2025 Summer League thoughts: What Brooks Barnhizer, others did to stand out

Usually, the NBA champion has little to look forward to in the Summer League. With low draft picks, they spent the two-week extravaganza rewatching playoff highlights on their way to the Larry O'Brien trophy. But the Oklahoma City Thunder remain an exception to the rule.

The Thunder had a productive Summer League. They played eight games in Utah and Las Vegas. Nikola Topic's debut after sitting out last season recovering from a torn ACL was worth the watch. The Thunder lost to the Charlotte Hornets in the playoff semifinal.

Reflecting on the 2025 Summer League one last time, let's give one quick thought for the 16 players that suited up. Thunder Wire will divide the entries into three separate articles:

Brooks Barnhizer

Barnhizer lived up to his scouting reports. Playing at Northwestern for four seasons, most Thunder fans had zero clue who the 2025 NBA draft No. 44 pick was. After a couple of weeks at the Summer League, though, most have fallen in love with his blue-collar brand of basketball.

Joining one of the greatest defenses ever fueled by turnovers, Barnhizer will fit right in on the Thunder. He had several steals during his time in Utah and Las Vegas. His endless motor made him a menace at causing havoc and second-chance points. Let's see if he can sharpen out a jumper.

Cameron Brown

Brown was another player with familiarity on his side. He spent last season on the G League's OKC Blue. He was a rotation player there. He must've shown enough to be added on their Summer League roster. Alas, even with rotation minutes, the 24-year-old didn't do much.

Considering how well they know Brown, maybe the Thunder will overlook his pedestrian stats and bring him back on the Blue for a second year, anyway. He went undrafted out of Saint Joseph's in 2024.

Hason Ward

Ward was another player the Thunder added as a G League Player. He spent last season on the Maine Celtics. He went undrafted out of Iowa State in 2024. The 24-year-old is a little undersized as a center. That puts him in an awkward frontcourt tweener role.

Ward averaged five points on 71.4% shooting, meaning most of his looks were on easy shots near the rim. He didn't stick out, though. Let's see if the Thunder add him to their Blue roster.

Ty Brewer

Brewer played decent moments in Summer League as a third-string player. After he went undrafted in 2023, he's spent some time overseas. He spent last season playing in Germany.

The 25-year-old joined several other international players who hope to restart their NBA ambitions. He unfortunately didn't do much in the Summer League to show why he should get a deal. Maybe he can get a G League spot.

Cesare Edwards

Edwards is another undrafted rookie who didn't log enough playing time to form a serious opinion on. He went undrafted out of Georgie State. Perhaps the fact he didn't play a ton in the Summer League says enough in itself about his NBA chances.

Maybe Edwards gets signed overseas or on a G League roster. But his limited playing time showed that he didn't do enough to warrant a spot on the Blue.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: 2025 Summer League thoughts: What Brooks Barnhizer, others did