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Four-star prospect Kai Sotto has reportedly decided to skip college basketball and participate in the NBA G League professional pathway program, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from the Philippines, will become the first international player to sign a contract with the G League. He has spent the last year at The Skill Factory in Georgia training after playing in various international tournaments with the Philippines, including the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup.
The G League announced last month its plans to launch a new developmental team as an alternative path for elite prospects wanting to play professionally. Five-star prospects Jalen Green and Isaiah Todd were the first two players to commit to playing on the G League Select Team while Daishen Nix recently de-committed from UCLA to join the program.
Kai Sotto — a 7-foot-2 center from the Philippines — has decided to skip college and will be the first international draft prospect to sign a deal in the NBA G League pro program, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 11, 2020
Sotto was rumored to be a candidate to join the G League Select Team after its launch last month. Although Sotto isn’t as highly ranked as Green or Todd, he is an intriguing prospect for the G League to add and his inclusion could help grow the program even further given his international roots.
Under the structure of the new program, Sotto will be placed on a team filled with veteran players and experienced coaches to provide mentorship throughout the season. The G League Select Team will participate in training and exhibition games and will play around 10-12 games against existing G League teams and some international clubs.
Upon participating in the program, Sotto would be eligible for the 2021 NBA Draft.
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