MALIBU, California – Former Pepperdine men's basketball players
Kessler Edwards and
Colbey Ross will be in action at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, which starts on Thursday.
After an impressive rookie season, Edwards signed a multi-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. Ross began his professional career in the Czech Republic this past year, and he will join the Portland Trail Blazers this summer.
Edwards turned pro after his junior season and was picked by the Nets in the second round (44th overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft. He earned NABC All-District second team and All-West Coast Conference first team honors in 2020-21 while averaging 17.2 points and team bests of 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. He was named MVP of the College Basketball Invitational. He scored 1,247 points over his three seasons and on Pepperdine's career all-time lists he ranks fifth in blocked shots (127), seventh in free throw percentage (78.8%) and eighth in three-pointers made (148). His career averages were 13.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. During his rookie season with the Nets, he appeared in 48 games, making 23 starts, and averaged 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game.
Ross finished his four-year career as the first player in NCAA Division I history to have career totals of at least 2,200 points, 800 assists and 400 rebounds. He was a four-time All-WCC honoree, three times on the first team, and is the only Wave ever to make the NABC All-District first team twice. On the WCC's career lists, he finished second all-time in assists (854) and fifth in scoring (2,236) and is Pepperdine's all-time record-holder in those categories and many more. He averaged team highs of 17.5 points and 7.7 assists as a senior. Ross played with Golden State Warriors in last year's Summer League. He then went to the Czech Republic, where he won a league championship with Era Nymburk.
Games will be played on UNLV's campus at the Thomas & Mack Center and at Cox Pavilion.
Brooklyn Nets
Friday, July 8, vs. Milwaukee, 4 p.m. PT, NBATV
Sunday, July 10, vs. Philadelphia, 12:30 p.m. PT, NBATV
Tuesday, July 12, vs. Memphis, 3:30 p.m. PT, ESPN2
Thursday, July 14, vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m. PT, ESPN
Portland Trail Blazers
Thursday, July 7, vs. Detroit, 9 p.m. PT, ESPN
Saturday, July 9, vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m. PT, ESPN2
Monday, July 11, vs. New York, 8 p.m. PT, ESPN2
Thursday, July 14, vs. Houston, 6:30 p.m. PT, NBATV
Teams will play a fifth game on July 16 or 17.
