With the NBA season over with and with summer in full swing, it seems the perfect time for college basketball!
Some may disagree with that sentiment as the College World Series will be starting up this weekend. However, we’re not going to complain. We at WBR are looking forward to seeing some extra basketball during the off months. Collegiate players past and present from around the Omaha area will be a part of the Omaha Metro Summer Basketball League, which will begin play tonight.
You can get all your previews, recaps, and pictures from the Summer League games at White & Blue Review — the exclusive home to the Metro Summer Basketball League. Bookmark http://metrobball.whiteandbluereview.com to quickly find all the information you need to follow the Creighton Bluejays in these entertaining games.
Come out to the Omaha Sports Academy to watch the following match-ups. Games are open to the public. Programs featuring rosters will be available for purchase. The proceeds go toward offsetting some costs for the league and organizer Jason Isaacson.
Are all the Creighton players playing Thursday night?
As of right now, Jahenns Manigat and Will Artino will see limited action in Summer League play. They have class on Thursday nights. They are not assigned to a particular team, but on the nights they do get to play, they will be assigned to a team for that evening. Incoming Freshman Austin Chatman will not be participating until he gets to Omaha in July.
For this week, Gregory Echenique and Ethan Wragge will not be playing. Doug McDermott may not be either since he will be at Team USA U19 training camp starting on Friday. As of right now the rest of the team as well as the other newcomers will be there on Thursday night.
Who will be the breakout star in summer league? It will be interesting to find out. In the meantime here is what to expect on Thursday night.
Game of the Night:
6:00 p.m., (Court 2) Judd Knispel Agency vs. EQ School of Hair
Bluejays to watch: Antoine Young, Alex Olson, Grant Gibbs, Avery Dingman
Although some key players will be missing from this game, this will still be a great one to watch. Antoine Young will lead the way for Knispel Agency. Young was a fun player to watch in summer league last season and is always ready to play some basketball. Some other local players including Donald Jones (transferring from Bellevue to Midland) and Andy King who recently graduated from Samford are other players to watch. Alex Olson is going to be a walk-on at Creighton and may surprise some people. Doug McDermott may be with team USA most of the summer.
On the other side, EQ School of Hair could feature Gregory Echenique at some point this summer, but on the other hand, you will get the opportunity to see Grant Gibbs and Avery Dingman team up to create a fun backcourt. Gibbs is coming off of knee surgery ready to contribute to the Bluejays and we can get a first look at Dingman, an incoming freshman. Veteran Nick Svehla from UNK will also contribute.
6:00 p.m., (Court 1) Bellevue University vs. Shanks Law
Bluejays to watch: Geoffrey Groselle, Nevin Johnson
If you want to see a few more incoming Bluejays, you will want to watch this game. Geoffrey Groselle and Nevin Johnson will team up for Shanks Law. Ethan Wragge won’t be here for this one. Another Bellevue to Midland transfer Ben Imig is always a threat from the outside.
Bellevue University has been a staple of Summer League. Since they are Division II, they can play with their full roster. This builds some great chemistry heading into the fall and a chance to see some strengths. Bellevue always surprises some powerhouse summer league teams during the summer. Jelani Johnson and Ousseynou Diop will lead the way for the Bruins. UNO was another team that used to play with their full roster, but since they are moving to Division I, this has changed.
6:00 p.m., (Court 3) Narmi Group vs. Bellevue Alum
Bluejays to watch: Josh Jones
Josh Jones will be the featured player for the Narmi Group. Jones has had great second half of the season performances as a freshman and a sophomore. This year as a junior for Creighton, summer league could be something that helps him carry some momentum into this basketball season and will be a large contributor this year. Austin Chatman will be joining Jones in July and alum Chad Millard will be around as well.
As we mentioned, Bellevue University has been a big player in Summer League and each year they sport an alumni team as well. Recent graduate Avery Tyler is a part of this team as well as well known graduate Hannibal Cofeld. Omaha native James Hajek who is coming off a redshirt freshman season at Weber State joins the Bruin alumni.
6:00 p.m., (Court 4) Thompson BB Camp vs. Mavs
Bluejays to watch: Nick Bahe, Livan Pyfrom
Thompson Basketball Camp would expect to have some Thompsons and they do. Dean and Drew Thompson will be a part of this team along with Creighton graduates Nick Bahe and Livan Pyfrom. A team with a lot of graduates, like this one, will go far.
Mavs pretty much define this team. A mix of recent graduates and current players of UNO will make the Mavs a tough team to beat. Throw in former Huskers Cole Saloman as well.
7:00 p.m., (Court 2) Paragas Law vs. Chris Carder Agency
Bluejays to watch: Darryl Ashford, Wayne Runnels, Justin Carter, Kaleb Korver
Creighton fans will enjoy cheering for Paragas Law due to the number of Creighton alums on the roster. Darryl Ashford, Wayne Runnels, Justin Carter and Kaleb Korver will have a chance to relive their 2009-10 season when they all played together for the Bluejays.
Chris Carder Agency has a lot of the players that won Summer League last season. Ben Holling, Cody Levinson and Wes Wilkinson were on the tournament championship team and this year they will add Nebraska alum Jason Dourisseau and Bellevue alum Jared Anderson. Wilkinson won’t be there this week.
7:00 p.m., (Court 1) Leach Camper Sales vs. Zurlo’s Pizza
Bluejays to watch: Taylor Stormberg, Matt Dorwart, Derek Sebastian, Ross Ferarrini
This one could be coined the battle of the walk-ons Creighton’s Taylor Stormberg and Matt Dorwart will team up with a bunch of UNO Mavericks for Leach Camper Sales. With UNO moving to Division I, they have to follow the rules for these types of leagues–only two current players can be on the same team, but an unlimited number of newcomers and graduates can be a part. The four UNO players on this team are two current players and two incoming JUCO transfers.
Fellow Creighton walk-on’s Derek Sebastian and Ross Ferarrini team up for Zurlo’s Pizza. Ross’ brother Steven Ferarrini (who is walking on at Nebraska) is also on the team. Long time veterans Chad Spady who starred at Hastings College and Bruce Chubick, who was part of the more successful Nebraska teams in the 90’s join them.
7:00 p.m., (Court 3) UNO Alumni vs. Walentine, O’Toole, McQuillan & Gordon
Bluejays to watch: Brody Deren
For the past couple of summer leagues UNO has put together an alumni team. We are not sure of the reason yet, but Creighton alumni Brody Deren has been on the UNO Alumni team. But it is always fun to see Brody still play, even if it is what could be considered now the cross-town rival.
Walentine, O’Toole, McQuillan & Gordon won’t actually be playing on the court, but the law firm is supporting a summer league roster. There are a mix of players on this team ranging from Nebraska Wesleyan freshman Derek Hord to 2004 Nebraska graduate Andrew Drevo. Drevo won’t be around for this game Thursday night.
7:00 p.m., (Court 4) Barley’s vs. Higgins Siding
Bluejays to watch: Rodney Buford
Creighton’s all-time leading scorer and former NBA player Rodney Buford heads up Barley’s this summer. A lot of players that played at different schools across the nation make up this squad.
Higgins Siding is made up of several graduates with a few current UNO players amongst the group. Nebraska alum John Turek and Creighton alum Dane Watts will be a part of this team, but neither will be here for this game Thursday night.
