Former University of Hawaii hoopster Kamaka Hepa will play for the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2023 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The 18th NBA 2K24 Summer League features all 30 NBA teams playing five games each.
The Pelicans begin summer league play on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves followed by matchups with the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, the Phoenix Suns on July 11 and the Charlotte Hornets on July 13.
After every team plays four games, the top four teams will advance to the playoffs and participate in the semifinals on July 16. The two winning teams from the semifinal games will meet in the championship game on July 17. The 26 teams that do not advance to the four-team playoff will play a fifth game on either July 15 or July 16.
Hepa played two seasons at UH after transferring from Texas and started all 60 games he appeared in. The 6-foot-10 stretch forward averaged 11.5 points in his final season and was an All-Big West honorable mention. He led Hawaii in rebounds (6.6 per game) and 3-point shooting (67 made 3s on and .387 shooting). He notched five double-doubles, including a career-high 30 points and 14 rebounds against St. Francis.
Hepa, a native of Utqiagvik, Alaska, did individual pre-draft workouts with Golden State and Toronto prior to securing one of New Orleans’ 13 summer league roster spots.