Riley Kugel got a taste of NBA Summer League, and Themus Fulks didn’t get on the floor at all, as the former UCF guards opened with a quiet night for the Los Angeles Clippers in Las Vegas.
Kugel logged just four minutes in Thursday night’s debut, while Fulks was held out of the rotation. The Clippers will have a tough time sorting out backcourt minutes with No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler and veteran guards Kobe Sanders, Sean Pedulla and Cam Christie all in the mix.
Still, Kugel made his lone shot count. He knocked down a 3-pointer on his only attempt, a small but clean highlight in a short stint.
Kugel arrived at UCF last season as Johnny Dawkins’ most highly touted newcomer, a 4-star transfer according to 247 Sports. He made an immediate splash against Vanderbilt early in non-conference play, pouring in 25 points and hitting 4 of 5 from deep. That was the second game in a seven-game run in which he scored at least 12 points.
He also carried that momentum into the offseason. At the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Kugel turned in a strong opening game for Jani-King, finishing with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 2-of-3 from 3-point range in a 97-92 win.
Fulks’ path to minutes may be a little clearer the next time out. The Clippers struggled badly on offense in their opener, shooting 33 percent from the field while posting 13 assists against 17 turnovers, and that kind of sloppiness could open the door for a true organizer.
That’s where Fulks comes in. Last season at UCF, he averaged 14 points, 6.7 assists and 3 rebounds while shooting a team-best 46.2% from the field. His work earned him Third-Team All-Big 12 honors, the first time a Knight landed on a Big 12 All-Conference Team, and he was also named to the Big 12 Starting Five three times.
The Clippers are back at it Sunday night, July 12, at 10:00 p.m. against No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz.
In Other News...
UCF Hit With Another Costly Setback From Its Coaching Fallout
A court ruling this week added another expensive chapter to UCFs coaching fallout, with an Orange County judge siding with former defensive coordinator Ted Roof in a dispute over his termination compensation. The decision leaves the Knights on the hook for Roofs damages, along with attorneys fees and costs, after the university tried to limit what it owed following the coaching change.
The case now shifts to the next step in the legal process, with UCF holding a 30-day window to appeal the final judgment. For a program still dealing with the aftermath of its coaching turnover, the ruling is another reminder that the costs of that transition are not finished showing up on the ledger. [Read more 🡒]
Why Duke Watson Could Change UCF's Backfield Ceiling In 2026
Duke Watson gives UCF something it has been looking to add to the backfield: a transfer runner with the kind of burst and versatility that can change how a drive feels before it even starts. The Louisville transfer is set for the 2026 season, and head coach Scott Frost has been quick to point to Watsons big-play ability as a reason the Knights think the room can be more dangerous than just a one-back operation.
Watson also made it clear the fit mattered to him, praising Frost and the environment around the program as major reasons for the move. He is expected to work alongside lead back Landen Chambers while offering value as a pass-catching threat and an all-around option, the sort of piece that can raise the ceiling of an offense if it develops the right balance. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Fans Will Have Strong Opinions On This All-Time Receiver List
A new all-time UCF football list is bound to stir debate, and the latest one from the Daytona News-Journal gives Knights fans plenty to argue about. The 105-man roster is built around program greats, with the receiver group drawing especially close attention thanks to the number of pass-catchers who earned All-FBS recognition since UCF moved up 30 years ago.
The list reaches across eras and even includes players whose time in Orlando was only part of their college journey, which only adds to the conversation. Names like Brandon Marshall, Mike Sims-Walker and Tre'Quan Smith give the group real weight, but the deeper cut is where the opinions start to split, especially with a few of the most productive and impactful receivers in program history all fighting for their place. [Read more 🡒]