A pair of West Virginia natives are trying to make an NBA roster as they compete in summer league games. Isaac McKneely and John Elmore have been suiting it up for the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers respectively.
McKneely, the 22 year old from Polka, was the Bill Evans Award and Gatorade player of the year in the Mountain State. as a junior, repeated once again winning both as a senior, McNeely was a four star recruit, and spent three years at the University of Virginia before transferring to Louisville. After his 1st year of college hoops, McNeely was a very consistent score averaging just over 12 points a game. And during his one year with the Cardinals, he averaged 10.9 points per contest.
At the end of June, he was signed by the Hawks. to and exhibit 10 contract allowing him to play in the NBA summer league. This type of contract is related to the two-way contract, Former mountaineer Baylor, Bear, and Fairmont native Jalen Bridges was signed to a two-way deal. His rookie year with the Phoenix Suns. McKneely started out the summer league, averaging just over 19 minutes per game. But a shoulder injury has put him on the bench for the remainder of the summer league, making it more difficult to make a name for himself once cleared from injury.
Elmore was an explosive scorer in high school at George Washington High School, where he averaged 31 points a game. Elmore was state player of the year in 2014. He spent four years at Marshall after leaving VMI, where he originally signed to play. John wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, but it didn’t work out, leading to the transfer to Huntington.
Elmore had a great season with the Thundering Herd, becoming the 1st player in division one history to score over 2,500 points, and dish out more over 750 assists after going undrafted in 2019 Elmore played in the summer league for the Boston Celtics. He didn’t stick there and played overseas until 2022. It was then that Elmore made it to the NBA’s G League.
He has been trying to make an NBA roster since then, and this summer, the wiley veteran hoopster is turning heads in Hollywood. At 30 years of age, Elmore is the oldest player in the summer league and has helped Los Angeles to an undefeated start.
Elmore’s G League play, along with his efforts this summer, have impressed those around the league. It has been. Rumored, if the Lakers didn’t sign them, Boston former WV standout Joe Mazzula might nab in. This looks to be the best opportunity yet for Elmore, who comes from a basketball family. His father, Gay, was VMI’s all-time leading score, and his grandfather played at West Virginia University.
Jon has a chance to surpass both of them if he can make an NBA roster. There’s nothing like seeing. There’s nothing like summertime hoops, and thanks to Isaac McNeely and John Elmore, we have some in-state talent to cheer on.
That will do it for now until next week! Take care . . . and God bless.
