ability to run halfcourt sets and create for others. On the European level, he has three-point range and is also considered a decent defender. The 25-year-old went to Towson University and doesn't have summer league experience so this is really his first time for him to show what he can do against top notch athletes. He's definitely the potential sleeper of this group.
Michael Cuffee
http://www.goblueraiders.com/content.cfm/id/11224
Malik Hairston was originally on the summer league roster but he was replaced by Michael Cuffee. The Spurs say they are happy with what Hairston brings to the table so a third year of summer league play wasn't necessary. As for Cuffee, he's been off the radar lately. Last season, he played for Unione Cestistica Casalpusterlengo in Italy, averaging 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-5 swingman out of Middle Tennessee State averaged 9.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game with the Utah Flash of the NBA D-League in 2007-08.
Tyler Wilkerson
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/mars/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/3749280.jpeg
A bigman out of Marshall got a lot of attention in the 2010 NBA Draft. Hassan Whiteside, a seven-foot jumping jack, was the third pick of the second round by the Sacramento Kings. Tyler Wilkerson is the other bigman out of Marshall. He actually led the Thundering Herd in scoring at 14 points per game and was second to Whiteside in rebounding (7.2). The 6-foot-8 power forward showed a bit of three-point range (14-for-46) and appeared to steadily improve in his four years at Marshall. He's not a horribly impressive prospect on paper but if he can show NBA three-point range, the Spurs could be interested in adding another perimeter shooting bigman.
Bryan Davis
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tam/sports/m-baskbl/auto_headshot/2375879.jpeg
A 6-foot-9 bigman out of Texas A&M, Bryan Davis was very solid on the college level. In his senior season, he averaged 9.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Unfortunately, it's doubtful that Davis' skill-set will translate to the NBA. He plays like a center but doesn't have enough athleticism or size to play that position on the next level. Davis is strong and hustles but that is doubtful to be enough. A native of Texas, Davis has a good chance to play for the Toros if he so wishes. Otherwise, he could make it in Europe.
Josh Lomers
http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/JOSH-LOMERS150.JPG
Josh Lomers went to high school about thirty minutes north of San Antonio in Boerne and played his college basketball at Baylor ... and that's about the extent of why the Spurs have him on their summer league roster. He's 7-feet and around 280 pound but averaged only 6.6 points and 3.7 rebounds as a senior. Lomers isn't a total stiff but a combination of fouls and asthma limits his ability to stay on the court. To his credit, Lomers played the best basketball of his life as Baylor made their Elite Eight run. During summer league, he will simply be looking to pique the interest of international scouts.
Squeaky Johnson and Eric Dawson
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/93/m_83f66fa35d8c4964a18bdcbdf4d2c1ed.jpg
Both Squeaky Johnson and Eric Dawson have spent parts of the last three seasons with the Austin Toros. Their involvement on this team is mostly a reward for their loyalty and for practice purposes. Don't expect to see either one play more than a couple of minutes.