The purpose of this article is really two-fold. 1. Catch up on what your favorite Summit League Alums have been doing recently in pro basketball, and then I will put together a list of the 10 players I would add to a Summit League TBT team.
If you are unsure what the TBT is, it is a million-dollar winner take all, 64 team tournament comprised of pro basketball players who are not playing in the NBA. The tournament is single elimination and takes place on the ESPN family. The majority of early games on ESPN 3 and then moving to the other ESPN networks.
So broken down by Summit League team they played for, let me run down what some of your favorite Summit alums are up to in the pro ranks (not including those on an NBA contract as they are not eligible for TBT.
Denver
G/F Ade Murkey 6’5 Murkey played last season for the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G-League. Averaging 7.1 points per game and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 35% from behind the arc.
G Ronnie Harrell 6’7 Harrell only played his last college season at Denver after transferring from Creighton. However, he has put together some decent pro numbers in 2 pro seasons. Last season Harrell played in Spain and averaged 16.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals.
C Daniel Amigo 6’10 Amigo gives a couple of valuable things that a TBT team can always use. He gives size at 6’10 and 245lbs and TBT experience as he is playing in this year’s tournament. Last season Amigo played in Lithuania and averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds.
North Dakota State
G Vinnie Shahid 6’1 Shahid played last season in Luxembourg. Shahid averaged an impressive 22.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game in his first pro season.
G/F Tyson Ward 6’6 Ward played his initial pro season in Germany. During the season Ward averaged 9.2 points and 4.2 rebounds. No one who watched Ward in Summit League play would be surprised he averaged 1.1 steals also.
F Deng Geu 6’8 Geu finished his career at North Texas but is on this list due to his time at NDSU. Geu played last season in Denmark. Last season Geu averaged 13.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and a block per game.
G Lawrence Alexander 6’3 It’s been some time since the 2015 Summit Player of the Year played in the Summit. However, Alexander has put together an impressive pro career. Alexander played last season in Austria and averaged 14.9 points and 5.3 rebounds.
F Taylor Braun 6’7 Let’s just start by listing the countries that Braun has played in during a 7-year pro career. They include Belgium, Hungary, Germany, the US, Italy, Austria, and Isreal. Braun played in Isreal last season and averaged 6.6 points and 2.6 rebounds.
South Dakota State
F Mike Daum 6’9 Really no other player can boast the Summit League career that Daum can. However what is Daum up to in pro basketball. Daum played last season in Spain Daum averaged 9.7 points and 4.4 rebounds, while shooting 37% from 3. The previous season in Daum’s first pro season he shot 45% from behind the arc. Daum is also a two-year TBT vet.
G Deondre Parks 6’4 Parks has put up some impressive scoring numbers during his pro career. Parks took two seasons off prior to returning last season, playing in Finland averaging 14.9 points per game and shooting 45% from behind the arc.
G Nate Wolters 6’4 Wolters is a Summit League legend. The 2013 player of the year and NBA veteran. Wolters is also still making things happen on the world stage. Wolters played last season in Russia. Wolters averaged 9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists last year.
South Dakota
G Matt Mooney 6’3 Mooney may have finished his career at Texas Tech but he is absolutely a Summit League alum. He is also an NBA alum. Playing 4 games for Cleveland in 19-20. Mooney put up some impressive numbers in the G League last year with 11.6 points and an eye-opening 5.7 assists. Mooney showed his defensive prowess by adding 1.6 steals.
F Tyler Flack 6’7 Flack played last season in Sweden. Flack averaged 13.2 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 54% from 3. Flack also chipped in 1.1 blocks per game.
G Tyler Larson 6’3 Larson has put together an impressive pro career. Last year was Larson’s 6th pro season as Larson played in Germany last year. Larson averaged 6.2 points and 4.1 assists last season.
Oral Roberts
G Deondre Burns 6’2 Burns played one transfer season in the Summit but still is considered a Summit alum in my book. Burns is putting up eye-popping numbers in Switzerland. Burns averaged 21.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.5 steals in his first pro season.
F Emmanuel Nzekwesi 6’8 The two-time all Summit selection did not slow down in his first pro season. Nzekwesi played last season in the Netherlands which is not surprising for the Dutch player. Nzekwesi averaged 21.7 points and 8.7 rebounds last year.
G Jalen Bradley 6’2 Bradley played in Omaha and then Oral Roberts. Making him a unique player that played for 2 Summit League schools. Last season Bradley averaged 14.9 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists playing in the country of Georgia. Throughout his pro career, Bradley has continued his great outside shooting his showcased in college.
G Obi Emegano 6’3 Have you been a Summit League fan long enough to remember an Oral Roberts guard who put up Max Abmas type numbers in Oral Roberts second year returning to the Summit/Midcontinent? Emegano was 7th in the NCAA scoring at 23.1 points per game his last year in college. Emegano is currently doing something no one else on this list is doing. He is preparing for the Olympics as part of the Nigerian national team. Last season playing in Spain Omegano averaged 9.9 points per game. Emegano had 3 straight seasons playing in France where he shot at least 40% behind the arc.
F Dominique Morrison 6’6 2012 Summit League Player of the Year and Associated Press All-American. One of the most decorated Summit League careers ever. Probably makes the Summit League Mt. Rushmore. Morrison played last season in Uruguay, continuing a distinguished pro career overseas. At 31 years of age, Morrison averaged 21.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and shot 42% from 3 last season.
Omaha
G KJ Robinson 6’0 Robinson played his first pro season in Denmark. Robinson averaged 8.3 points per game and shot 38% from 3.
G Zach Jackson 6’5 Jackson played last season in the United Kingdom. Jackson averaged 9.1 points and 2.1 rebounds last season. Jackson also shot a blistering 44% from 3.
G Daniel Norl 6’3 Norl has probably accomplished more in his pro career than he did in college. Playing 2 years at Omaha after transferring from Eastern Kentucky. Last season Norl played in Germany and averaged 12.1 points and 2.1 rebounds last season.
G Marcus Tyus 6’1 Tyus was part of a team that put together an impressive stretch in the Summit. Last season Tyus played in Germany and averaged 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists last year.
G Tra-Deon Hollins 6’2 Hollins has spent his entire pro career in the G-League. Last season Hollins played 6 games for the G-League before launching a team with former Omaha teammate Tre’Shawn Thurman in the upstart The Basketball League.
North Dakota
G Geno Crandall 6’3 Many basketball fans remember Crandall for his year playing with Gonzaga. However, Summit League fans remember the do-everything guard playing for North Dakota. Crandall continues to do everything in his pro career. Crandall played last season in England and averaged 15.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
G Quinton Hooker 6’0 Last season Hooker played in Germany and averaged 14.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.
Purdue Fort Wayne
Yes PFW is no longer in the Summit but many Fort Wayne Alum spent their entire career in the Summit so on the list they are.
G John Konchar 6’5 Konchar is an NBA player so he wouldn’t be eligible to play in the TBT. However, he belongs on this list of where are they now Summit Alum. Konchar just finished year 2 in the NBA, playing in 42 games last season with the Grizzlies. Konchar averaged 4.3 points and 3 rebounds in 13 minutes per game.
G Bryson Scott 6’2 Scott played two seasons for PFW after transferring from Purdue. Last season Scott put up eye-popping numbers while playing in Georgia (the country). Scott averaged 20.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.
G Max Landis 6’2 Landis is the 2016 Summit player of the year and he has continued his high-scoring ways as a pro. Last season Landis played in Portugal and averaged 20.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2 steals per game.
Western Illinois
C Brandon Gilbeck 7’0 Gilbeck was a defensive force in college and that has not changed in the pro ranks. Gilbeck averaged 3.4 blocks per game his last season for the Leathernecks. Last year Gilbeck played in Italy Gilbeck scored 8.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game.
My TBT Team
If everyone on the list was available to play, money and other items were not a concern. What 10 players would I put on my TBT team? Also, this isn’t necessarily the best 10 players but players that I think balance the team to make a good team also tended to lean towards having reps of several Summit League teams. Here is a list of 5 backcourt and 5 frontcourt players that I would put on the team.
Backcourt
G Geno Crandall: Crandall’s ability to facilitate makes him a great lead guard on this team.
G Ade Murkey: Give me a guard with size and athleticism. Murkey gives crucial backcourt size important in the TBT.
G Matt Mooney: Mooney gives you scoring, distributing but most importantly perimeter defense.
G Nate Wolters: Not only is Wolters a great player, but the TBT and more important ESPN love recognizable names. Wolters gives you that.
G Vinnie Shahid: Dynamic backcourt scorer which has continued in his short pro career. A name much of the country may not know, but they would after this TBT run.
(one name not on this list I would add) G Marlon Stewart. As far as I could tell Stewart didn’t play professionally last season. However, anyone who watched his last season in the Summit would say there are few that we would want shooting the last shot more.
Frontcourt
F Mike Daum: Last year Daum had a dominant TBT performance during his team’s TBT run. It’s reasonable to expect the same on the Summit TBT team.
C Brandon Gilbeck: Gilbeck played in the TBT last year, Gilbeck’s ability to intimidate defensively makes this Summit Team scary.
F Emmanuel Nzekwesi: As prolific a scorer that Daum is, including in the post. Rarely does a TBT team have two players who can score in the block like a team with Nzekwesi and Daum on it. Putting both those players on a team gives Summit TBT a unique advantage
F Tyson Ward: This spot came down to which G/F with man-on-man defensive ability do you want to add. I went with Ward over Deng Geu but both would give constant energy and would be great on this team.
F Dominique Morrison: This team has some veterans in the backcourt but is pretty young in the frontcourt. Give me a vet who is one of the best players ever to step onto a Summit League court.