Bryce Cartwright top pick in PTL draft (with rosters)

CORALVILLE - Prime Time League Director Randy Larson has noticed a heightened interest in his summer basketball league, which to him means Iowa basketball fans have renewed hope.

"I think we're always a function of how the Iowa fans about prospects for next year," said Larson, who is in his 25th year running the PTL. "I don't know that it's the most excited we've ever been ... but certainly it's been a decade.

"I think what's behind it is two things: One, (Iowa Coach Fran) McCaffery has got people excited, and the Iowa players are showing they deserve support. But also this year you've got four incoming players that all see a chance for playing time, and the fans see them as the key to continuing this build."

The league has six teams and the coaches held their draft tonight at Monica's in Coralville. Larson said his summer basketball league is guard-driven. Based on the league's first round Tuesday night, he's right.

Five of the six first-round picks will see at least some time at guard this year and all but one of the first-round selections came from Iowa. Hawkeyes point guard Bryce Cartwright, who led the Big Ten in assists during league action, was taken first overall. Three-year starting guard Matt Gatens was picked second, newcomer guard/forward Anthony Hubbard was selected fourth, former UNI shooting guard Ali Farokmanesh was fifth and Iowa guard/forward Eric May was sixth. Iowa post Devon Archie (third) was the only non-guard selected in the first round.

The Prime Time League is an NCAA-sanctioned summer league that allows players of all levels from a 100-mile radius to compete. That includes Iowa, Northern Iowa and other college players, as well as high school players and former college and pro athletes. The league is held at the North Liberty Recreation Center and games are played Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings.

Only two current college teammates can compete on the same squad. There are no roster limitations for incoming freshmen.

The teams have interesting dynamics. Cartwright is paired with UNI guard Marc Sonnen and incoming Iowa freshman Gabe Olaseni. Gatens is on the same team as incoming Iowa freshman forward Aaron White and sophomore forward Melsahn Basabe. Larson said Basabe likely would have been the No. 1 overall selection but his status is undetermined. Basabe is competing for a spot on the national U-19 team and likely will not play in the PTL if he's selected.

Archie and Iowa teammate Devyn Marble will join former Hawkeyes Darryl Moore and Duez Henderson and incoming Tennessee freshman Wes Washpun. Hubbard will combine with UNI guard Anthony James and power post players Chip Rank (UNI) and Malcolm Moore (UTEP). Farokmanesh's squad features Iowa forward Zach McCabe, and UNI guards Matt Morrison and Matt Bohannon. May's squad includes Andrew Brommer and incoming Iowa freshman Josh Oglesby.

With Iowa's newcomers and a solid core of returning players, the PTL could serve as a precursor to fall workouts and determining playing time this fall. That's one reason why Larson thinks interest is up.

"There's no doubt that if this isn't the biggest year of interest, it's right up there," he said. "I would guess that we may find out it is the biggest year of interest and that's great."

ROSTERS

Team 1:  Iowa City Ready Mix---LL Pelling

Coach Ray Swetalla

• 1.  Bryce Cartwright-Iowa
• 2.  Dain Swetalla-European pro
• 3.  Aboduarin Gabriel Olaseni-Iowa
• 4.  Marc Sonnen-UNI
• 5.  Seth Tuttle-UNI
• 6.  Marvin Singleton Jr.-UNI
• 7.  Jake Hughes-Upper Ia
• 8.  Nathan Buss-UNI
• 9.  Jevan Lyle-UNI
• 10.  Steven McCarty Marble-Iowa

Team 2:  Culver's--IC Fitness

Coach Ron Nove

• 1.  Matt Gatens-Iowa
• 2.  Aaron White-Iowa
• 3.  Melsahn Basabe-Iowa
• 4.  Andre Murphy-ex-Iowa
• 5.  Brennan Swayzer-ex-Kirkwood
• 6.  Dallas Hodges-ex-Wayne St.
• 7.  Riley Larson-ex-Cornell College
• 8.  Austin Pehl-UNI
• 9.  Keith Steffeck-Wm Penn
• 10.  Jacob Syndergaard-UNI
• 11.  Trevor Hook-Upper Iowa

Team 3:  Hawkeye Title & Settlement--Vinton Merchants

Coach Kevin Sanders

• 1.  Devon Archie-Iowa
• 2.  Devyn Marble-Iowa
• 3.  Darryl Moore-ex-Iowa
• 4.  Anthony Lee-Temple
• 5.  Wes Washpun-Tennessee
• 6.  Duez Henderson-ex-Iowa
• 7.  Okey Ukah-ex-IC West
• 8.  Tay Parker-ex-CR Jefferson
• 9.  Max Martino-UNI
• 10.  Clark Anderson-ex-Linn-Mar
• 11.  Chance Miller-IMS

Team 4:  Coaches Corner--Three Rivers Bank

Coach Kevin Lehman

• 1.  Anthony Hubbard-Iowa
• 2.  Anthony James-UNI
• 3.  Chip Rank-UNI
• 4.  Alex Novak-Mn St-Moorhead
• 5.  Deon Mitchell-UNI
• 6.  Malcolm Moore-Texas-El Paso
• 7.  Isaac Gardner-Truman State
• 8.  Joey Woods-Upper Iowa
• 9. Christopher Olivier-UNI
• 10.  Jake Gylten-Iowa City West
• 11.  Sam Elgin-Upper Iowa

Team 5:  Jill Armstrong

Coach Dan Ahrens

• 1.  Ali Farokhmanesh-Swiss Pro
• 2.  Zach McCabe-Iowa
• 3.  Matt Morrison-UNI
• 4.  Matt Bohannon-UNI
• 5.  Aliou Keita-ex-Drake
• 6.  Eric Washpun-ex-Iowa City High
• 7.  Tucker Wentzien-Upper Iowa
• 8.  Darius Stokes-Iowa
• 9.  Michael Hadley-ex-European pro
• 10.  Lorenzo Rice-ex-Luther

Team 6:  Gatens--McCurry's

Coach Randy Larson

• 1.  Eric May-Iowa
• 2.  Andrew Brommer-Iowa
• 3.  Kyle Schlaak-ex-Winona State
• 4.  Ted Morris-ex-European pro
• 5.  Josh Oglesby-Iowa
• 6.  Jordan Stoermer-Iowa
• 7.  Matt Lesan-ex-Upper Iowa
• 8.  Jason Price-European pro
• 9.  James Humpel-UNI
• 10.  Michael Aldeman-DMAC
• 11.  Mark Lafrenz-Upper Iowa