Ben Humrichous has landed in a spot where he could get real chances to stand out.
The Illinois forward is on the Brooklyn Nets’ Summer League roster after signing an Exhibit 10 deal, and the setup around him looks favorable for a player trying to carve out a lane. Brooklyn’s group is heavy on rookies and first-year players, with very little proven experience on the roster. That means minutes should be there for the taking, and Humrichous is the kind of name who can benefit if the door opens.
The Nets’ roster, reported Thursday by Ian Begley of SNYtv, includes four of their five 2025 first-round picks, with Nolan Trarore out because of a knee injury. It will also include all of their 2026 draft picks.
Among the names on the list, Mikel Brown Jr. stands out as the lottery pick and likely the player who will see the most action. Tyler Bilodeau is another rookie on the roster, and Egor Demin is a first-year player who should also get plenty of run.
For Humrichous, that kind of environment matters. He does not need to be buried behind veteran usage.
He needs court time, and when he gets it, the things that can separate him are pretty clear: his length and his shooting. He can score from three-point range, and if those shots start falling, it will show up fast.
The flip side is defense. That remains the biggest question. Humrichous can be flatfooted at times and slow off the dribble, though he has presumably spent the offseason working on his first step.
The Nets will be in the earlier Summer League action, beginning Saturday, July 4, at 4:00 p.m. CT/ 5:00 p.m. ET on Prime Video and ESPN+ in the California Classic.
There is also one odd wrinkle on the roster listing. Illinois had always listed Humrichous at 6-foot-9, and that matched the way he looked against most of the players he faced in college. Brooklyn’s roster, though, has him at 6-foot-7.
That discrepancy is a little puzzling. Based on appearance alone, he seems much closer to 6-foot-9, especially when compared with Keaton Wagler, who is now listed as just two inches shorter.
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