Week number three (of four) of the 2025 Summit Summer League takes place this Wednesday, August 20.
Once again this week, teams will be shook up for week three games. Want to check out games this week? They start at 7:00 pm at PSM with admission set at $10.
Click here to see info, schedule and rosters for week three games.
What are some things to look forward to this week?
A BREAKOUT PREDICTION OR TWO
One of the most fun things about watching this league as a whole is seeing who may not be strong one week and then bounces back the next week, who may have missed a week and then comes in like wild fire or who is so young in their career, a big game or night is really a breakout for them to garner more attention.
Last week, we had a bit of all of those. Junior Titus Schultz (Huntington North) erased his week one woes with a top 5 performance in week two. Sophomore Zen Szaferski (Bishop Luers) missed week one but made a massive impression last week as a multi dimensional guard who showed he can probably compete right now in the SAC. Gavin Wells (Homestead) introduced himself loudly to teammates and opposing players with his ability to pull up and knock down shots from a lot of different angles.
So who does it this week?
Homestead sophomore Cam Abbring looks to be getting more comfortable with each passing game in the league. After an ok week one where he scored 8 total points over two games, he averaged 9 points per game last week, both with his shooting and working to get to the rim. He will be joined this week on Team Prokop by Tayvon Stidams (Bishop Luers), who knocked down a league second best five three pointers last week and is also looking more comfortable with each passing game.
Can another Team Prokop guard in Isaac Baker (Bellmont) continue to enhance his game as he has been a steady hand and credible defensive weapon each of the first two weeks. Team Prokop teammate and Adams County cohort Owen Roe (South Adams) could also be one to watch. Finally, keep an eye on one of the few freshmen in the league, Camden Brooks of Woodlan, who is due for a big game after pretty steady performances. Brooks will be part of Team Vance this week.
PICKPOCKETING AND RIM PROTECTING
While the bigs have drawn a lot of interest in this league at the midway point and the shooters have been talked alot for evening things out, why don’t we talk defense this week?
That defensive post starts with what Zen Szaferski (Bishop Luers) did last week in his second game, racking up five steals including one at the end regulation to give his team the lead going into the Elam Ending. Jake Stoy (Prairie Heights) also had a five steal effort, but in week one. Consistency though belongs to Taurean Brown (Heritage), who leads the league with eight steals over four games. Brown has been a menace, especially in press situations, the first two weeks. Even when he isn’t taking the ball away, Brown is often taking away the guy who he guards.
After three multi-steals game in the opening week, last week saw 11 multi-steal games for players including Szaferski’s five and four steal game from Gavin Wells (Homestead). 37 of the 43 players in the Summit Summer League have recorded a steal during the league.
Blocks have been bountiful too and not just for the big men. Freshman Quentin Dickerhoff (Eastside) was a killer in week one, recording nine blocks in two games and leads the league with 10 total blocks at the midway point. Wawasee’s Stephen Akase (7), NorthWood’s Mason Pearson (6), Avery MacFarlane (5) and Huntington North’s Brody Bolen (5) join him as those with more than 5 blocked shots.
But what about the guards? There should be plenty of love to spread around here because while block totals of guards may not be big, the blocks they have had have sometimes come in big moments. Jake Stoy (Prairie Heights) was active last week and had a big block in game two, while Titus Schultz (Huntington North) had three blocks during week 2, which was tied for the lead league last week.
THE GAME OF THE WEEK?
Last week, I was sure wrong on the Game of the Week pick, but in fairness I said that it was going to be inside work that solid it and the absence of Wayne’s Uriah Williams turned the tide there. Instead, it was Team Abram versus Team Deming that shined as the most fun game during week two with their back and forth affair that went to the Elam Ending as just a one point game.
This week? Well of course Bounce is making another prediction.
Lets go with Team Abram versus Team Prokop at 7 p.m. on Court A at PSM Fieldhouse as a projected game of the week, if there were such a thing. Now admittedly, this does rely some on the interior play with Team Abram sending out Quentin Dickerhoff (Eastside), Uriah Williams (Wayne) and Collin McAtee (Norwell) to battle Team Prokop’s Stephen Akase (Wawasee), Carson Waltke (East Noble) and Landon Kralis (Warsaw). Those matchups are critical and what makes them even more interesting is the substitution pattern.
Do you play offense or defense with your subs? One school of thought is to see who the other team sends out and counteract with your subs. Or you just go with your gut and see how it matches up. With each team having three solid interior forces though, you kid of want to make sure you have YOUR bigs on the court when they have THEIR bigs on the court.
The guard play has me most intrigued because you see Szaferski, Stoy and Schultz lead the charge for Team Abram, all quality lead guards who have had some big energy moments throughout with Schultz (as mentioned) being a real breakout last week with the way he wanted to take over games. Team Prokop though can counter with Isaac Baker (Bellmont) who has been a solid defender including holding Schultz to zero points in week one game. Davis Cowan (Wawasee) is a steady guard mentally on both sides of the ball for Team Prokop, who will be a quality matchup no matter what guard he ends up with. Tayvon Stidams (Bishop Luers) and Brayden Freiburger (Huntington North) gives Team Prokop two really long guards that can use their length in these wars.
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