Tag: michael foster

NBA G League: The complete Ignite roster for 2021-22 season

The NBA G League announced that six veteran players will join the Ignite to provide leadership and guidance to their young prospects.

On Thursday, the NBA G League announced that six veteran players will join the Ignite to help provide leadership and guidance to their young prospects, completing their roster for the upcoming 2021-22 season.

The Ignite will make their season debut on Nov. 5 against the South Bay Lakers as part of their 14-game Showcase Cup schedule, which is part of the new innovative format for the season. They will also play preseason exhibition games on Oct. 29 and Oct. 31.

The stated goal of the Ignite is to provide development opportunities for those prospects looking to play professionally. The team will be coached by Jason Hart after Brian Shaw led the group during their inaugural season earlier this year.

With the Ignite set to begin their second season, Rookie Wire took a look at their final roster, which features a blend of up-and-coming prospects and several experienced veterans.

2022 aggregate NBA mock draft: Debut ranking of all notable prospects

The 2021 NBA draft class finished their first go-around in the summer league, which means evaluators are fully focused on next year’s class.

The 2021 NBA draft class finished their first go-around in the summer league, which means evaluators are fully focused on next year’s class.

In order to help us get a better sense of where all of the projected top prospects in the class stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from Bleacher Report, Yahoo, The Athletic, Yahoo, SB Nation, NBADraft.net, CBS Sports, and USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win.

Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion.

Collegiate teams who had more than two players appear on a mock were Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and UCLA. Three players will be on the G League’s Ignite roster and one is on Overtime’s Elite squad.

Additionally, seven players are rostered in Spain and four are playing in Australia’s NBL. There are also three players on Serbia’s KK Mega Basket included.

Freshmen one-and-done candidates who didn’t make the list but could climb on to join during the season: Harrison Ingram (Stanford), Trevor Keels (Duke), Bryce McGowens (Nebraska), Josh Minott (Memphis), Kowacie Reeves (Florida), Bryce Hopkins (Kentucky), Nathan Bittle (Oregon) and Jeremy Sochan (Baylor).

Some of the most notable collegiate returners who were snubbed from these rankings: Marcus Williams (Texas A&M), Jonathan Davis (Wisconsin), Kofi Cockburn (Illinois), Zach Edey (Purdue), Adam Miller (LSU), Colin Castleton (Florida) and Tyson Etienne (Wichita State).

Relevant international prospects to know who were not included below: Fedor Zugic, Lefteris Mantzoukas, Jayson Tchicamboud, Nikita Mikhailovskii, Yoan Makoundou, Tom Digbeu and Makur Maker.

Otherwise, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report

Main Image: Coley Cleary / USA TODAY Sports Media Group

2021 NBA Mock Draft: Predicting all 59 picks, starting with Chet Holmgren

Let’s look ahead to next year’s draft.

We are only a couple of weeks removed from the 2021 NBA draft and it’s silly to publish a mock draft for next year. But let’s do it anyway.

Because frankly, far away as though it may seem, ten months can go by fast. Although a lot is going to change, some things stay the same. For example, I published my first mock draft of the 2020 cycle in May 2019 and all three of the first projected picks heard their names called within the first three picks nearly fifteen months later. Much of the rest, of course, is utterly wrong and embarrassing. But it is still helpful to track progression and regression.

Before we discuss the next crop of future NBA talent, however, let’s address the elephant in the room. You have probably noticed that the headline said this mock draft highlights 59 picks. No, that isn’t a typo.

Allow me to explain. The Milwaukee Bucks have forfeited the rights to their second-round pick in the 2022 NBA draft due to violating league rules regarding an attempted transaction made back in Nov. 2020. While it sucks for the additional person who is going to go undrafted, undrafted free agency isn’t the worst thing.

Otherwise, the order of this draft was determined by reversing the NBA futures odds courtesy of Tipico SportsBook. The teams whose odds fell outside the eight best in each conference composed the projected lottery. Meanwhile, all picks involved with previous trades were included in the order as well.

Another quick housekeeping note: My mock drafts tend to be fairly data-driven. But that can sometimes lead to some blind spots for evaluating prospects playing outside the NCAA (e.g. high school, AAU, FIBA, etc.), which made pre-season mock drafts particularly difficult.

That’s no longer the case thanks to the help from our fantastic new partners over at Cerebro Sports, a stats and analytics resource that scrapes box scores to determine how top basketball prospects have stacked up against all their previous competition.

With all that in mind, far away as we may be from draft night on June 22, here is how I see everything shaking out just based on what we know so far:

Five-star prospect Michael Foster Jr. to sign with G League Ignite

The five-star prospect from Hillcrest Prep is the first player to sign with the Ignite for the 2021-22 season.

Five-star prospect Michael Foster Jr. on Friday signed to play with the NBA G League Ignite for next season, league president Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced.

Foster, who is a 6-foot-9 forward from Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, also considered playing at Georgia and Florida State before opting to sign with the Ignite. He also had received offers from Arizona State, Arizona and Kansas among others.

The 18-year-old is currently ranked No. 21 overall by 247Sports in the class of 2021 and No. 5 at the power forward position. He averaged 32.2 points and 18.4 rebounds as a senior and 26.3 points, 13.4 rebounds and 6.1 blocks as a junior at Hillcrest Prep.

Foster is the first player to sign with the Ignite for the 2021-22 season.

Coached by Brian Shaw, the Ignite completed their inaugural season in March after qualifying for the playoffs with an 8-8 record. Led by Jalen Green, the Ignite also featured other high-profile prospects, such as Jonathan Kuminga, Isaiah Todd and Daishen Nix.

Of course, the stated goal of the Ignite is to provide development opportunities for those prospects looking to play professionally. The season gave the players a platform to showcase their skillsets in front of a nationally televised audience, and scouts and executives on hand.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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5-star PF Michael Foster makes commitment

Georgia and FSU were in the top 3 schools for 5-star power forward Michael Foster. Instead, Foster committed to playing in the NBA G League

The Georgia Bulldogs were in the top three schools for five-star power forward Michael Foster. However, Foster committed to playing in the NBA G League as expected. Foster is a member of the class of 2021 and is 6 feet, 9 inches tall. The Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix, Arizona) star weighs 220 pounds.

Foster is a good at rebounding, is a viable rim protector, and shows touch when finishing inside the paint. The five-star power forward is a good passer and capable shooter as well.

In addition to Georgia, Foster was considering the Florida State Seminoles.

Foster is ranked No. 14 in his recruit class and No. 5 among power forwards. He was one of the top remaining uncommitted prospects in the nation.

Head coach Tom Crean and the Georgia Bulldogs have the 67th-ranked class of 2021, so Georgia needs to add more talented recruits. The Dawgs have lost several key players to the NCAA transfer portal. Fortunately, Georgia has added some transfers.

On the other hand, Florida State has the No. 5 recruiting class in college basketball.

Foster will be fun to watch in the NBA G League, but far more fans watch college basketball. Casual fans will not think of NBA G League stars until NBA draft rolls around. Take a look at some of Michael Foster’s highlights here:

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Georgia basketball in top three for 5-star PF Michael Foster

The Georgia Bulldogs are in the top three for five-star power forward Michael Foster

The Georgia Bulldogs are in the top three for five-star power forward Michael Foster. Foster is a member of the class of 2021 and is 6-foot-9.

The Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix, Arizona) star weighs 220 pounds. Michael Foster is a good at rebounding, is a viable rim protector, and has touch when finishing inside the paint. The five-star power forward is a good passer and capable shooter as well.

In addition to Georgia, Foster is considering the Florida State Seminoles and playing in the NBA G League. He’s projected to play professional basketball (NBA G League) at the moment.

Michael Foster is ranked as the No. 14 recruit in his class and the No. 5 power forward. He’s one of the top remaining uncommitted prospects in the nation.

Head coach Tom Crean and the Georgia Bulldogs have the No. 68 ranked class of 2021 at the moment, so Georgia needs to add talented recruit. On the other hand, Florida State has the No. 2 rated recruiting class in basketball.

Foster announced his top three contenders via his Twitter account:

Check out some of Michael Foster’s highlights right here:

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Seventeen Super 25 teams to be featured in the GEICO ESPN High School Showcase

GEICO ESPN High School Showcase will feature 17 Super 25 teams and multiple Chosen 25 stars this season.

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Seventeen of the 25 teams ranked in USA Today’s Super 25 Boys Basketball Rankings will be featured this season in the GEICO ESPN High School Showcase.

In all 34 games will be available across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and digitally on ESPN3.

“When you combine the abundance of nationally ranked teams and the nation’s most elite prospects, this year’s schedule is our biggest and best to date,” said Paul Biancardi, ESPN national recruiting director.

RELATED: Day one of the Early Signing Period

The TV games will kickoff on Dec. 5 when No. 5 Prolific Prep (Napa, California) takes on No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix) on ESPN2.

The Crew features elite guard Nimari Burnett, a Texas Tech signee who is ranked No. 15 overall in USA Today Sports’ Chosen 25, and Jalen Green, who is ranked No. 3 overall, while the Bruins feature a handful of Chosen 25 players, including junior forward Michael Foster, who is ranked No. 6, and Keon Edwards, who is ranked No. 19.

PRESEASON BASKETBALL COVERAGE:

Super 25 Boys Rankings | ALL-USA Boys | ALL-USA Girls

Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, California), ranked No. 8, will make 15 appearances across the different platforms this season.

The Trailblazers boast Chosen 25 star shooting guard B.J. Boston, a Ketucky signee who is ranked No. 14 and Ziaire Williams, who is ranked No. 9. Also, Bronny James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, and Zaire Wade, son of retired NBA star Dwyane Wade, suit up for Sierra Canyon.

Checkout the full slate of games below.

Date Time (ET) Matchup Network
Thu, Nov 21 11 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.)at Montgomery HS (Calif.) ESPN3
Fri, Nov 22 11 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Saint Augustine (Calif.) ESPN3
Sat, Nov 23 11 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Cathedral Catholic (Calif.) ESPN3
Thu, Dec 5 9 p.m. No. 5 Prolific Prep (Calif.) vs. No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) ESPN2
Sat, Dec 7 7 p.m. No. 16 Mater Dei (Calif.) vs. Perry (Ariz.) ESPN3
Sat, Dec 7 8:30 p.m. Christ the King (N.Y.) vs. No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) ESPN3
Sat, Dec 7 10 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Millenium (Ariz.) ESPN3
Sat, Dec 7 11:30 p.m. Hamilton Heights (Tenn.) at No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) ESPN3
Thu, Dec 12 8 p.m. No. 10 DeMatha (Md.) at No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) ESPNU
Sat, Dec 14 8:30 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. St. Vincent & St. Mary (Ohio) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 3 7 p.m. Park Center (Minn.) at Minnehaha Acadamy (Minn.) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 3 9 p.m. No. 4 The Patrick School (N.J.) at No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) ESPN2
Fri, Jan 4 8 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at No. 20 Minnehaha Academy (Minn.) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 10 9 p.m. No. 7 Huntington Prep (W.Va.) at No. 2 IMG Academy (Fla.) ESPN2
Fri, Jan 11 TBD No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) at No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 3 p.m. La Lumiere (Ind.) vs. Gonzaga (D.C.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 4:30 p.m. No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) vs. Camden (N.J.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 6 p.m. No. 2 IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 4 The Patrick School (N.J.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 8 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Dominican (Wis.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 12:30 p.m. Orangeville Prep (Canada) vs. Brewster Adcademy (N.H.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 2:15 p.m. Whitney Young (Ill.) vs. No. 4 The Patrick School (N.J.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 4 p.m. No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) vs. Sunrise Christian (Kan.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 5:30 p.m. No. 6 Prolific Prep (Calif.) at vs. La Lumiere (Ind.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 7:30 p.m. No. 2 IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) ESPN
Sun, Jan 20 11 a.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. No. 12 Paul VI (Va.) ESPNU
Sun, Jan 20 1 p.m. No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) vs. No. 10 DeMatha (Md.) ESPNU
Sun, Jan 20 3 p.m. No. 17 Bishop Gorman (Nev.) vs. No. 11 Oak Hill Academy (Va.) ESPNU
Sun, Jan 20 5 p.m. No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 6 McEachern (Ga.) ESPNU
Thu, Jan 24 11 p.m. Coronado (Nev.) at No. 17 Bishop Gorman (Nev.) ESPNU
Mon, Jan 28 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Campbell Hall (Calif.) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 31 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Brentwood School (Calif.) ESPN3
Mon, Feb 4 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Paraclete HS (Calif.) ESPN3
Wed, Feb 6 5:30 p.m. No. 25 Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) at Christ the King (N.Y.) ESPNU
Wed, Feb 6 7:30 p.m. Saint John Vianney (N.J.) vs. Christ the King (N.Y.) Girls TBD
Thu, Feb 7 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Gil St. Benard’s (N.J.) ESPN3
Fri, Feb 8 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. No. 9 Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) ESPN3
Fri, Feb 8 TBD Huntington Prep vs. The Patrick School TBD