NBA D-League Hosting Elite Mini Camp This Week

There really hasn't been much to write about recently regarding the NBA Development League, but there's a rather large event happening in Chicago this week. The D-League is holding its sort-of annual "Elite Mini Camp" this week.

The purpose of the camp isn't really all that clear considering it seems to be a tryout for the D-League's own Summer League team with the added bonus of possibly being picked up by an NBA team provided their scout is in attendance and impressed by a player's performance.

Summer League mentioned in the press release detailing the camp, though, as it instead keeps it pretty vague aside from it being a random camp featuring drills and scrimmages in front of an audience.

The two-day event features both drill work and full-court games, giving players the best opportunity to showcase their talents. More than 50 NBA front office executives and scouts are expected to be on hand to evaluate the talent.

"The NBA D-League's Elite Mini Camp gives almost 40 top prospects from our league an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of more than 50 NBA scouts and front office personnel," said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. "At the same time, the event affords NBA teams an offseason chance to check in on elite young players as they fill their summer league and training camp rosters."

Some of the top players in attendance are Trey Johnson, JamesOn Curry, Anthony Mason Jr., Alando Tucker, Julian Wright and Renaldo Major. A full list of the players expected at the event is available here.

Aside from the players themselves, the coaching staff drilling them over the two days is also pretty solid. Bob MacKinnon is running a staff that was expected to include Jay Larranaga, Joel Abelson Alex Jensen, Nate Bjorkgren, Gene Cross, Steve Gansey and Chris Carrawell -- all either head coaches in the D-League or guys well on their way to reaching that point.