A flock of Bluejays is migrating to Las Vegas.
Five former Creighton players are set to play in the NBA Summer League, which begins Thursday.
Over the next two weeks, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman, Trey Alexander, Steven Ashworth and Jamiya Neal will aim to take the next step in their respective basketball journeys.
Up first is Alexander, the reigning G League Rookie of the Year. His New Orleans Pelicans play the Minnesota Timberwolves at 2:30 p.m. Thursday on ESPN2. Ashworth and the Indiana Pacers take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at 4 p.m.
Friday will be another Jays double feature.
Scheierman, a first-round pick in 2024, is back with Boston's summer squad; the Celtics get the Memphis Grizzlies at 3 p.m.
Then Kalkbrenner, taken 34th by Charlotte in this year's draft, will make his Hornets debut against fifth-overall pick Ace Bailey and the Utah Jazz at 6 p.m. on ESPN. As will Neal, who signed with Charlotte following the draft.
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All Summer League games are streamed on ESPN+.
Shortly after the draft, Kalkbrenner said he didn't care about any perception surround second-round selections. Charlotte took him to fill a frontcourt need, and Kalkbrenner's goal is to contribute right away. He can prove it in Vegas.
The 7-foot-1 rim protector — a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year — averaged 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks this past season, his fifth at Creighton. Kalkbrenner now joins a rising, rebuilding team that opened the door for early opportunity when it traded away its top two centers this offseason.
As a rookie, Scheierman split time between the NBA and the G League. But he played 31 games for the Celtics — starting two while Boston rested its starters during the final week of the regular season.
Scheierman, who started at South Dakota State and finished with two years at Creighton, averaged 20.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in the G League this past season.
He'll try to take that versatility to Las Vegas to show the Celtics, needing wing help following Jayson Tatum's achilles tear, that he's ready for more.
Alexander split this past season with the Denver Nuggets and their G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. He averaged 25/5/5, while hitting 42% of his 3-pointers, en route to winning G League Rookie of the Year.
Alexander signed a two-way contract with the Pelicans after being unexpectedly released by the Nuggets, whom he played sparingly for across 24 appearances in 2024-25.
In a full-circle moment, Ashworth signed an Exhibit 10 deal — essentially a G League contract — with the Pacers as an undrafted free agent. Coming out of high school, he took a two-year mission trip in Indianapolis.
Ashworth helped lead CU to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances after three years at Utah State. The sharpshooting point guard averaged a career-high 16.6 points and 6.5 assists this past season.
Neal signed a Summer League contract with the Hornets; his opportunities in Vegas are auditions to earn either a G League deal or two-way contract.
The Arizona State transfer broke out in his one year at Creighton. Neal, known as a menacing defender, averaged career highs in points (12), rebounds (6.1), assists (4.4), field goal percentage (44.7) and 3-point percentage (31.2).
Photos: Our favorite photos from the 2024-25 Creighton men's basketball season
Creighton's Pop Isaacs (2) goes up for a 3-pointer s head coach Greg McDermott motions in the background during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) shoots a layup during the second half of a men's college basketball game against Villanova at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024.
Creighton players cheer from the bench during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Xavier at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Creighton's Ty Davis (9), left, and Jasen Green (0) celebrate after their victory over Xavier in a men's college basketball game at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) walks away after addressing fans during senior day festivities after a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
Creighton's Mason Miller (13) poses for a portrait during Creighton men's basketball media day in Omaha on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
Creighton's Jamiya Neal (5) goes up for a layup against Houston Christian's Porter Bazil (7) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
Creighton's Fredrick King (33) goes up for a shot against Houston Christian's Porter Bazil (7) during the second half of a men's college basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) and Sterling Knox (4) celebrate with head coach Greg McDermott after his 328 win at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) goes up for a 3-pointer against Nebraska's Sam Hoiberg (1) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Creighton mascot Billy Bluejay dunks the ball during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Kansas at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
Creighton players celebrate after their fans rushed the court after defeating Kansas, 76-63, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up for a shot above Seton Hall's Emmanuel Okorafor (23) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.
Seton Hall's Garwey Dual (33) dunks the ball against Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.
Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) is celebrated after a call agaisnt Seton Hall's Jahseem Felton (15) during the second half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.
Creighton's Isaac Traudt (41) dunks the ball during the first half of a men's college basketball game against Xavier at the CHI Center in Omaha on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) reacts after a basket against Xavier during the second half of a college men's basketball game at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Billy Bluejay waves a flag during player introductions before the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) dribbles the ball against Marquette during the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.
Creighton's Mason Miller (13) looks to pass the ball away from Marquette's Kam Jones (1) during the first half of a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.
Creighton's Jamiya Neal (5) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Connecticut at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) goes up to dunk the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Georgetown at the CHI Center in Omaha on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) celebrates going into a timeout after dunking the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against Georgetown at the CHI Center in Omaha on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) dunks the ball during the second half of a college men's basketball game against DePaul at CHI Health Center in Omaha, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) walks out during pre-game introductions before the first half af a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) carries his son Tommy Jay as he walks out during senior day festivities after a men's college basketball game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
