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Solomon Hill talks to NBA TV after his 22-point performance Monday (NBA TV, click on photo to watch video)
Former Arizona forward Solomon Hill, Indiana’s first-round draft pick, led the Pacers with 22 points in their 96-75 victory over Philadelphia Monday in the second day of the NBA’s Orlando Summer League.
Hill also had nine rebounds and four assists. In two games, he is 10-of-14 from the floor (.714).
“I think our draft choice, Solomon Hill, is going to be a good player, a good fit for our team,” Larry Bird, Indiana’s director of player personnel, told NBA TV during the game. “If you notice, he don’t make many mistakes. He makes the right play all the time, and he’s a tough kid.
“I always tell him that if he can be better by All-Star break, a lot better than he is now, he’s going to be playing a lot for us.”
Hill bounced back after taking only three shots (making all of them) and scoring nine points in Indiana’s 76-68 loss to Oklahoma City and former Arizona teammate Grant Jerrett on Sunday. Jerrett, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Monday, led the Thunder with 17 points in that game.
Hill told the Indianapolis Star that he played more relaxed in Monday’s victory over Philadelphia.
RELATED LINKS:
— A Day in the Life of Solomon Hill (his first day with the Pacers last week). His father looks younger than him.
— Hill’s beautiful pass to teammate Mason Plumlee
— Hill talks to NBA TV after his 22-point performance
“I just let the game come to me, didn’t press anything,” he said. “Yesterday was my first game in a Pacers uniform, I had some emotions and I wanted to impress people. I let it get to me. Today, I just wanted to play my game, be involved at both ends and do what I could to help my teammates.”
“He was steady,” Pacers assistant coach Dan Burke, who is serving as the summer league head coach, told the Indianapolis Star. “What I like about him is he has this quiet confidence and he’s showing us multiple skills.”
The Las Vegas version of the Summer League starts Friday and no former Wildcats are listed on rosters that have been released. Six teams have yet to officially release their rosters: Chicago, Cleveland, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, San Antonio and Toronto. The league will feature 22 teams overall.
Former Arizona point guard Mark Lyons remains a possible addition. Kevin Parrom is also a possibility inasmuch as scouts from foreign professional leagues will also be in attendance.
At least 17 former Pac-12 players will participate in the Las Vegas summer league. Shabazz Muhammad of UCLA will be with Minnesota and Allen Crabbe of Cal will play with Portland.
Former NAU guard Cameron Jones will be part of Golden State’s team in Las Vegas.
Here’s a current list of the Pac-12 players slated to be in Las Vegas:
NBA D-League Select
Kyle Weaver, Washington State
Minnesota
Shabazz Muhammad. UCLA
Phoenix
Thomas Abercrombie, Washington State
Miami
Larry Drew, UCLA
Michael Dunigan, Oregon
Dallas
Dewayne Dedmon, USC
Sacramento
Jorge Gutierrez, Cal
New Orleans
Josh Owens, Stanford
Jon Brockman, Washington
Philadelphia
Arsalan Kazemi, Oregon
Brock Motum, Washington State
Charlotte
Abdul Gaddy, Washington
L.A. Clippers
Derrick Low, Washington State
Jerome Randle, Cal
Milwaukee
Scott Suggs, Washington
Portland
Allen Crabbe, California
WILDABOUTAZCATS.net publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes blogs for Lindy’s College Sports, TucsonCitizen.com and Sports Illustrated-sponsored site ZonaZealots.com.
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