The 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas got rolling with a strong showing from several former Huskies, and Liam McNeeley wasted no time making the loudest statement of the bunch.
McNeeley lit up Orlando in Charlotte’s win, pouring in 28 points while knocking down 7 of 8 shots from beyond the arc. He said the early going took a little settling in against a bigger, more experienced Summer League opponent.
“I mean, a little nerves early on and they’re a team (Orlando) that’s got a little bit older guys, if you will, for summer league,” he explained. “So just kind of getting our feet settled into the game and responding to that physicality,” said McNeeley.
That kind of outing matters for a player whose first NBA season was a grind. Drafted late in the first round of the 2025 draft, McNeeley averaged 4.3 points across 31 games for the Hornets. With Charlotte moving on from star guard LaMelo Ball, the soon-to-be 21-year-old could be in line for a bigger role in year two, and this Summer League run may be the push that gets him more minutes.
Alex Karaban’s path has been a little different. He sat out the California Classic after suffering a right ankle sprain in team practice on July 2, then got the green light to play Thursday against the Clippers. The result wasn’t flashy - Karaban finished scoreless in 24 minutes - but he did chip in 2 rebounds and an assist.
Tarris Reed, meanwhile, picked up right where he left off in March. The Kodiak Bear made his California Classic debut earlier this week and delivered a pair of double-doubles against the Lakers and Hawks.
Against Los Angeles, Reed scored 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting and added 12 rebounds and 1 assist. In his next game, he stayed busy on the glass and around the rim, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Houston’s game against Denver also brought a familiar face into the broadcast booth. Dan Hurley was on the call and had plenty of praise for his center, while Tristen Newton was on the floor for the Rockets with Hurley watching closely.
Newton, a key piece in the back-to-back National Championships, finished with 13 points and 3 steals, including a smooth and-one finish that drew a loud “Gimme that!” from Hurley as the shot dropped. Hurley made it clear Newton can be a rotational player, and Newton’s recent résumé backs that up: he was named to the All-NBA G League First Team for the 2025-26 season after averaging 25.6 points for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s affiliate.
For this group of former Huskies, Summer League is more than just a tune-up. It’s a chance to turn heads and maybe carve out real NBA minutes.
In Other News...
UConn Is Already Getting Doubted In Jason Candles First Season
Jason Candles first season in Storrs is arriving with plenty of questions attached, and not just because he is taking over after Jim Moras departure. UConn is trying to replace major production on offense, including quarterback Joe Fagnano and wide receiver Skyler Bell, who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills, while also staring at a schedule that brings in Syracuse, North Carolina, Maryland and James Madison.
The outside perception has not exactly softened those concerns. Even before a snap is played, the Huskies are being treated like a team with little proven star power, and that kind of skepticism tends to follow a program until somebody on the roster forces a change in the conversation. Candle now has the task of making sure UConn is not defined by who left, but by who steps up next. [Read more 🡒]
UConn Fans Should Stay Patient With Alex Karaban's Quiet NBA Start
Alex Karabans first taste of NBA Summer League has been a little quieter than UConn fans probably expected, but there is a simple explanation for it. The Sacramento Kings took him 29th overall in the 2026 draft, and his early work has come in limited minutes as he gets his footing and starts learning a new system after spending five years in Dan Hurleys program.
The bigger picture here is still the one that matters for UConn followers: this is a ramp-up, not a verdict. Karaban has only been in two games so far, and the Kings have every reason to be cautious as he continues to adjust to the pro game, especially with his early availability shaped by a brief practice absence and a measured approach to his workload. [Read more 🡒]