Category: 2024 NBA Draft

Potential 2024 No. 1 pick Matas Buzelis signs with G League Ignite

Buzelis was named the Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year last season at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas.

Matas Buzelis, a consensus five-star prospect from Chicago, Illinois, on Wednesday signed a contract to play with the G League Ignite for the 2023-24 season, the league announced.

The news was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Buzelis, whose parents are from Lithuania, was named the Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year in Kansas last season. He led the Sunrise Christian Academy to the Final Four of the GEICO Nationals after averaging 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks on 43.1% shooting from 3-point range.

The 6-foot-10 forward was named the Most Valuable Player of the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp at NBA All-Star Weekend in February and competed in the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game in March. He was also selected to the World Team at the 2022 Nike Hoop Summit (Lithuania).

Buzelis is the fifth-ranked prospect in the class of 2023 and is viewed as the front-runner to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft next year. He has a great blend of size and ballhandling skills that should translate well to the next level.

The 18-year-old is the fifth prospect to commit to the Ignite next season, joining Thierry Darlan, London Johnson, Dink Pate and Babacar Sane. He chose the pro route over programs such as Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and UCLA.

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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Adem Bona to withdraw from draft, return to UCLA for sophomore year

The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year was considered a potential second-round pick in the draft.

UCLA forward Adem Bona on Wednesday told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he will withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to school for his sophomore year.

Bona, who was born in Nigeria, was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on 67.5% shooting from the field. He ranked second in the conference in field-goal percentage and fourth in blocks.

The 6-foot-10 Bona was among the players invited to the draft combine in May in Chicago, Illinois. He did not participate in on-court testing after undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum suffered in the conference tournament.

He is expected to make a full recovery by October.

Bona opted to return, in part, because of his injury. He was viewed as a potential second-round pick this year but didn’t have the opportunity to improve his stock in team workouts or at the combine. He will spend next season working on his game with the goal of becoming a first-round pick.

He had until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday to withdraw from the draft.

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Grant Nelson to transfer from NDSU after testing pre-draft process

Nelson was considered a potential second-round pick but will ultimately return to college to improve his draft stock next year.

Junior Grant Nelson will reportedly withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and transfer from North Dakota State University, according to Jeff Goodman of Stadium.

Nelson declared for the draft as an early entrant prospect while also entering the transfer portal. He was focused on the pre-draft process and was among the players invited to compete in the draft combine earlier this month in Chicago, Illinois.

The 6-foot-11 forward was considered a potential second-round pick but will return to college in order to improve his draft stock next year. He averaged 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in two scrimmage games at the combine.

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Nelson, who was named to the All-Summit League first team, averaged 17.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 blocks on 52.1% shooting from the field this past season. He led the conference in rebounding and field-goal percentage and was third in blocked shots (50).

He emerged as a tremendous scorer with the Bison. He can work from all over the court and has the ability to handle the ball in transition and get to the basket. He threw down a number of highlight-reel dunks given his burst and power in the paint.

Nelson has reportedly heard from several programs, including Arkansas, Gonzaga, Houston, Kentucky, Miami and UCF. The opportunity to transfer to a major conference should ensure his draft stock rises over the next season as he is expected to be the top target in the portal.

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Alabama guard Mark Sears to withdraw from draft, return for senior year

Sears was among the prospects invited to the G League Elite Camp earlier this month.

Alabama guard Mark Sears announced Tuesday on social media that he will withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to the program for his senior season.

Sears declared for the draft in April with the option to return to school. He was among the prospects invited to the G League Elite Camp earlier this month and averaged 10.5 points, four assists, 2.5 rebounds and one steal in two scrimmage games.

Despite a strong showing in the pre-draft process, Sears wasn’t projected to be selected this year by most mock drafts. He now has the opportunity to return to school and continue to work on his game ahead of the draft next year.

Sears was named to the All-SEC second team after averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals on 34.5% shooting from 3-point range this past season. He ranked third in the conference in free-throw percentage (84.4).

The return of Sears will be a welcome addition to the roster for a Crimson Tide team that advanced to the Sweet 16 last season. The group lost Brandon Miller, Charles Bediako and Noah Clowney to the draft and others in the transfer portal.

Sears had until Wednesday to withdraw from the draft.

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Ole Miss’ Matthew Murrell to withdraw from draft, return for senior year

Murrell averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 assists in 30 games last season with the Rebels.

Ole Miss guard Matthew Murrell on Tuesday told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he will withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to school for his senior year.

Murrell declared for the draft on April 6 with the option to return to school. He was among the prospects that competed in the G League Elite Camp earlier this month, averaging 6.5 points, two rebounds and 1.5 assists in two scrimmage games.

He recorded the highest max vertical jump at the event (41.5 inches).

The 6-foot-4 Murrell posted averages of 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 assists on 36.5% shooting from the field in 30 games last season. He led the team in scoring, assists and 3s (62), and was second in the SEC in minutes per game (34.4).

With Murrell back, the Rebels retain a key player for new head coach Chris Beard. The team also returned Jaemyn Brakefield and added Moussa Cisse, Brandon Murray and Jamarion Sharp through the transfer portal.

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Ryan Kalkbrenner to withdraw from NBA draft, return to Creighton

Kalkbrenner was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.

Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner announced Monday on social media that he will withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to school for his senior season.

Kalkbrenner was among the prospects that competed in the draft combine earlier this month in Chicago, Illinois. He also participated in pre-draft workouts and was said to have visited with the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls among others.

The 7-footer was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight time this past season after averaging 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.2 assists. He ranked third in the country in field-goal percentage (69.5) and 15th in blocks (72).

Kalkbrenner was viewed as a potential second-round pick this year. The decision to return to school likely came after gaining feedback from teams throughout the pre-draft process. He had until Wednesday to withdraw from the draft and return to school.

With Kalkbrenner back in the fold, the Bluejays figure to be one of the top teams in the country and a favorite to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year.

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Auburn forward Johni Broome announces draft decision ahead of deadline

Auburn junior Johni Broome announced on Monday that he has withdrawn from the 2023 NBA draft.

Auburn junior Johni Broome announced Monday on social media that he has withdrawn from the 2023 NBA draft and will return to school for his senior year.

Broome left the door open to return to school when he declared for the draft in April. He competed in the G League Elite Camp this month and was among the eight standouts from the event that were invited to the draft combine.

Despite a strong pre-draft process, Broome wasn’t projected to be selected by most mock drafts. The decision to return to the Tigers likely came after gaining feedback from teams throughout the pre-draft process.

He had until Wednesday to withdraw from the draft and return to school.

Broome, who led the Tigers in scoring, was named to the All-SEC second team after averaging 14.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.3 assists on 52.7% shooting from the field. He ranked 10th in the country in blocks per game.

With Broome back in the fold, the Tigers figure to be among the favorites in the conference and are looking to make their third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

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Report: Mikey Williams facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon

Williams was reportedly arrested and charged with five counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

University of Memphis commit Mikey Williams was reportedly arrested and charged with five counts of assault with a deadly weapon, according to KNSD-TV Channel 7 in San Diego, California.

Williams, 18, was arrested in Jamul and booked into the San Diego Central Jail around 3:30 p.m. PDT on Thursday. He was released early Friday morning on a bail of $50,000. The police department did not provide further details of the arrest.

The school released the following statement:

“We are aware of the situation and are gathering more information.”

Williams is listed as a four-star prospect and the 17th-ranked player in the class of 2023, according to 247Sports. He signed a letter of intent with the Tigers in November and committed to head coach Penny Hardaway over Arizona State, Kansas and USC among others.

He was considered one of the top players in the country after a decorated high school career. He signed a record endorsement contract with PUMA in October 2021, becoming the first high school player to sign with an apparel company.

Williams is scheduled to appear in court on April 20.

Texas loses 5-star commit A.J. Johnson to professional ranks in Australia

Johnson was ranked 15th in the class of 2023 and is considered a potential first-round pick next year.

A.J. Johnson, a five-star prospect from Fresno, California, told ESPN on Thursday that he has decommitted from Texas and will sign with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League.

Johnson signed a letter of intent in November and was set to begin playing with the Longhorns in the fall. He has changed course and will instead play professionally in Australia, becoming the highest-ranked prospect to do so since LaMelo Ball during the 2019-20 season.

The 6-foot-5 guard out of Southern California Academy was ranked 15th in the class of 2023 by 247Sports and is considered a potential first-round pick next year. He is highly touted for his ability as a ballhandler and scorer, and his willingness to get his teammates involved.

The NBL has helped produce several first-round picks in recent memory, including Ball, Ousmane Dieng, Josh Giddey and RJ Hampton. The league is viewed as a great route to help prepare players with aspirations of playing in the NBA given its physicality and overall competition level.

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Bronny James reveals advice given by LeBron at Nike Hoop Summit

James scored 11 points and hit some crucial shots late to help lead USA Basketball to a win in the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit.

Bronny James scored 11 points and hit some crucial shots late to help lead USA Basketball to a 90-84 win over the World Select Team on Saturday in the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon.

The performance by James came in front of several notable attendees, including his father, LeBron James, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, and Hall of Famer Chris Bosh. Peja Stojakovic was also there watching his son, Andrej.

James started slowly, going 2-of-5 from the field in the first half for four points. It prompted him to seek out his father for advice at halftime, which seemed to help get him going in the fourth quarter.

He produced seven points in the final frame, including a 3-pointer to give Team USA a six-point lead with under five minutes to play. He scored a layup and hit two free throws in the final seconds to help clinch the victory at Moda Center.

Afterward, Bronny revealed the message from his father at halftime.

He was basically saying keep playing my game because he knows what I’m capable of. He just wants to see it out of me and see the best for me.

James was among 13 of the top high school players on Team USA, joining Isaiah Collier (USC), Jackson Shelstad (Oregon) and DJ Wagner (Kentucky). They competed against Mackenzie Mgbako (Duke), London Johnson (Ignite) and Michael Nwoko (Miami).

Ron Holland, who committed to Texas, led the U.S. with 15 points while Collier added 11 points, Wagner had 10 points and Shelstad added eight points. Mgbako led the international players with 22 points and Nwoko had 17 points. Johnson finished with eight points.

The players, who are under 19 years old, competed throughout the week in front of scouts and executives in various practices and other workouts. All will be eligible for the 2024 NBA draft.

James explained what he thought he showed those scouts in attendance.

That I can defend at a high level. I’m a smart player, I can make the right plays. I’m not very ball hungry, I can give it up. Just that I’m a good player and a good teammate.

The 18-year-old James is the only American that has not committed to a school for next year. He said he’d make the best decision for his future as some USA teammates, including Collier and Shelstad, have spent time this week recruiting him to follow them.

James, who is listed at 6 feet, 3 inches, is the No. 28 recruit in the class of 2023 in ESPN’s rankings. He recently drew a comparison to Jrue Holiday by former three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas for his ability to score and be a lockdown defender.

He has received interest from several programs and apparently has a list of three preferred schools: Ohio State, Oregon and USC. He believes his recent showing this week in Portland offered a glimpse at what he’ll bring to the next level.

“I like to play defense as hard as I can,” James said. “It always makes the coach happy. I really take pride in playing defense and I feel like all of the next level coaches take that into consideration when they’re recruiting me.”

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