Week four of the 2024 Summit Summer League takes place this Wednesday, August 28. Want to check out games this week? They start at 6:15 at SportOne Parkview Fieldhouse with admission set at $8.
Click here to see info, schedule and rosters for week four games.
What are some things to look forward to this week as the league closes out its 2024 calendar?
SOMEONE ALWAYS FINISHES STRONG
Wyatt Weaver year one. Keegan Combs year two.
Someone always has a great bounce back week or best week of the league on the very final Wednesday. Its happened twice, you’d have to think that it will happen again.
Each week has provided a bit of a breakout player. Union City (MI)’s Nolan Chard had a fantastic first week that was by far his best. Steady hand Justin Carlson (Lakeland) ended up being the second highest scorer in the league in week three at 20 points per game (games of 21 and 19) that made him one of just two people who have averaged 20 or more points for both games in a week; Isaiah King (Fort Wayne Hawks) has done so in both weeks two and three as he has led the Summit Summer League in scoring each individual week those far.
But there is something about that last week, that last chance to make an impression that stands out. And as hot as the shooters have gotten, that is one area to look.
But I like to think that a scrappy player, like Weaver was in 2022 going into his sophomore season, could be who we see really break out.
Keep at eye on Angola sophomore Jacob Fraley of Team Durnell. More of a defender and emerging court general than scorer, his scrappy play could keep him interesting this week.
For Team Deming, Landon Kralis (Manchester) is actually coming off a really good and underrated week. The freshman can shoot it a little bit but he is finding ways to be in the right place at the right time and you can tell his read of the floor is improving.
For Team Prokop, you could look at a big week for Lavell Ledbetter (New Haven), who was a late addition to the league but averaged nine points per game in week 2, the only one he played in. But also look at Dom Keferl (Carroll), who showed some strengths in the inaugural 2022 Summit Summer League and had a really good single game in week one.
And on Team Abram, not too many guys on their roster this week would be considered a break out guy but Brahdee Taylor (Warsaw) has shown some shooting prowess where he could get hot and we know, as previously mentioned, that Nolan Chard (Union City) can light it up when he gets on a roll.
THE CLOSEOUT
At the end, length and explosiveness are key. No, not the end as in the end of the league but at the end of a game and more importantly at the end of the night.
Every week we naturally see the second game of the night played at a different pace as guys fight off any form of tired they may have. So being able to be explosive late has been a difference maker not only in final scores but in individual performances too.
Mason Pearson (NorthWood) has been a highly reliable competitor and contributor every week. He can score at all three levels, he can rebound, his physicality is solid too. But what has really stood out about him is his ability to use a combination of length and explosion to create tough defense. He has been able to play off of his guy enough to be in good help side defense, but that doesn’t mean you are likely to get a clean shot off on him.
Instead, Pearson’s explosion from one spot to another during closeouts has been really interesting to see. He knows how to use his height and the range he can cover and he does it very well. When the clock rolls past 8 p.m. this Wednesday, this kind of ability is very helpful.
GAME OF THE WEEK POTENTIAL
I haven’t been spot on with this most weeks, but I have a feeling that team Durnell will factor into whatever the best game is this week.
The 6:15 game on Court A at SportOne Parkview Fieldhouse feels like the best game of the week as Team Durnell opens the night against Team Abram. Mason Pearson (NorthWood) and Stephen Akase (Tippecanoe Valley) have been two of the best players in the league all August, while Parker Reed (Garrett) should be back in form after missing most of game two last week with an injury. Owen Smith (Homestead), Carter Coffman (Garrett) and Jayden Moore (Bishop Luers) can all get hot as well.
On the other side, you have Team Abram, who’s top 6 are among the best of the best in the league. Colt Kirkpatrick (Central Noble) had the 3rd best scoring game last week, Nathan Bowker (East Noble) easily leads the league in assists, Oliver Adams (Woodlan) is among the league’s top rebounders and the Homestead trio of Michael Raudenbush, Wyatt Weaver and Mack Welker can all go off with Raudenbush being the most consistent last week at 15.5 points per game, but with Weaver (23) and Welker (20) posting two of the best individual games last week.
But I feel like the 7:15 game on Court A could be sizzling with Brandon Durnell facing off against his East Noble coaching assistant Josh Deming for a third time in the Summit Summer League, with the series tied 1-1.
Oh, and because I don’t want to leave out Team Prokop, lets point out that he has Isaiah King (Fort Wayne Hawks) and that is a powerful first piece for any team to try and overcome when he gets going.
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