Tennessee Basketball: Vols dominated Summer League debuts

To no one’s surprise, four former Vols made their NBA Summer League debut and put on a show for each of their teams.

We’ve seen the reports where Kyle Alexander, the only undrafted Vol, earned himself an Exhibit 10 contract with the Miami Heat. That could lead to a two-way contract or a G-League contract, both better than having to play overseas.

I don’t know if many expected Alexander to do enough in the Summer League to earn an opportunity to stay around in the NBA, but he’s done it. An Exhibit 10 contract doesn’t guarantee much, but it’s a sliver of hope for Alexander.

He was also the only player of the four Vols without an NBA contract going into Summer League. Alexander impressed whoever in the Heat organization he had to impress to extend his opportunity, and I expect him to once again capitalize on that opportunity.

For the other guys, well, let’s just say they had some pretty good days too throughout Summer League. At least good enough to impress some national audiences.

Grant Williams was drafted 22nd overall in this year’s NBA Draft, and he performed like a first-round pick throughout the Summer League. He started three of the Celtics’ five games and averaged 13 points and six rebounds.

That was good enough for second in scoring on the team, and he showed he has the grit, toughness, and mental ability to compete in the NBA at a high level.

You could say Admiral Schofield also showed some of those characteristics in his Summer League debut. Drafted 20 picks after Williams, Schofield found his future home would be in Washington D.C.

Averaging 6.8 points and 3.2 rebounds is a solid outing as he played all five of the Wizards’ games as well. His numbers aren’t as eye-popping, but they aren’t bad either. And when I tell you Wizards Twitter was drooling over Admiral, they were drooling over Admiral.

Jordan Bone had a more circus feeling on draft night. After being traded multiple times, he would find out his future home would be in Detroit. Not a bad spot for him but not a great one either but that’s ok because he also showed out during Summer League.

Bone didn’t play in all five games, he appeared in just three but averaged 12.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

To come out of college a year early when some may have thought you weren’t ready and to almost not get drafted and then go out and average 12.3 points per game in his first three games is pretty good.

Bone signed a two-way contract with the Pistons which only allow him 40 days in the NBA, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pistons used all 40 of those days throughout the season to give Bone the experience he needs.

It’s like Christmas time for Tennessee fans as some of their favorite players are being spread throughout the league. There are plenty of options to choose from now, and it’s going to be fun to see all of these Vols play throughout the upcoming season.

We even have two former Vols on the 76ers. Jarnell Stokes and Josh Richardson have re-teamed up now in Philadelphia. The two VFL’s spent three years in Knoxville teaming up together and now have an opportunity to rekindle some of that magic in the City of Brotherly Love.

Now with Summer League under their belts, it’s going to be exciting to see how they perform this fall when the NBA season officially kicks off.