Terry Rozier Summer League update: Bedford has some pieces to rebuild
The best thing about summer league is it gives one a sneak preview of how teams will stack up in the winter.
It would be easy to dismiss Bedford as an also-ran after compiling a 0-23 slate.
But it would appear the cupboard isn’t all the way bare.
The Bearcats return a starting forward, a starting guard and also return a solid backcourt player who was in the rotation from last year’s team.
All three were on display as the Bearcats were beaten by Warrensville 43-33 during the July 2 games at the Terry Rozier Summer League.
Maliq Simmons (2021), 6-4, showed off advanced skills at times during the game at Warrensville. Simmons is big “2” or “3” guard and has the build to be dominant at that position at the high school level. He has the ability to get to the hole, but over dribbles at times and needs to work on his jump shot.
“I would describe myself as strong and athletic and a playmaker,” Simmons said in providing a self-scouting report.
Tyshone Bender (2020), 6’7” should be a walking double-double for Bedford. He scored eight points in the first half and finished the game with 12 in the loss to Warrensville.
A third player who looked good for Bedford was 2-guard Chaze Harris (2021). Harris played well in spurts and showed an ability to get to the basket and finish.
St. V update
St. Vincent-St. Mary looks like the best team in the Terry Rozier Summer League and they blew out Eastlake North and Lake Catholic respectively on July 2.
The two-time defending state-champion Irish return a ton of players but one returnee who didn’t play a lot a year ago and making a push for playing time based on his play this summer is Jordan Addison (2019). A 6-3 guard/wing, Addison’s been impressive the few times I’ve seen him. During the wins over Eastlake North and Lake Catholic, he showed an ability to score inside, drain 3-ball and dunk in transition. It will be interesting to see if he emerges with St. V this winter.