Finally, after covering the rookies and sophomores of the Pacific, Northwest, Southwest, Atlantic, and Central Divisions attending Summer League, the Southeast Division is up. Here are the top rookies and sophomores from each of the Southeast Division teams.
Summer League: Top Southeast Division Rookies And Sophomores
Team: Orlando Magic
Rookie: Tristan Da Silva
Selected by the Orlando Magic with the 18th overall pick, Tristan Da Silva is the rookie to watch on the Magic. The main expectation for Da Silva is to prove that he is too good for Summer League and is ready for minutes in the rotation. Based on his performance so far, he has completely met expectations as Da Silva has been one of the best rookie performers at Summer League. He has been extremely efficient shooting the ball, particularly from three. Additionally, Da Silva has been impactful defensively and team-oriented. He has been making winning plays throughout the games he played at Summer League. Regardless of the outcomes of the final games at Summer League, Da Silva has shown himself to be ready to make an impact with the Orlando Magic.
Sophomore: Anthony Black
Undoubtedly, the sophomore to pay attention to is the former lottery pick, Anthony Black. The main expectation for Black is to show that he has improved his overall game, especially on the offensive end of the floor. Furthermore, He needs to show that he is prepared to take the next step as a player and is ready for an expanded role with the Magic. Black played only two games at Summer League before being shut down due to injury.
As for his performance in those two games, Black showed strong flashes of his potential and overall improvement in his game. Particularly, Black showed out in his first game, where he scored an efficient 20 points. Additionally, he stuffed the stat sheet and played his usual brand of excellent defense. Black’s second performance went much poorer than his first, however, this can be partially explained due to injury. Regardless of how many games he played, Black showed that he has been trending in the right direction. As long as Black continues his development, things will look even more exciting for Orlando.
Team: Miami Heat
Rookie: Kel’el Ware
The big man out of Indiana, Kel’el Ware, is the rookie to watch on the Miami Heat Summer League roster. The expectations for Ware have been to show that he will play with effort out on the court, given pre-draft concerns over his effort levels. Additionally, since the Heat are in grave need of more frontcourt depth, Ware needed to show that he is ready for immediate minutes with the main team. So far, Ware has exceeded expectations on both counts.
He has been one of the best bigs at Summer League on both ends of the floor. On offense, he has been dominant at the rim and has shown the ability to extend his range beyond the arc. On defense, Ware has been equally dominant. He has been an excellent rim protector and active getting rebounds. His performance has eased concerns about his effort and they showed the Heat that he should get minutes.
Sophomore: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The UCLA product, Jaime Jaquez Jr., is the sophomore to watch for on the Miami roster. Jaquez had an impressive rookie season with the Heat, where he was selected to the All-Rookie First Team. Needless to say, the main expectations for Jaquez are to continue his good play and above all, stay healthy. Much like Ware, he has met those expectations in both regards. He has been superb on both ends of the court and he has been healthy. Jaquez’s performance at Summer League has only cemented his place in Miami’s rotation and for the team’s future.
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Rookie: Zaccharie Risacher
The first pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Zaccharie Risacher, is the Hawks rookie to watch. The main expectation for Risacher is to show why he was the first pick and his overall potential as a player. Risacher only played two games at Summer League so far due to injury, but the results have been mixed. He had an 18-point outing in his first game and he flashed potential in different facets of his game, especially on defense. The second game he played went much poorer though, as Risacher shot poorly throughout the game. Regardless, the young Atlanta wing still has great potential and has shown flashes that the Hawks and fans should be excited about.
Sophomore: Mouhamed Gueye
Mouhamed Gueye is the Hawks sophomore to watch for at Summer League. Selected 39th overall, the main expectation for Gueye is to show that he has improved overall as a player. Furthermore, if he shows out at Summer League, it would give him a strong argument for more minutes with the main team. While he played in three games so far, he had to leave early in his previous game due to injury. However, Gueye flashed potential in all of the games he played. He has shown the ability to knock down shots from deep and he has no fear of taking them. Gueye showcased fluidness and mobility on defense, which is impressive for his size at six-foot-eleven. Despite the injury, Gueye has shown upside and is trending in the right direction for his development.
Team: Charlotte Hornets
Rookie: Tidjane Salaun
Tidjane Salaun, the sixth pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is the rookie to pay attention to on the Hornets. As a project pick, the main expectation for Salaun is to show off his skills and overall potential. Having only played in two Summer League games, Salaun has flashed his impressive athleticism and excellent motor in both games. He has been a force on the boards, getting a double-double in his second game. With his kind of potential, Salaun and the Hornets have a bright future ahead of them.
Sophomore: Brandon Miller
The second pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Brandon Miller, is the Hornets sophomore to watch. Like Jaquez on the Heat, Miller made the All-Rookie First Team for his impressive play last season. Again like Jaquez, the main expectations for Miller are to continue with his excellence on the court and to remain healthy. In a single game played at Summer League, Miller has succeeded at that. He led the Hornets to a victory over the Knicks, scoring 23 points and showing off his three-point shooting skills. Despite only playing a single game, he has reinforced that he is the future of the Hornets franchise alongside LaMelo Ball.
Team: Washington Wizards
Rookie: Alexandre Sarr
Alexandre Sarr, who played in the NBL last season, is the rookie to watch for on the Wizards. As the second pick in the draft, the expectations for Sarr are high. Those expectations include showing off his skills as a player and proving why he was picked second overall. While Sarr has shown what he can be on defense, his offense leaves much to be desired. Due to that, he has thus far not met expectations. Sarr has only made a single field goal out of the last 21 attempts, which is especially worrying due to his size at seven-foot-one. Hopefully, Sarr can make up for his past performances in the final Summer League game for the Wizards.
Sophomore: Jules Bernard
Jules Bernard is the sophomore to watch on the Wizards Summer League roster. The main expectation for Bernard is that he has improved overall as a player to gain more minutes in the coming season. Based on his performance through Summer League so far, Bernard has shown his ability to be a proper floor-spacer and be an overall offensive threat. While the shooting efficiency hasn’t always been there, Bernard has had impressive scoring games. If Bernard continues his hot shooting, there may be minutes for him in the regular season.
The post Summer League: Top Southeast Division Rookies And Sophomores appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.