Doug McDermott made his Omaha debut at Summer League Basketball back in 2010 (Staff/WBR)
It might be hard for Bluejays fans to picture life without Doug McDermott, but the first look at Creighton’s future starts next Thursday, June 19, at the Omaha Sports Academy.
That’s the same building where Creighton basketball fans caught their first glimpse of Doug in action. It was the summer of 2010, and McDermott was in Omaha as a part of the Metro Basketball Summer League. Fast forward four years and a National Player of the Year later, and it is safe to say that fans didn’t realize what they were watching at the time: the start of the greatest career in Creighton hoops history.
WBR was there, and we’ll be there yet again.
WBR is proud to be the official host of all things MBL for the fifth consecutive year.
Check out our summer league mini-site for all the information you need including schedules, team rosters, results, location information, and sponsors during the six-week run of the league.
If you are not familiar with the format of Summer League, here is what you need to know.
Who plays in the League?
The MBL rosters are comprised of current and incoming players for Creighton, Nebraska-Omaha, Bellevue University, Midland University and other local colleges. Recent graduates and professionals make up the teams in the league, as well. 20 teams are in the league this summer and over 200 players are participating.
All of the current and incoming Creighton basketball players will be part of the league this summer at various times.
- All three transfers– Ricky Kreklow, Cole Huff, and Mo Watson will be participating. Huff and Watson are already in town.
- Incoming freshman Ronnie Harrell and Leon Gilmore will be participating and are in town for summer school.
Due to NCAA D-1 rules, only two current players from one school can play on the same team, but they can be surrounded by unlimited newcomers and graduates.
Here’s how the Creighton roster breaks down with the teams in summer league (grads and legends in parenthesis):
- EQ School of Hair Design: Zach Hanson and Leon Gilmore
- Judd Knispel Agency: Austin Chatman and Cole Huff (Nick Bahe, Matt Dorwart, Jahenns Manigat)
- Narmi Group @ Baird: Avery Dingman and Ronnie Harrell
- John Higgins Weatherguard: Devin Brooks and Geoffrey Groselle
- Paragas Law Offices: Rickey Kreklow and Will Artino
- Zurlo’s: Mo Watson and Toby Hegner
- Shanks Law Firm: James Milliken and Tyler Clement
- ABIDE: Steven Ferarrini
- Other former Creighton grads: Antoine Young (Winning Mentality), Justin Carter (Bank of Nebraska), Brody Deren (UNO Alumni) and Gregory Echenique (Bank of Nebraska) are also listed on rosters.
Other teams to watch
Bank of Nebraska: The defending champion from last summer returns to go for a repeat. All of last years team, which included new Omaha Central head coach Ben Holling, Professional players–former Creighton grad Justin Carter and former Husker Wes Wilkinson, and local high flyer James Parrott are back. But making them even tougher at some point in the summer is the addition of former Creighton big man Gregory Echenique. This will be the team everyone will be gunning for this summer.
Andy’s Lawn & Landscape: In the early 2000’s several players down the road at Nebraska took part in Summer League. Those years with a Nebraska heavy roster created some very intense matchups against Creighton heavy teams. Unfortunately, Doc Sadler and now Tim Miles haven’t encouraged their players to come back to Omaha to participate. However, the ones that did get the chance to play continue to come back. Former Huskers Jason Dourisseau, Andrew Drevo and John Turek along with recent Iowa player Zach McCabe lead this roster which could create some waves.
UNO Alumni: This is another veteran team that returns this summer. Made up of, you guessed it, Nebarska-Omaha alumni, they know how to play together. It is always interesting to see former Bluejay, Brody Deren, playing for them as well.
Non-D1 Schools: The non Division I schools have an advantage of being able to field their full roster in the league. North Platte CC, Northeast CC, Bellevue University, Morningside, Midland University, and Nebraska-Kearney are all fielding their current teams in the league, creating some extra practice time for them before school is back in session.
When are the Games?
Dates of Play
- Thursday, June 19
- Thursday, June 26
- Monday June 30
- Monday, July 7
- Thursday, July 10
- Monday, July 14
- Thursday, July 17 — Tournament
- Monday, July 21 — Tounament
The first of six nights of pool play begins on Thursday, June 19. Games will be played on Monday and Thursday nights. The first two weeks are on Thursday and the second two weeks are on Monday. From then on it is every Thursday and Monday until the season ending tournament finals on July 21. Games will be played at 7 PM, 8PM, and 9PM on up to four courts.
All games will be played at the Omaha Sports Academy located just south of 120th and Maple Street in Omaha. Admission is free, but programs will be available for purchase to match up jersey numbers and players and to help defray the costs of the league.
WBR will be there to cover the games if you can’t make it. We will have scores, recaps, and other surprises this summer. Will we see another National Player of the Year on the courts? Probably not, but it does make it worth checking out Summer League basketball. You never know what you might see.
Get there and get you seat to watch the best basketball in the metro this summer.