Here's how to watch Jarace Walker and Eli Brooks play together at NBA Summer League

Matt Allibone, York Daily Record
·4 min read

Eli Brooks and Jarace Walker have taken different paths to reach this point.

One spent five years in college ... the other spent only one year there.

One keeps exceeding his professional expectations ... the other is trying to live up to the hype.

But both are from York County. And they'll both be trying to reach their basketball goals together over the next week.

Brooks and Walker will be teammates on the Indiana Pacer's NBA Summer League team, which competes from today until July 17 in Vegas. The Pacers play their first game Saturday evening against the Washington Wizards. Their games will be televised on ESPN or NBA TV.

Brooks and Walker have taken different paths

The newest member of the Indiana Pacers, Jarace Walker, answers questions from the media after being drafted eighth overall in the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn, New York.
The newest member of the Indiana Pacers, Jarace Walker, answers questions from the media after being drafted eighth overall in the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn, New York.

The NBA Summer League is an opportunity for new draft picks and young, unsung players to develop their skills against each other. And the two York County natives represent those two categories of players.

A New Freedom native, Walker was the eighth overall pick in last month's NBA Draft. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward has been heralded as a future NBA player since his early high school days. He spent just one season at the University of Houston and knew it was a near certainty he would immediately be considered a top professional prospect.

Youngsters watch as Spring Grove graduate Eli Brooks lines up a free throw during a knockout competition at Little Creek Community Park on Friday, August 12, 2022, in Jackson Township.
Youngsters watch as Spring Grove graduate Eli Brooks lines up a free throw during a knockout competition at Little Creek Community Park on Friday, August 12, 2022, in Jackson Township.

Spring Grove's Brooks, on the other hand, went undrafted last year after five seasons playing for the University of Michigan. The 6-foot-1 guard lacks the size and explosiveness of most NBA players, yet found success in college with his cerebral play, tremendous defense and timely scoring. He didn't play much his first two seasons yet ended up scoring over 1,000 career points and became Michigan's all-time winningest player.

And while Walker left the Southern York School District after eighth grade to play high school basketball at IMG Academy in Florida, Brooks became a hometown hero at Spring Grove. He finished second in YAIAA boys' basketball history with over 2,400 points, and his games routinely became must-attend events in the community.

How much will the pair share the court?

Houston's Jarace Walker (25) throws down a one-handed dunk during the Veterans Classic against St. Joseph's at Navy's Alumni Hall on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, in Annapolis, Md.
Houston's Jarace Walker (25) throws down a one-handed dunk during the Veterans Classic against St. Joseph's at Navy's Alumni Hall on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, in Annapolis, Md.

That remains to be seen.

As Indiana's top draft pick, the 19-year-old Walker will certainly receive plenty of playing time. He's a lock to make the Pacers roster next season and the team will want him to develop as quickly as possible.

But it will be interesting to see how often the 24-year-old Brooks gets on the court. This is his second NBA Summer League with the Pacers, who signed him as a free agent last June. Last year, he averaged just under 10 minutes per game — registering 3.3 points and 2.7 assists per contest. After spending last season with the Pacers G-League affiliate — the NBA's version of the minor leagues — Brooks still likely faces an uphill battle making Indiana's roster in the fall.

Michigan guard Eli Brooks directs traffic during the first half against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in State College. During this season, the fifth-year senior became the winningest player in program history, the all-time leader in games played and crossed the 1,000 career points mark.
Michigan guard Eli Brooks directs traffic during the first half against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, in State College. During this season, the fifth-year senior became the winningest player in program history, the all-time leader in games played and crossed the 1,000 career points mark.

Still, Brooks has exceeded expectations by making it this far. Many people thought his best chance to play professionally would be in Europe. But he acclimated himself nicely at the G-League level last season — averaging 6.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists in nearly 26 minutes per game for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants before an injury ended his season.

One similarity between Walker and Brooks is that both of them don't need the ball to help teams win. Walker still needs to improve his shooting and offensive game, but impressed professional scouts with his rebounding, shot-blocking, athleticism and versatility. He averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds for Houston last season.

Related: Spring Grove's Eli Brooks using five years of lessons as he writes final collegiate chapter

Jarace Walker's NBA journey: The relief, the celebration and what's next?

How to watch Brooks and Walker

Here's the Indiana Pacers NBA Summer League Schedule:

  • Saturday, July 8 vs. Washington Wizards, 8 p.m. on ESPN2

  • Monday July 10 vs. Orlando Magic, 8:30 p.m. on NBA TV

  • Wednesday July 12 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV

  • Friday, July 14 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 6:30 p.m. on NBA TV

  • Saturday and Sunday, July 15-16 in consolation rounds, TBD

  • Monday, July 17, championship round (TBD), 9 p.m. on ESPN

Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on Twitter at @bad2theallibone.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: NBA Summer League: York's Jarace Walker, Eli Brooks to be teammates

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