Alex Thompson loves his teammates but likes fresh faces. When the junior forward suits up this summer, he gets a chance to see some of those new faces while competing in the YMCA-Capital City Men’s Basketball League.

“You’re always playing against your teammates all year in the spring and fall,” Thompson said.

“It’s just good to get out and play against some other players.”

Thompson, a redshirt junior from Ames, said the league allows him to get out of the Lied Recreation Athletic Center and away from the annual pickup games with his teammates.

“It’s good because you know your teammates so well,” he said. “You’re pounding against them day in and day out in practice. Just to play against someone who doesn’t really know your game and you don’t really know his game – it’s just a little bit more exciting to go against different people.”

The six-team league is made up of various high school and college basketball players from across the state, including Drake University and Simpson College.

Local companies sponsor each of the teams, which play their home games at Valley Southwoods in West Des Moines.

“It provides them with an opportunity to play against other college players in an environment where there’s a few fans watching, but nothing like they’ll experience in the Big 12,” said ISU men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott.

“It’s a good orientation into college basketball and some of the things they might expect moving forward.”

Thompson isn’t the only Cyclone getting out this summer.

Nineteen of his ISU teammates are competing in the 10-game schedule, including freshman guard Charles Boozer.

Boozer said he hopes his time playing against some of the local talent will prepare him for his Big 12 season.

“It’ll be a big help just to be able to play against guys who are in college and then play against the Kansas, Oklahoma State and Texas guys,” Boozer said.

Although Boozer said practicing with his older brother Carlos, a forward with the Utah Jazz, has helped prepare him for the summer fun, it’s the time he’s spent with his new teammates that has taught him some other skills.

“The small things that they do on the court to succeed I have somewhat picked up on,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a tremendous help for me during the season to learn all the small things.”

Although McDermott can’t attend the games, he said he keeps a close tab on how his players are doing from viewing stats and speaking with other players.

“Hopefully they’ll use it as an opportunity to work on some of the skills we hope to develop in the off-season,” McDermott said.

While Thompson hopes to improve on some of his skills, he’s also trying to earn another championship.

After winning the league title last year, playing for the Medical Oncology and Hematology Association team, he hopes to do it again this season with Gratias Construction Inc.

“It’s good to get that competitiveness in the summertime and get that winning attitude,” Thompson said.