Collegiate Times

Correction: This story has been modified from its original version. — This story has been modified from its original version. Zabian Dowdell and Coleman Collins graduated in 2007. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.

There are quite a few former Virginia Tech players participating in this week's NBA summer league in Las Vegas.

The annual event sponsored by EA Sports is comprised of 22 teams of NBA and NBDL (the NBA's developmental league) players, and runs from July 10-19.

Zabian Dowdell, the former All-ACC guard who graduated in 2007, is suiting up for the Phoenix Suns.

Dowdell played last year professionally in France, but is back in the summer league hoping for a chance to make the Suns 2009 roster.

In the Suns' first game, Dowdell scored 15 points off the bench to help lead Phoenix to a 95-90 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Dowdell also grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists in Phoenix's uptempo offense.

Also from Dowdell's class and playing in Vegas is forward Coleman Collins. Collins spent last season playing in the NBDL with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

 In 46 games for the Mad Ants, he averaged 11 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Last year, Collins played for the Toronto Raptors' summer league team, and averaged 7.3 points per game. He also added 3.7 rebounds per game.

Collins is playing with a group of NBDL players forming the NBDL Select Team, the only team in the league not bearing an NBA franchise's name.

In Collins' first game this year, the Select squad beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 96-91. Collins scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 25 minutes.

Deron Washington, the former high-flying Hokie, is taking the floor for the Detroit Pistons squad.

Washington recently signed a guaranteed contract with Detroit, significantly enhancing his chances of making the final 12-man roster in November.

Washington spent the past year overseas like Dowdell, but Washington played in Israel.

He was drafted by the Pistons late in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft. Overseas, he gained valuable experience because of increased playing time.

In last year's summer league, Washington averaged 6.2 points and 3 rebounds per game for the Pistons.

In the Piston's first game, they defeated the Sacramento Kings 86-77. Washington was in the starting lineup, and played 24 minutes, scoring five points and grabbing four rebounds.

In Detroit's second game, the Pistons topped the Raptors 91-87. Washington scored 13 points in 31 minutes of action, playing alongside former rival from UVA Sean Singletary.

The former Hokie could have scored a few more points if it were not for a 4-12 effort from the foul line.

Detroit's two-game winning streak came to an end Monday when the Warriors blew out the Pistons 97-69. Washington played 30 minutes, scoring six points and grabbing seven rebounds.

Former Hokie and NBA star Dell Curry's son, Stephen, suited up for the Warriors.

The seventh pick in the draft last month, Curry scored 23 points, going 3-7 from beyond the arc in the win.

A.D. Vassallo, recent Tech graduate and Chicago Bulls signee, is also playing  in the league.

Vassallo averaged 19 points per game in his senior season with the Hokies, shooting 37 percent from three-point range and 84 percent from the foul line.

His ability to shoot the ball is easily considered his biggest asset by NBA scouts, but his liability as a ball-handler and on the defensive end of the floor is where he needs to prove himself during this week.

In the Bulls' first game on Tuesday, Vassallo did not see the floor against the Warriors.

The 2009 Las Vegas Summer League wraps up July 19.