Handicapping the Capital City League

The YMCA Capital City League held its draft on Thursday night and because we literally have nothing else do to, it was decided that it's absolutely necessary to break down the draft and handicap the league. Legally, we can't advocate any type of gambling on this summer league action, but if you feel so inclined to find a bookie that will give you the following odds, well then friend, just remember, the more you bet, the more you win (or something like that).

To the surprise of nobody, Georges Niang was the first overall pick (technically, they separate the draft into an Iowa State round and a Drake round). Niang has lit up the league for the last two years and after rehabbing his foot, we'll get a chance to see him in action for the first time since the NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina Central.

There will be a few notable absences on the court as Bryce DeJean-Jones and Georgios Tsalmpouris will not be participating in the action. Dejean-Jones may make an appearance, but will be fulfilling academic obligations at UNLV while Tsalmpouris will spend the summer playing in his native Greece.

Here are the rosters:

Walnut Creek YMCA

Jameel McKay - Iowa State

Hallice Cooke - Iowa State

Reed Mells - Truman State

Trevor Berkley - Drake

Latrell Viser - E. Illinois

Reed Timmur - Drake

Jordan Johnson - Roosevelt HS

Jamar Hurdle - DMACC

John Lamb - Former Iowa State

Renaissance Granite and Quartz

Karl Madison - Drake

Ben Swanson - Valley HS

Blake Danielak - Drake

Kourtlin Jackson - Iowa State

Matt Don - NIACC

Geordon Heatherton - St. Ambrose

Jack Taylor - Former Grinell College (he's the dude that scored 100 points in a game)

Chad Boston - Former Simpson

Georges Niang - Iowa State

Kelly Madison - William Penn

Capital Orthopedics

Abdel Nader - Iowa State

Clayton Custer - Iowa State

Graham Woodard - Drake

Pete Odia - John Wood CC

Trey Burkhall - SW Baptist

Terrance Bush Jr. - NC MO JC (what?)

Scott Hahn - Quincy

Logan Losh - AIB

Ore Aroyundade - Drake

Aaron Hawley - Former Drake

Phoenix Renewable Resources

Richard Carter - Former Drake

Scott Bruxvoort - Quincy 

Al Davis - NIACC (not that Al Davis)

Logan Hamm - Former Simpson

Naz Long - Iowa State

Casey Schlatter - Drake

Dillon Bruxvoort - PCM HS

Arias Austin - DMACC

Daniel Edozie - Iowa State

Korey Kuenstling - Drake

Coca Cola

CJ Rivers - Drake

Tim Bennett - Central Nebraska

Drake Fuller - Bondurant HS

Jordan Daniels - Drake

Sherron Dorsey-Walker - Iowa State

Dwight Sistrunk - Adams State

John Fuqua - DMACC

Dustin Hogue - Iowa State

Ray Miller - Former Cal State

Sam Williams Jr. - Briar Cliff

ADIO Chiropractic

Sekou Mtayari - North HS

Teyontae Jenkins - Grandview 

Michael Carney - Northwestern (not that one)

Monte Morris - Iowa State

Jordan Stotts - Sioux Falls

Matt Thomas - Iowa State

Dom Aducci - Drake 

Galat Toang - John Wood CC

Kale Abrahamson - Drake

Reginald White - William Penn

The Favorites:

ADIO Chiropractic: 3 to 1

Renaissance Granite and Quartz: 4 to 1

Walnut Creek YMCA: 6 to 1

Phoenix Renewable Resources: 6 to 1

Coca Cola: 9 to 1

Capital Orthopedics 14 to 1

The Odds:

Jameel McKay will break a backboard -220

Someone will break Sherron Dorsey-Walker's scoring record (67 points) +315

If someone does break the scoring record, it will be Hallice Cooke +400

Georges Niang will dunk in a game +180

Someone on Cyclone Fanatic will start a thread titled, "Custer Next Jacy Holloway?" -900

Monte Morris will not commit a turnover in league play EVEN

Matt Thomas will look like the most improved player on the team -150

Naz Long will win league MVP -200

O/U on the number of jokes I make about Abdel Nader driving drunk to the basket, 4.5

O/U on the number of times my wife will refer to Monte Morris as her "basketball boyfriend", 17.5

Dustin Hogue will record a 30-rebound game -120

We'll be covering the action to the best of our ability and will do our best to overhype and overreact to this meaningless competition. The games tip off on Sunday, June 15th and most contests will be played at Valley Southwoods in West Des Moines.