There were roughly 80 players who submitted their names into the 2018 NBA Draft. But only 60 of those players were selected which means there is plenty of undrafted talent who are done with their college careers and are now rookie free agents. Some of those players are from the Chicagoland area, but just because they’re undrafted doesn’t mean they won’t get the chance to play pro ball. After the draft was over, four talents from three schools with deep Chicago roots received deals to participate in the 2018 NBA Summer League.
The Chicago Bulls were one of those teams giving local talent this opportunity. They’ve decided to take a chance on former Loyola Rambler Donte Ingram. The 6-foot-6-inch swingman was the third leading scorer (11.0 PPG) for the Ramblers this past season and was a core player who played a crucial role in their magical and historical run to their first Final Four since 1963 (and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1985). Loyola also won both the regular season and tournament championships of the Missouri Valley Conference, and thus set a new standard for success in the State of Illinois as a whole.
The Bulls have stated time and again that they are seeking depth at the wing/small forward position, especially if Paul Zipser doesn’t return to the team next season. Allowing Ingram to get Summer League minutes is a continuation of the Bulls evaluation of the future of that position.
Loyola’s arch-rival, the UIC Flames, is also getting in on the Summer League act. Small forward Dikembe Dixson turned pro after just three years in University Village. He led the Flames in scoring both as a freshman and last season, his sophomore year however was shortened by a knee injury. He was a cornerstone of the rebuilding project under head coach Steve McClain, but now he’ll look to apply his craft with the Miami Heat.
Free agency is the Heat’s only option this summer as they didn’t have any draft picks this year. Dixson has the potential to fill a position of need for the Heat as the small forward spot was a weakness to some degree during the 2017-2018 season. Dixson can also provide some offense if he earns a contract for the season, they’ll definitely need an extra scorer should former Bull Dwayne Wade decide to retire this summer.
Last but not least, we have some new prospects joining the Summer League from South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish men’s basketball program (which has a sizeable Chicago fanbase, alumni and following), has been a model of consistency over the last decade. Head coach Mike Brey has had many of his players go on to play pro ball be it in the NBA or elsewhere. After this summer, he could add to more players to that list. All-American forward Bonzie Colson will suit up for the Cleveland Cavaliers in July, while guard Matt Farrell will join Dikembe Dixson in Miami.
Colson led the Fighting Irish in scoring (19.7 PPG), rebounding (10.1 RPG) and blocked shots (2.2 BPG) last season. He managed to do this despite the fact that he missed six weeks with a knee injury which required surgery. Colson was coach Brey’s go-to guy for all four years that he spent in South Bend, but he’s always been a wild card for the game of basketball.
He’s a wild card because he has the build of a shooting guard (6-foot-6, 224 pounds), the length of a small forward, but plays with the intensity of a power forward. He can guard every position on the court, hit the big shots when needed, and was one of the better defenders in college basketball. Unfortunately that versatility is what makes finding a role for him at the professional level difficult. But if the Cavs do experience significant changes this offseason -which is one of the many reported scenarios regarding this franchise- Colson could land himself a roster spot come October.
As for Farrell, he was second behind Colson in scoring (16.3) and was their leading assist man. He’s also quite the three-point shooter (converted 191-of-493 attempts). It’s his ability as a shooter that will get him solid minutes during Summer League play. Although these players will be part of the NBA Summer League, these are not guaranteed roster spots. These are essentially paid tryouts that at the very least could get them NBA G-League contracts.
The Summer League has opened the door for many players over the years and these four could be part of the next group of successful players when all is said and done.
