THE NBA Summer League has wrapped for 2023, and there were plenty of exciting performances from some of the competition’s most recent draftees.

The Summer League is a pre-season tournament in the NBA that provides an opportunity for the best and brightest in the league to showcase their talents against their peers, while also giving undrafted prospects a chance to earn a spot on a team’s roster.

The 2023 tournament took place in Las Vegas over the past couple of weeks, with the Cleveland Cavaliers taking it all out after an undefeated campaign.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be taking a look at some of the players that delivered standout performances just a few months out from the start of the regular season.

The first cab off the rank is Cam Whitmore of the Houston Rockets.

Cam Whitmore

Whitmore was one of the biggest surprises of the 2023 NBA Draft, with many predicting him to be selected inside the top 10 due to the talent he possesses. However, the forward slipped down to the 20th selection due to a worrying medical report, with the Houston Rockets picking up one of the steals of the night.

Whitmore is already proving his worth for the Rockets, who are building one of the best young cores in the entire NBA. The team made it all the way to the championship game against the Cavaliers, largely on the back of his exceptional play. The young gun was rewarded with the Summer League Most Valuable Player award for 2023, further highlighting how strong of a prospect he looks.

Whitmore’s statement game came against the Golden State Warriors, where he put his name forth as a contender for the upcoming Rookie of the Year award as well.

In that contest, Whitmore was simply outstanding on both ends of the floor and was the most impactful player to hit the court in a game that was full of young talent. He posted 26 points and a whopping eight steals, the latter statistic is equals the record in the Summer League’s entire history.

Whitmore’s physical gifts were on full display during the tournament, using his athleticism and explosiveness to impact the floor on both ends, while looking much more confident in his long-range shooting.

Whitmore was the best player of the entire tournament, and combining with the likes of Jalen Green, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. should see Houston deliver plenty of success in years to come.