UIC's all-time leading shot blocker and two-time Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, Tai Odiase, will play with the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Summer League.

"Tai's ability to block shots and play above the rim really stood out over his career at UIC," Phoenix Suns Assistant GM Pat Connelly said. "He possesses both great length and leaping ability.  We are hoping at Summer League he is able to offer rim protection and show the ability to make athletic plays around the rim on the offensive end."

Odiase graduated this spring as the school's and the Horizon League's top shot blocker with 361 career rejections.  He is UIC's 16^th leading scorer and sixth leading rebounder, and is the only Flame to amass 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, and 200 blocks.  He led the team to a 20-win campaign during his senior season for the first time since 2004, and was part of back-to-back postseason tournament runs.

The decorated Odiase is one of only three players to earn Horizon League All-Defense Team honors three times.  He played 130 games during his UIC career, with 117 starts.  After UIC's season ended in the championship game of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, he signed with the Spanish pro team Iberostar Tenerife.  As a late-season addition, Odiase saw action in six games and shot 56.3% from the floor until the team's season ended in the Champions League playoffs.

Odiase recently announced that he has signed with Lavrio, a team in Greece's top league, for the 2018-19 season.  But the summer league will offer him the opportunity to impress NBA personnel as teams stateside look to fill out their rosters.  He will play alongside other undrafted free agents, as well as the first overall pick in this year's draft, Deandre Ayton, in a minimum of five games in Las Vegas beginning July 6.

Odiase is the second former Flame to join an NBA summer squad.  The Miami Heat signed Dikembe Dixson to their summer league entry earlier this month.

Phoenix Suns Summer League Schedule

Friday, July 6	vs. Dallas	8:30 pm CT	ESPN
Saturday, July 7	vs. Sacramento	6:30 pm CT	ESPN
Monday, July 9	vs. Orlando	8:30 pm CT	NBA TV
Wednesday, July 11 or Thursday, July 12	Tournament First Round	TBD