The 2026 NBA Summer League wrapped up with a solid showing from a group of former Bearcats spread across four different rosters, and there were plenty of performances worth tracking.
Baba Miller may have put together the most eye-catching stat line of the bunch. The Los Angeles Clippers took him in the second round with the No. 36 pick overall, and he recently signed a four-year, $9.61 million rookie contract.
He was the first second round pick to sign his rookie contract. In five Summer League games, Miller averaged 12.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 61.8% from the field, 50.0% from three-point range and 72.7% from the free-throw line.
For comparison, his shooting numbers at Cincinnati were 53.0%, 19.0%, and 66.0%.
The Boston Celtics had two former Bearcats on their Summer League roster, and Dillon Mitchell made the loudest impact. Drafted at No. 40 in the second round, Mitchell reunited with Day Day Thomas in Boston.
Mitchell played in four games and averaged 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. He shot 52.6% from the field and did not attempt a three-pointer.
His best moment came in his Summer League debut against the Charlotte Hornets, when he posted 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals in an 87-75 win.
Thomas appeared in four games and averaged 8.8 minutes played. Against the Sacramento Kings, he scored 8 points, added 2 rebounds, and recorded 2 steals in 18 minutes.
Jalen Celestine also got a five-game run with the Toronto Raptors after signing a Summer League deal shortly after the NBA Draft ended in late June. He averaged 6.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.8 steals while shooting 46.4% from the field and 37.5% from deep. His top outing came against the Houston Rockets, when he scored 14 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and had 2 steals while going 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-6 from three.
Aziz Bandago’s Summer League work with Toronto was just as notable in its own way. He played in five games and averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, shooting 72.2% from the field.
His best game came against the Denver Nuggets in the Summer League Championship, where he put up 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks. That performance likely earned him a spot on the Raptors 905 G-League team.
Viktor Lakhin rounded out the Bearcats group with the Sacramento Kings, appearing in five games and averaging 7.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. His best showing came against the Charlotte Hornets, when he finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists.
In Other News...
National QB Verdict On JC French Should Worry Bearcats Fans
JC French IV arrives in Cincinnati with real starting experience, having spent two seasons as Georgia Southerns quarterback and shown some statistical growth last fall. The Bearcats are counting on that background to help smooth the transition, especially with a strong offensive line in front of him and a season that will lean heavily on steady play at the position.
Still, the national view of French is hardly glowing, and that is where the concern starts for Cincinnati. Coaches and analysts see a quarterback with some promise but also one whose play can be uneven and whose response under pressure remains a question, which leaves the Bearcats in a familiar spot: optimistic about the supporting cast, but knowing the offense will go only as far as its new starter can take it. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Just Took A Crucial Step With Elite 2027 Guard
Payton Jones has already become one of the more important names on Cincinnatis board for the class of 2027, and the Bearcats are still in the hunt after his latest round of trimming. The Beaumont, Texas guard has narrowed his recruitment to seven schools, with Cincinnati joining Baylor, Boston College, Clemson, Houston, Maryland and Oklahoma State on the list after a late-June visit to campus.
For a program trying to stay in the mix with elite national guards, simply making that cut matters. Jones is viewed as a 4-star, top-50 type of prospect with a growing list of offers, and his standing in both the national and Texas rankings gives the Bearcats a real chance to measure themselves against some heavy hitters as this recruitment moves forward. [Read more 🡒]