Julian Jacobs, Nikola Jovanovic Added to Summer League Rosters

Former USC basketball players Julian Jacobs and Nikola Jovanovic were named on the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons Summer League rosters respectively after going unpicked in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Though Julian Jacobs and Nikola Jovanovic’s USC basketball departures were mired in disappointment as both went undrafted last week, the former Trojans still have a chance to prove their NBA chops in the Summer League.

The Indiana Pacers added Jacobs to their summer camp roster, one of seven guards in the group, while the Detroit Pistons named Jovanovic to their camp team as well.

Practices will begin right away before both teams jump on a plane for Orlando where they will participate in the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League.

Jacobs and the Pacers will play five games in Florida beginning on Saturday against Orlando, then Charlotte, Detroit and Oklahoma City.

In that time, Jacobs must prove himself worthy of a roster spot for the regular season using his explosive driving ability, floor vision and athleticism.

Meanwhile, Jovanovic will play games against New York, Orlando, Indiana and Miami with the Pistons, hoping his size and skill on the inside can earn him a place in training camp later this year.

More from Reign of Troy

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• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

At USC, Jacobs and Jovanovic used their skills well, helping the Trojans to one of their best seasons in years as a junior. With Jacobs running the show and Jovanovic serving as the big man, USC’s uptempo style saw them go 21-13 and earn a place in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011.

Though the Trojans finished the season on a downward trajectory and lost in the first round of the tournament to Providence, the strong showing in Andy Enfield’s third year in charge seemed to be a sign of better things to come in Los Angeles.

Unfortunately, Jacobs and Jovanovic declared for the NBA Draft, throwing a slight cloud over USC’s prospects for next season.

With any luck, that cloud will clear on the Trojans’ end with Jordan McLaughlin, Bennie Boatwright, Chimezie Metu and a class of talented newcomers leading the way, while Jacobs and Jovanovic impress NBA coaches enough to justify leaving USC early.