Former UConn men’s hoops players that played in the NBA Summer League

Seven UConn Huskies went out west to play in the NBA Summer League this month. Two-time national champions Samson Johnson and Tristen Newton, one-time champions Cam Spencer, Andre Jackson Jr. and Adama Sanogo, along with former program stars Liam McNeeley and James Bouknight all got the chance to impress NBA general managers in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas from July 8 to July 20.

Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies) and Sanogo (Utah Jazz) suited up in the Salt Lake City Summer League, whereas the other five Huskies played exclusively in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Several Huskies flourished over the course of the 10-day tournament, receiving recognition on social media for standout performances and, more importantly, multi-year contracts from their respective teams for their efforts.

Below is a recap of each former UConn player’s 2025 Summer League performance, sorted by NBA experience.

James Bouknight (Portland Trail Blazers)

The former lottery pick strung together a solid 12-point, 3-rebound, 3-assist stat line across five appearances for the Trail Blazers. Bouknight averaged 19.1 minutes per game and shot 64% from the field.

Bouknight signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Blazers last October but was waived the next day and sent to the G-League. His future with the team remains uncertain as of now.

Andre Jackson Jr. (Milwaukee Bucks)

The high-flying wing started four games for the Bucks, averaging 21.2 minutes per game. A well rounded 5.5 point, 3.5 assist and 3.8 rebound per game stat line could help him carve out a larger role in Milwaukee’s rotation entering year three.

Jackson has two years left on his four-year rookie contract.

Adama Sanogo (Utah Jazz)

Sanogo crafted a perfect stat line in a pair of Salt Lake City Summer League games, hitting on 100% of his field goals and grabbing 13 total rebounds on 23 minutes per game.

The former Chicago Bull appeared in four games in the Las Vegas Summer League and averaged 12.9 minutes per game for the Jazz. Sanogo hit on 71% of his field goal attempts (3.3 points per game) and grabbed an average of two offensive boards per game as a part of his 5.5 total.

Sanogo’s role with the Jazz appears to be defined; a low post bruiser who excels on the glass that has shown the potential to play both the four and five on small-ball lineups. Sanogo played alongside Summer League MVP Kyle Filipowski in the Utah frontcourt.

Tristen Newton (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Newton commanded two cutting edge UConn offenses in 2023 and 2024, and was picked up by the Pacers last summer before landing with Minnesota in January, where he has stayed since.

Newton saw the court for 21 minutes per game in a crowded Minnesota backcourt — breakout guard Terrance Shannon Jr. and former lottery pick Rob Dillingham both played in the Summer League. He averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 assists for the Wolves in five games.

Newton’s future remains in question, but the second-year pro could begin his 2025-26 season with the Timberwolves’ G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.

Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)

Spencer made headway as the top UConn performer this summer, notching an impressive 17-point, 3-rebound and 2-assist stat line while averaging north of 27 minutes per game for Memphis.

The second-year pro appeared in four games in the Las Vegas Summer League, scoring a high of 23 points versus the Golden State Warriors on July 15. Spencer also averaged 18.5 points per game in two Salt Lake City Summer League games, shooting 64.2% from three while dishing 5.5 assists per game

The Grizzlies awarded Spencer with a four-year, $10.5 million contract with three fully guaranteed seasons, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, cementing himself as a rotational player for the Grizzlies.

Liam McNeeley (Charlotte Hornets)

McNeeley became the third Husky to go one-and-done earlier this month, which mounted lofty expectations for the former five star recruit to perform immediately.

His first basket at the professional level was an ‘and-one’ underhand layup, an omen for what was to come for the No. 29 overall pick. McNeeley averaged 18 points per game in two appearances for Charlotte alongside No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel.

McNeeley inked a shoe deal with Nike shortly after the Summer League ended and ESPN recognized him as a top three rookie in the tournament. He also signed his rookie scale contract alongside Knueppel and former rival Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Samson Johnson (Indiana Pacers)

Johnson appeared in two games for Indiana, averaging three points and 1.5 rebounds on 8.1 minutes per game. The two-time champion was the only true center listed on the Pacers’ roster on NBA.com, with former Harvard big man Robert Baker being listed as a forward/center.

Johnson, the winningest player in UConn history, now searches for a spot on an NBA roster following the Summer League flyer.