Meet Yongxi Cui, the player aiming to be the first Chinese draft pick since 2016

G League Elite Camp attendee Yongxi ‘Jacky’ Cui has followed an interesting development pathway leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft. He aims to become the first Chinese prospect drafted since Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin in 2016. Cui just completed his …

G League Elite Camp attendee Yongxi ‘Jacky’ Cui has followed an interesting development pathway leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft. He aims to become the first Chinese prospect drafted since Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin in 2016. Cui just completed his second season in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), where he posted averages of 15.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.5 spg on 46.1 FG% and 36.5 3P%.

Before joining the CBA and becoming one of China’s top prospects, he attended the NBA Global Academy in Australia. Chris Ebersole, the Head of International Basketball Development at the NBA, worked directly with Jacky Cui during his time in Australia. He shared his experience coaching and working with Cui with HoopsHype.

“He was really, truly like cracking jokes,” Ebersole said about Cui’s personality. “I just thought he was so impressive, willing to make mistakes and take risks. Everybody, from our staff to all his teammates, thinks so highly of him because of that.”

Ebersole emphasized that Cui has always prioritized making the right play but now understands his skill level and realizes that to impact winning, he needs to focus on expanding his offensive game.

“He’s got really good feet and plays super hard,” Ebersole said about Cui’s best skill being defense. “Those ingredients, for both on-ball defense and off-ball positioning, serve him well.”

All-American Caleb Love headlines list of invitees for G League Elite Camp

Arizona senior Caleb Love was among the 45 players invited to participate in the G League Elite Camp on May 11-12 in Chicago, Illinois.

Arizona senior Caleb Love was among the 45 players invited to participate in the 2024 NBA G League Elite Camp May 11-12 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.

Love was voted a third-team All-American by the Associated Press and the Pac-12 Player of the Year after averaging 18 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals on 41.3% shooting from the field with the Wildcats. He finished fourth in the conference in scoring.

The 6-foot-4 guard transferred to Arizona in May 2023 after spending three years at North Carolina. He finished with 1,476 career points in 101 games with the Tar Heels and made 200 3-pointers, which ranks eighth in program history.

The full list of players invited to the G League Elite Camp:

Player Previous
Mark Armstrong Villanova
Taran Armstrong Cairns Taipans (NBL)
Adama Bal Santa Clara
Keion Brooks Jr. Washington
Terrell Burden Kennesaw State
Branden Carlson Utah
Walter Clayton Jr. Florida
Isaiah Crawford Louisiana Tech
Yongxi Cui Guangzhou (China)
Clarence Daniels New Hampshire
Thierry Darlan G League Ignite
Garwey Dual Providence
Sean East II Missouri
Jesse Edwards West Virginia
Boogie Ellis USC
Tristan Enaruna Cleveland State
Aaron Estrada Alabama
Allen Flanigan Mississippi
Enrique Freeman Akron
Blake Hinson Pitt
Jaelen House New Mexico
Isaac Jones Washington State
Arthur Kaluma Kansas State
Chaz Lanier North Florida
Jaedon LeDee San Diego State
Xaivian Lee Princeton
Jalen Lewis Overtime Elite
Malique Lewis Mexico City Capitanes (G League)
Caleb Love Arizona
Baba Miller Florida State
Emanuel Miller TCU
Judah Mintz Syracuse
Matthew Murrell Mississippi
Baye Ndongo Georgia Tech
Jameer Nelson Jr. TCU
Ugonna Onyenso Kentucky
Wooga Poplar Miami (Fla.)
Zyon Pullin Florida
Mantas Rubstavicius NZ Breakers (NBL)
Babacar Sane G League Ignite
Isaiah Stevens Colorado State
Jarin Stevenson Alabama
Nae’Qwan Tomlin Memphis
Bryson Warren Sioux Falls Skyforce (G League)
Anton Watson Gonzaga

The 45 prospects invited to the G League Elite Camp were voted on by team executives. The list of players typically indicates those with the highest odds of being selected or signed as undrafted free agents with teams after the draft on June 27.

The event will feature 5-on-5 games, strength and agility testing, shooting drills, measurements and other related on-court exercises. Prospects will have the opportunity to improve their draft stock in a competitive environment against their peers.

The top players from the G League Elite Camp will be invited to participate in the draft combine on May 12-19. The event has helped several players advance to the combine and eventually make it to the NBA, including Jose Alvarado, Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Terance Mann.

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