KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Former Kutztown University men's basketball standout Stephen Dennis has signed a contract with the Portland Trail Blazers to play in the NBA's Summer League in Las Vegas.
The Trail Blazers announced their 2015 Las Vegas Summer League roster on Tuesday, which also happened to be the first of three days of practices before the team heads to Nevada for their first game on Saturday.
Dennis has been playing professionally ever since his final year as a Golden Bear in 2010. This is not the first time he will step onto an NBA floor, as he has played in the summer league before with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets. He had two stints with the Bakersfield Jam on the NBDL, the NBA's developmental league, but has gotten most of his playing time as of late overseas.
The West Chester native played in Germany for one season before an injury shortened his season. Dennis then signed with the Melbourne Tigers (now Melbourne United) in Australia, suffered an Achilles injury during the 2013-14 season, but returned this past season with the Tigers.
The Trail Blazers start their 2015 summer league schedule against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, July 11 at 5 p.m., followed by a game versus the Mavericks on July 12 and the Spurs on July 14. Tournament play starts up after that, with Portland assured at least two more games before the end of the league on Monday, July 20.
Dennis, the 2010 Daktronics National Player of the Year, broke Kutztown's career scoring record and his 2,406 points ranks third in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) history. He was named the PSAC East Player of the Year as a senior and was a four-time All-PSAC East selection. He earned first team honors his last three years after earning second team honors as a freshman in addition to being named the PSAC East Rookie of the Year.
In addition to setting the all-time Kutztown scoring record, Dennis established program marks in field goals (850), free throws (621) and assists (447). He also set the KU single-season scoring record in two consecutive seasons. His senior year total of 817 points surpassed the 710 he posted as a junior.
Among the honors that Dennis received during his career as a Golden Bear were being named Lehigh Valley Small College Player of the Year, Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year, PSAC East Division Player of the Year and a spot on the NABC Atlantic Region First Team. Dennis, who won five PSAC East Player of the Week awards as a senior, ended his career by scoring in double figures in 46 consecutive contests and in 107 games.
During his four-year career, Dennis helped Kutztown win 87 games and two PSAC Eastern Division championships. The Golden Bears also made two consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament during his career.
