KU’s Jalen Wilson emerges as one of top players in 2023 NBA Summer League
Former Kansas forward Jalen Wilson was named to the NBA 2K24 all-Summer League second team on Monday.
Wilson, a 6-foot-8, 22-year-old Denton, Texas native who was taken by the Brooklyn Nets with the No. 51 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, earned second-team honors with Max Christie (Los Angeles Lakers), Javon Freeman-Liberty (Chicago Bulls), Xavier Moon (Los Angeles Clippers), Emoni Bates (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Jabari Smith (Houston Rockets).
The first team consisted of Keyonte George (Utah Jazz), Sam Merrill (Cavaliers), Orlando Robinson (Miami Heat), Hunter Tyson (Denver Nuggets) and Cam Whitmore (Rockets).
Whitmore, in fact, was voted MVP of the summer league, which was held the past two weeks in Las Vegas.
Whitmore scored 14 points in the Rockets’ 99-78 loss to Cleveland in Monday’s league title game. Four members of the Cavs had more points in the title game than Whitmore. Merrill led the way with 25 points.
Wilson, a starter on KU’s 2022 NCAA title team and 2023 Big 12 player of the year and first-team All-American, averaged 17.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in five summer games. Wilson hit 43.6% of his shots overall and was 45.8% from three and 78.4% from the line.
The Nets, who lost in the semifinals of the league’s Final Four, went 3-2 in Las Vegas.
Wilson was a hit off the court as well.
Wilson combined forces with Wilson Sporting Goods to raise money for the local YMCAs in Brooklyn, New York. They pledged $100 per point and $50 per assist that Wilson recorded in Las Vegas. A total of $9,450 was raised thanks to Wilson scoring 88 points and delivering 13 assists.
“Love having the opportunity to give back to a place that changed my life. God is Good and I appreciate every dollar!!!!” Wilson wrote on Twitter.
