New dawn, new blood: Who are the NBA G League Ignite prospects?

A new chapter turns in the NBA G League’s history books as it unveils the new Ignite Select Team at the Disney World bubble in Orlando, Florida.

The much-hyped squad coached by NBA champion Brian Shaw is composed of a nice mix of NBA veterans and former top college recruits, who are now the first batch of prospects to soon qualify for the big league through this alternative route.

Just who are these prospects, and what can they really offer basketball’s biggest stage?

Kai Sotto, 18, 7-foot-3, Ateneo de Manila High School

NBA projection: mid-second round pick to undrafted

NBA comparisons: Alexis Ajinca, Rik Smits, Kristaps Porzingis

A man who needs no further introduction to Filipino fans, Kai Sotto is a 7-foot-3 center who gained international attention in 2019 after it was reported that he received multiple offers to play in the prestigious EuroLeague.

He has since taken the less traditional route, and trained full time in The Skills Factory in Atlanta, Georgia, before being signed by Ignite.

Being the tallest member of the team yet one of the youngest, Sotto naturally excels in shot-blocking, rebounding, and scoring near the basket thanks to his relatively lighter frame coupled with passable footwork.

While most big men already have these skills down pat, Sotto can stand out with a defined role in the NBA once he polishes his knack for passing, a skill highly valued out of the modern big man.

However, scout Mike Schmitz of ESPN admitted that the Filipino unicorn is simply not “ready to play in the NBA tomorrow,” which may turn off a lot of fans eagerly awaiting the first ever homegrown talent to make it all the way up to the big league.

Regardless, Sotto is currently at home, continually working, and gearing up to represent the Philippines in the final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.

While this means that he may practically miss Ignite’s entire February schedule, the extended playing time he may get on the international stage could turn a few scouts’ heads here and there.

Jalen Green, 19, 6-foot-6, Prolific Prep, California

NBA Draft Room projection: top 3 pick

NBA comparisons: OJ Mayo, Clyde Drexler, Kobe Bryant

Although Sotto will not be with Ignite for a while, the Filipino contingent is still very well represented in the G League with Fil-Am star prospect Jalen Green leading the way.

Pegged to be at least top 3 pick for a long time now across multiple draft boards, Green excites crowds and scouts with eye-popping athleticism and aggressiveness. However, he also pairs his raw power with deft shooting to keep defenses honest.

NBA Draft Room reports that “shooting guard prospects with his combination of athleticism and shot making ability don’t come along often.”

Like many kids with his age and talent, Green needs improvement on the defensive end, something that he can easily develop in the NBA with enough commitment.

If a team needs a high-floor, higher-ceiling pick who can provide an immediate boost to ticket sales, then Green is definitely their guy.

Jonathan Kuminga, 18, 6-foot-7, The Patrick School, New Jersey

NBADraft.net projection: top 2 pick

NBA comparisons: Pascal Siakam, Jaylen Brown, Shawn Marion

Hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jonathan Kuminga is another athletic swingman who has steadily risen up the rankings, and is now going as high as top two in a handful of draft boards.

Blessed with height around the 6-foot-7 to 6-foot-8 range and unteachable athleticism, Kuminga forms a deadly high-flying combo with Green as they have practically similar play styles.

Unlike Green, however, Kuminga has more immediate defensive upside, but at the cost of playmaking, as he tends to take too much time with the ball.

While he definitely has some things to work on like many other prospects, Kuminga is a plug-and-play prospect who will likely lead Ignite in scoring down the line.

Daishen Nix, 18, 6-foot-5, Trinity International, Nevada

NBA Draft Room projection: late first to early second-round pick

NBA comparisons: Andre Miller, Kendall Marshall

One of the lesser-talked about Ignite prospects, Daishen Nix has a calm, pure playmaker game that can provide a lot of teams’ needs in the modern NBA.

Neither a high-leaper nor explosive scorer like his peers, Nix crafts his niche with steady floor generalship possibly ahead of his age. Coupled with a great frame at least 6-foot-4 barefoot, Nix can see the floor well, a skill he will need as the NBA pace ramps up.

As expected with a pure playmaker, Nix doesn’t look to score that often, which can lead to slower development on that important area. But he can score, no doubt about it.

Unless he at least polishes his three-point shot, however, defenses may not be too keen on ganging up on him, and can instead focus more on the passing lanes that he values all too well.

Still, a team can never go wrong with more basketball IQ within their ranks. Like athleticism, instinct is something not many can teach, but can only hone further.

Isaiah Todd, 19, 6-foot-10, Word of God Academy, North Carolina

NBA Draft Room projection: second-round pick

NBA comparisons: Jaren Jackson, Jr., Chris Bosh

Lanky, multi-skilled big men are certainly rampant in the modern NBA, and Isaiah Todd has some work to do to stand out.

After decommitting from the University of Michigan in favor of Ignite, Todd now has a clear path to minutes that he may not have gotten in the NCAA, and he definitely needs time to show off what he can do.

NBA Draft Room stated that Todd doesn’t have “one glaring weakness,” but he is also tagged a “mystery man.”

At his size, he is expected to rebound and defend well, while providing some shooting and post scoring, all of which are great skills to have in all levels of basketball competition.

Scouts have a basic template of what Todd can do, and now it’s up to him to prove he deserves a spot more than other big men like him.

Princepal Singh, 20, 6-foot-9, Punjab, India

NBA projection: second-round pick to undrafted

NBA comparison: Satnam Singh

Like his teammates Sotto and Todd, Princepal Singh has a lot of work to do to prove to NBA teams that he deserves at least a second-round pick.

Right now, the only comparison readily available online of Singh is his namesake, 7-foot-2 Satnam Singh, the first-ever Indian player drafted in the NBA.

Like many other big men prospects like him, Singh likely has the basics at least up to a serviceable level: post scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking.

But again, the problem is standing out, and signing with Ignite was the best move Singh could have done in his young career.

With Sotto out of the way for most if not all of Ignite’s games in the bubble, there are spot minutes ready for the taking, and Singh is likely eager to capitalize on the opportunity. – Rappler.com