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Mychal Mulder will be joining the Toronto Raptors for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Mulder is the 8th UK player from last year’s team to have a chance to play in the NBA. Mulder replaces Matt Thomas on the Raptors' summer league roster.
Kentucky’s Mychal Mulder to play for the Toronto #Raptors’ #NBASummer league squad. #BBN @MychalMulder https://t.co/u8eVMw8HB3
— ExCats (@ExCats) June 30, 2017
Three players were drafted, De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk and Edrice “Bam” Adebayo. Five players from last year’s team will be playing in summer leagues competing for a chance to play in the NBA. Every player that left the team last season has a chance at landing their dream job in the league.
Besides Mulder these 2017 Cats are playing in the summer league - Isaac Humphries (Washington Wizards), Derek Willis (Detroit Pistons), Dominique Hawkins (Sacramento Kings) and Isaiah Briscoe (Philadelphia 76ers).
Other UK players participating in summer league play include Skal Labissiere (Kings), Alex Poythress and Aaron Harrison (76ers), Archie Goodwin (Brooklyn Nets) and Dakari Johnson (Oklahoma City Thunder).
Excited to see @ZayBriscoe, @Dhawk_25, @IsaacHumphries7, @MychalMulder and @derek_willis33 all in NBA camps this summer.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) June 30, 2017
.@ZayBriscoe, @IsaacHumphries7, @Dhawk_25, @derek_willis33 and @MychalMulder are all in either an NBA mini-camp or on a summer league roster
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) June 30, 2017
Mulder, who is gifted athletically, was a strong performer coming off the bench for the Cats last season. Among his attributes he shot 36% from behind the three line and 92% from the free throw line during his senior year. The former Vincennes Junior College transfer also has exceptional jumping ability with a 44 inch vertical leap. He is a 6’5” guard with a 6’8” wingspan.
Mulder is from Windsor, Canada where he played for Catholic Central High School. A solid performer off the bench for Kentucky he averaged 4.7 ppg playing an average of just 10 minutes. He was especially effective shooting from the outside and he played solid defense. He had 8 steals and 6 blocked shots in limited playing time.
It was hard to get playing time in a loaded UK backcourt last season. Mulder played behind freshmen sensations Monk and Fox and sophomore standout Isaiah Briscoe. Senior Dominique Hawkins was the first player off the bench at the guard position. He was an established player for the Cats known for being a lockdown defender, something Calipari likes. Mulder was still able to earn a reputation as a solid player as the 5th option at guard.