PBL to enter team in NBA summer league

The third-year Premier Basketball League is likely to receive a boost in popularity this summer, as league officials announced earlier this week that a team of PBL veterans will compete in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League in July.

David Jernigan, an assistant coach with the PBL’s Manchester Millrats, will select and coach the PBL’s Vegas entry.

The NBA’s annual Las Vegas Summer League will be held July 9-18 on the campus of UNLV. It is attended by most NBA general managers and scouts, and features teams comprised of NBA rookies and free agents. Most of the teams in the Vegas summer league are sponsored by NBA clubs.

The PBL is a nine-team professional league that runs from January through April. Its playoffs begin this weekend, with the top four regular-season teams -- Lawton-Fort Sill, Rochester, Halifax and Puerto Rico -- advancing. Maryland, Vermont, Quebec, Buffalo and Manchester round out the league.

Last season’s summer league consisted of 21 NBA teams, along with a team of selected NBA D-League players. Notable individuals included NBA rookies Stephan Curry, Tyreke EvansTyreke Evans, Brandon JenningsBrandon Jennings and No. 1 overall draft pick Blake Griffin.

Potential candidates for this summer’s PBL entry include: Brandon Dean and Rashad Woods (Lawton-Fort Sill); Corey Herring (Buffalo); Jared Carter and Dwuan Rice (Vermont); Samuel Audet-Sow and Jamaal Wise (Quebec); Tony BennettTony Bennett (Halifax); Anthony Anderson (Manchester); and Glen Dandridge and reigning league-MVP Keith Friel (Rochester).