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Undrafted Kilpatrick takes his shot with Sixers

LAS VEGAS - Every year, there are a few accomplished NBA prospects who fail to hear their names called on draft night.

Sean Kilpatrick (50) shoots between Utah Jazz's Malcolm Thomas (22) and Ian Clark during an NBA summer league basketball game Saturday, July 12, 2014, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Sean Kilpatrick (50) shoots between Utah Jazz's Malcolm Thomas (22) and Ian Clark during an NBA summer league basketball game Saturday, July 12, 2014, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)Read more

LAS VEGAS - Every year, there are a few accomplished NBA prospects who fail to hear their names called on draft night.

The 2014 draft was no different as Sean Kilpatrick was among the latest impact players to go undrafted. But that simply opened an opportunity for the Cincinnati all-American to choose his destination while putting a significant chip on his shoulder.

With that in mind, Kilpatrick is determined to make an impact with the 76ers in the NBA Summer League. So far, he has done so.

The 6-foot-4 shooting guard had a dominant performance Saturday in a 74-70 victory over the Utah Jazz at the Thomas & Mack Center. Kilpatrick finished with 20 points on 7-for-13 shooting and made 3 of 5 three-point shots.

"I like being the sleeper," said Kilpatrick, 24. "I said that before: Being the sleeper is someone that has the talent to really [succeed] in a lot of things. I think I did that well tonight. I just have to continue getting better."

Kilpatrick chose the Sixers' free-agent opportunity because they are thin at shooting guard and in desperate need of a pure shooter. He acknowledges that he must improve his help defense to make the roster.

But his efforts at last week's minicamp and in Saturday's game are positives to build on.

"We will continue to [watch] him on the defensive side of it, so he can be a two-way player for us throughout this," said Sixers assistant Chad Iske, who is coaching their summer-league team in Vegas. "But we've been really impressed with . . . his feel on the offensive end and his ability to shoot it."

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