When an NBA summer league begins next month, as many as four former University of Northern Colorado men’s basketball players could be in the prestigious 11-day tournament.

The annual Las Vegas Summer League is a well-known competitive event for early-career pro players, free agents and prospects. Games are televised, and players have a chance to show off their skills with the hope of hooking on with an NBA team during the offseason.

Other summer leagues will be held earlier in the month in San Francisco (July 3, 5-6) and Salt Lake City (July 4-7), but the biggie is July 9-19 at the University of Las Vegas Nevada.

Saint Thomas and Isaiah Hawthorne, who both played one year at UNC, are both expected to be in Las Vegas, according to UNC head coach Steve Smiley. Thomas and Hawthorne spent last year in the NBA G League — a minor or developmental league of the NBA.

Quinn Denker and Langston Reynolds, two guys hoping to be first-year pros, could also end up in the summer league after working out for NBA teams leading up to last week’s draft. The NBA Draft was held June 23-24 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“That’s insane for a Big Sky (Conference) team to have that many in the summer league,” Smiley said. “That is crazy, and we’ll sell it in recruiting if it happens.”

University of Northern Colorado junior Langston Reynolds leaps for the basket while playing Idaho at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley on Saturday Feb. 22, 2025. (Greeley Tribune file photo).

The NBA is the premier basketball league in the world — the best of the best. Dalton Knecht is the lone UNC representative currently in the NBA. He played two seasons with the Bears before finishing his college career at Tennessee, where he was a breakout star and an All American. Knecht was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024.

Denker played the past two seasons with the Bears following his transfer from Big Sky rival Idaho. He was a unanimous Big Sky first-team selection at the end of the regular season this year. Denker averaged 19.2 points, 7 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game.

UNC Bears men’s basketball player Quinn Denker named to regional team following standout season

Denker worked out for the Nuggets earlier this month, and he’s waiting to receive word from his agent on what’s next now that the draft is over. Denker said teams are trying to figure out other contacts and set summer league rosters.

The Nuggets were the only team to work out Denker before the draft. He scored a season-high 35 points against Idaho in late January and had a program-record 16 assists against Sacramento State in early February. Denker scored 33 against Colorado in late December, helping the Bears to their first win over the Buffs since 1935.

Denker’s goal is to play in the NBA. It’s one of the reasons he signed with Bill Neff of SAGA Sports for representation.

“That’s my goal and my dream,” he said. “After the season, I decided I owed it to myself to chase the dream. Bill specializes with the underdog, guys who are overlooked and don’t get it right away.”

Reynolds, who is from Denver and played scholastically at Denver East High School and Colorado Prep, played three years at UNC and left after the 2024-25 season. He transferred to Minnesota of the Big Ten and averaged 11.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 33 games.

Reynolds announced his intention to declare for the NBA draft in the spring. He was not selected among the 60 players chosen in the two rounds.

Smiley said Reynolds worked out for multiple teams before the draft, and also could have a chance to play in a summer league.

There are multiple other top-level leagues worldwide, featuring athletes on the border of being an NBA player, according to Smiley.

“It’s nothing to scoff at, and it’s extremely hard to get to those levels,” Smiley said.

Northern Colorado Bears basketball head coach, Steve Smiley, center, laughs and gestures with campers as they watch the final round of a free throw challenge during a University of Northern Colorado men's basketball youth basketball camp at the Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)

He should know. In the Bears program for nearly a decade as head coach and assistant, Smiley has seen plenty of guys move abroad to pursue professional careers. Jonah Radebaugh, who played from 2016-20, is currently playing in the top league in Spain, Liga ACB. Jordan Davis played in the same league and with the same club, UCAM Murcia, for three seasons before Radebaugh.

Forward-center Brock Wisne and guard Zach Bloch both played four seasons with the Bears and joined Denker on All-Big Sky Conference teams at the end of last year. Wisne signed recently to play in Spain. Bloch is also close to signing to play in Europe, Smiley said. Forward Ibu Yamazaki, another Bears player last season, is returning to Japan for pro ball.

Other former UNC players playing overseas are:

• Bodie Hume: Sweden, Germany and Israel in four seasons abroad.
• Andre Spight: Finland, Turkey, France, Spain, Poland, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela in eight seasons.
• Kai Edwards: Spain, Belgium, Romania and Denmark in six seasons.
• Riley Abercrombie: United Kingdom and Greece in two seasons.
• Jaron Rillie: Australia in his first season in 2025-26.
• Saint Thomas: Delaware Blue Coats of NBA G League in first pro season in 2025-26.
• Isaiah Hawthorne: Cleveland Charge of NBA G League in first pro season in 2025-26.
• Daylen Kountz: Adriatic League for teams from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania and others. He also played in Hungary, France and Israel in three seasons.
• Dru Kuxhausen: Georgia, Greece, Romania and Montenegro in four seasons.
• Matt Johnson II: Czech Republic, Sweden and Denmark in three seasons.
• Kur Jongkuch: Member of Canadian National Team, also played professionally there along with stops in Denmark, Slovenia, Adriatic League and Germany.

"So many guys are successful in different systems," Smiley said. "We make a name for ourselves. Teams give our guys a look because guys before them are successful. I think we have a little credibility all over the world."

Northern Colorado forward Brock Wisne laughs with his mom Shannon Wisne while hugging each other goodbye after a basketball game at Bank of Colorado Arena on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)

Wisne will be on his way to Spain in August to join Oviedo in Spain’s Primera FEB. The league is a lower division or level from Liga ACB, but offers Wisne the best option now. The season begins in September and runs into June.

He described the league as the best second-division league in Europe. The experience might also offer him a chance at a better league in the future.

Family, sports and loyalty guide UNC men’s basketball player Brock Wisne

“It’s a good entry-level league, and I think that’s one of the reasons it’s a good fit,” Wisne said. “They are playing to win and playing good technical basketball with sets and good passes and playing fast and free. It’s a good combination and like what I played at UNC.”

He found an agent after the end of the college season. Wisne wanted to go to Europe because of the potential in those leagues. He also didn’t want to spend a lot of time chasing a chance at the NBA, he said.

Wisne signed with Oviedo sight unseen. He researched the city and area, which is in northern Spain on the Bay of Biscay. Wisne contacted Radebaugh for more information on Spain and basketball there. Radebaugh’s positive reviews were helpful.

“He mentioned that he loves it and it’s a good league to start in,” Wisne said. “It’s a plus. It felt good and reassuring that it will be a good experience.”