On Friday, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s development league affiliate, the OKC Blue, will play against the G League Ignite.
Ignite is an alternative to the college route for a select group of elect high school basketball players. The roster, made of both the teens and more veteran players, is not affiliated with an NBA organization.
With the elite players on this team who do not have NBA representation, the Thunder can use this game in particular as part of their draft process: This is college for some of these athletes.
With multiple first-round picks — and potentially multiple top-10 picks — Oklahoma City could end up drafting one of these players next offseason. Fans can pay attention to a few players in particular.
The game tips off at 2 p.m. Central Time and will be aired on ESPNU.