Category: 2024 NBA Draft

Projected lottery pick Alex Sarr voted one of the top international players by GMs

Sarr was voted one of the top international players not currently playing in the NBA in the annual survey of general managers.

Alexandre Sarr, a projected first-round pick next year, was voted one of the top international players not currently playing in the NBA in the annual survey of general managers released this week.

Born in France, Sarr recently stole the show in front of executives and scouts during two games against the G League Ignite with the Perth Wildcats in Henderson, Nevada. He averaged 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, six blocks and two assists in those two outings.

The 7-footer flashed his overall game versus the Ignite, from his shooting to his ability to block shots. His 7-foot, 5-inch wingspan gave the Ignite problems in those two games as it should enable him to find similar success this season in the NBL.

The performance enabled him to be recognized by NBA GMs.

Who is the best international player NOT in the NBA?

  1. Nikola Mirotic – 37%
  2. Edy Tavares – 27%
  3. Alex Sarr – 13%
  4. Dzanan Musa – 10%
  5. Willy Hernangomez – 7%; Also receiving votes: Juancho Hernangomez, Rokas Jokubaitis

The 18-year-old is currently averaging 12 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and one assist in three games this season with the Wildcats. He has connected on four of his six 3-point attempts in the early going and recently hit a clutch shot to seal a win last week.

Sarr helped himself, perhaps as much as any prospect during that two-game exhibition run, and should begin the year projected to be a lottery pick. With more improvement and development, he could find himself ranked even higher by next June.

Last year, eventual No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama took the top spot in the survey in the same category. Sarr has the potential to emerge as the next elite prospect from France, given his overall skill set, and is high on general managers’ radars, as a result.

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Babacar Sane leads G League Ignite to win to wrap up FIBA Intercontinental Cup

Sane led the G League Ignite to a win on Sunday to wrap up the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore.

Potential second-round pick Babacar Sane led the G League Ignite to a win on Sunday to wrap up the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Kallang, Singapore.

Sane produced a game-high 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in the 80-60 win over Al Manama of the Bahraini Premier League. He went 6-of-10 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free-throw line as the Ignite finished 1-2 in the tournament.

Ron Holland, the potential No. 1 pick next year, also registered a double-double with 21 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, one assist and one block. London Johnson added nine points and five assists, and Izan Almansa had four points and six assists.

Matas Buzelis, Thierry Darlan and Dink Pate did not play.

The Ignite were one of six teams that competed in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup this year representing different countries around the world, including Brazil, China, Egypt and Germany. The group finished fifth with its win on Sunday.

After facing the Perth Wildcats twice earlier this month, and finishing their three-game run in Singapore, the Ignite will now look ahead to the start of the regular season in the G League. They will host the Ontario Clippers in their season opener on Nov. 10.

With several draft-eligible prospects, the Ignite will take the court with perhaps their most talented roster yet. The team figures to attract plenty of attention and should be one of the most exciting groups to watch in the G League.

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London Johnson paces G League Ignite in second FIBA Intercontinental Cup contest

London Johnson and John Jenkins combined to lead the Ignite on Saturday in a loss in the FIBA Continental Cup.

Potential second-round pick London Johnson and veteran John Jenkins combined to lead the G League Ignite on Saturday in a loss in the FIBA Continental Cup in Kallang, Singapore.

Johnson and Jenkins each scored 15 points apiece in the 98-89 loss to Sesi Franca of the Basketball Champions League in Brazil. Johnson added three assists and two rebounds, while Jenkins also had six assists and two rebounds.

Ron Holland, the potential No. 1 pick next year, chipped in 10 points and five rebounds, and Izan Almansa had 11 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Babacar Sane finished with 11 points and five rebounds while Tyler Smith recorded eight points and eight rebounds.

Matas Buzelis, Thierry Darlan and Dink Pate did not play.

The Ignite dropped to 0-2 during their stay in the tournament after falling to Al Ahly of the Egypt Basketball Super League on Thursday. Smith led all scorers with 18 points and six rebounds, while Holland had 15 points and Johnson added 10 points.

The team will wrap up its stay on Sunday against Al Manama of the Bahraini Premier League. The Ignite are one of six teams competing in the tournament representing different countries around the world, including China and Germany.

They open the regular season on Nov. 10 against the Ontario Clippers.

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Tyler Smith leads G League Ignite with 18 points in FIBA Intercontinental Cup

Smith on Thursday led the Ignite in a loss to open the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore.

Potential second-round pick Tyler Smith on Thursday led the G League Ignite in a loss to open the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Kallang, Singapore.

Smith produced a game-high 18 points, six rebounds and one assist in an 82-76 loss to Al Ahly of the Egypt Basketball Super League. He went 6-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, in 23 minutes off the bench.

They received other contributions from their draft-eligible prospects.

Ron Holland, the potential No. 1 pick next year, added 15 points and five rebounds, and London Johnson chipped in 10 points, six assists, four rebounds and two blocks. Babacar Sane finished with seven points and seven rebounds, and Izan Almansa had four points and eight rebounds.

Matas Buzelis, Thierry Darlan and Dink Pate did not play in the contest.

The contest continued a busy preseason for the Ignite.

They recently completed a two-game series against the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League. Holland emerged as one of the standouts, averaging 28 points, 5.5 rebounds, four steals and 1.5 assists in those two exhibition contests.

The Ignite return to action in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup with their second of three games on Saturday. They are one of six teams competing in the tournament representing different countries around the world, including Bahrain, Brazil, China and Germany.

They open the regular season on Nov. 10 against the Ontario Clippers.

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G League Ignite: Ron Holland drops 33 points in preseason matchup vs. Perth

Holland had another strong performance on Friday to lead the Ignite in a preseason matchup with the Perth Wildcats.

Potential No. 1 pick Ron Holland had another strong performance on Friday to lead the G League Ignite in a preseason matchup with the Perth Wildcats of the NBL.

Holland produced 33 points, six rebounds, five steals and two steals in a 127-112 loss to the Wildcats. He once again looked comfortable on the court and showed his quick burst and ability to get downhill and draw contact at the rim. He went 12-of-14 from the free-throw line.

The 18-year-old recorded 23 points in his debut with the Ignite on Wednesday. He led all scorers and looked to be perhaps the best prospect in a game that also featured Izan Almansa, Matas Buzelis, Babacar Sane, Alexandre Sarr and Tyler Smith.

Bryce Cotton led the Wildcats with 40 points.

While the veteran Cotton stole the show for the Wildcats, Sarr, a potential lottery pick, registered a double-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots. The 7-footer showed his athleticism, length and overall ability in his two games against the Ignite.

With Holland leading the way for the Ignite, Buzelis scored 17 points and four rebounds. London Johnson added 14 points, five assists and three rebounds. Almansa had 13 points and four rebounds, and Sane added nine points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

With the two-game series versus the Wildcats wrapped up, the Ignite will continue to prepare in Henderson, Nevada, for the upcoming season. The team will open its regular season on Nov. 10 at home against the Ontario Clippers.

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NBA TV to televise G League Ignite preseason games vs. Perth Wildcats

NBA TV will televise a pair of games between the Ignite and Perth Wildcats of the NBL next month in Nevada.

NBA TV will televise a pair of preseason games between the G League Ignite and Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League next month in Henderson, Nevada.

The games on Sept. 6 and Sept. 8 are part of the inaugural G League Invitational and are expected to feature several top prospects in the 2024 NBA draft, including Ignite players Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland and Alexandre Sarr of the Wildcats.

Buzelis and Holland were top-10 high school prospects in the class of 2023. Both committed to play with the Ignite over the summer. They are projected to be lottery picks next year, and Holland is in the conversation to be the No. 1 pick.

Sarr, who is from France, is also considered a first-round pick after spending the past two years at Overtime Elite. The 7-footer has represented France twice, most recently in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup this summer. France won the silver medal in the event.

The Wildcats are the most successful team in the NBL, winning 10 championships and appearing in 16 Grand Finals. The team has had several notable players over the years, including Bryce Cotton, Luc Longley, Casey Prather and Luke Travers.

Building off the success of last year’s contest between the Ignite and Metropolitans 92, in which Scoot Henderson faced off against Victor Wembanyama, the G League will once again be at the center of the basketball world next month.

Note: This story has been corrected after previously indicating Jock Landale and Jack White played with Perth in the past. They played with Melbourne United.

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5-star prospect Trentyn Flowers decommits from Louisville to sign in NBL

Flowers announced on Monday that he has decommitted from Louisville to sign with the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL.

Five-star prospect Trentyn Flowers announced on Monday that he has decommitted from Louisville to sign with the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League.

Flowers originally reclassified to the class of 2023 and committed to Louisville in April from the Combine Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was the No. 23 prospect by 247Sports and had been practicing with the Cardinals this summer.

He led the Combine Academy to the Phenom HoopState Championship, averaging 16 points, six rebounds and 1.2 assists per game as a junior. He produced 15 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in the title game.

Flowers signed with the 36ers as part of the Next Stars program, a plan introduced by the NBL to give top prospects a way to play professionally. LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, Ousmane Dieng and RJ Hampton are among those who also utilized the program.

The league is expected to be heavily scouted with several high-profile names, including AJ Johnson (Illawarra), Bobi Klintman (Cairns), Mantas Rubstavicius (New Zealand) and Alex Sarr (Perth). Flowers is among those players considered potential draft picks.

The 6-foot-8 Flowers will have the chance to develop and improve on the court. The league boasts several former NBA players, which should help prepare him for the next level.

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Former Wake Forest forward Bobi Klintman to play 2023-24 season in NBL

Former Wake Forest forward Bobi Klintman has signed to play next season with the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League.

Former Wake Forest forward Bobi Klintman has signed a contract to play the 2023-24 season with the Cairns Taipans of the National Basketball League, the team announced.

Klintman, who was born in Malmo, Sweden, withdrew from the 2023 NBA draft ahead of the 5 p.m. EDT deadline on Monday. He was considered a potential first-round pick after a solid freshman campaign but opted to play abroad for one year in the NBL.

He signed with the Taipans as part of the Next Stars program, a plan introduced by the NBL to give top prospects a way to play professionally. Players such LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, Ousmane Dieng and RJ Hampton, have also utilized the program.

The 6-foot-10 Klintman averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds on 36.8% shooting from 3-point range last season. He became the first Wake Forest freshman since Tim Duncan in 1994 to record a double-double in the ACC Tournament (17 points, 11 rebounds).

The decision to play in the NBL was likely made to further develop and improve his draft stock for next year when he could be a lottery pick. The league boasts several former NBA players, which should help prepare Klintman for the next level.

The Taipans have had several notable players in the past, including Torrey Craig, Tony Mitchell and Scottie Wilbekin. The group is coached by Australian Adam Forde and has also signed Taran Armstrong, Bul Kuol, Tahjere McCall and Sam Waardenburg for next season.

They will tip off the 2023-24 season on Sept. 30.

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Player of the Year Zach Edey will return to Purdue, withdraw from draft

Edey was the Player of the Year and a consensus All-American last season after averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.

Purdue center Zach Edey announced Wednesday on social media that he will withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to the Boilermakers for his senior year.

Edey was the Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American last season after averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks on 60.7% shooting from the field. He became the first player in history to record 750 points, 400 rebounds, 70 blocks and 50 assists in a season.

The 7-foot-4 Edey became the second player to lead the conference in scoring, rebounding and field-goal percentage. He is one of nine players to accomplish that feat in a major conference and the first since Blake Griffin in 2009.

Edey initially declared for the draft on April 18 while retaining his college eligibility. He met with teams to gain feedback on his draft stock and opted to come back after testing the process over the past month and a half.

He was most commonly projected to be a late second-round pick this year. The decision to stay in school will enable him to work on his game and improve his draft positioning ahead of 2024, which is thought to be a weaker class.

With Edey back, the Boilermakers project to be one of the top teams in the country entering the preseason and a likely favorite in the NCAA Tournament.

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5-star prospect Ron Holland to sign with G League Ignite next season

The No. 2 prospect originally committed to play with Texas in November but reversed course in late April.

Five-star prospect Ron Holland will reportedly sign with the G League Ignite for the 2023-24 season, according to Jeff Borzello and Paul Biancardi of ESPN.

Holland, the No. 2 prospect in the class of 2023, originally committed to play with Texas in November. He reversed course on that decision and opened up his recruitment again in late April and was recently released from his letter of intent.

The 6-foot-8 forward established himself as one of the top players in the country at Duncanville High School in Texas. He also emerged as a standout in the McDonald’s All-American Game (11 points) and Nike Hoop Summit with USA Basketball (15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists).

Holland becomes the sixth prospect to join the Ignite for next season, joining Matas Buzelis, Thierry Darlan, London Johnson, Dink Pate and Babacar Sane. He was also being recruited by Arkansas, Kansas and Kentucky among other programs.

The 18-year-old competed in the 2022 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup and 2021 FIBA U16 Americas Championship, leading the Americans to the gold medal. He averaged 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 13 games across both events.

The stated goal of the Ignite is to provide development opportunities for the top prospects looking to play professionally. The team, which is coached by Jason Hart, started playing a full, 50-game schedule in the G League this past season.

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