Warriors Security Guard Jonathan Amey Jr. Receives Tryout for GSW's G League Team
Oct 31, 2021
SANTA CRUZ, CA - APRIL 26: A shot of the center logo prior to the game between the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and Santa Cruz Warriors in Game Two of the NBA D-League Finals on April 26, 2015 at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
A Golden State Warriors security guard received an incredibly rare opportunity to make his basketball dreams come true.
Jonathan Amey Jr., who ushers Warriors players into their parking garage before games, tried out for the team's G League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors last month, according to Janie McCauley of the Associated Press (h/t NBA.com).
Amey didn't make the cut, but he enjoyed the experience regardless.
"It was just a great experience to be able to play at a pro level," Amey said, "and be able to also just to have an opportunity to get a chance to do something most people wish they had the opportunity to do. I didn't think I was going to get an opportunity, so I just felt like, 'Hey, if the offer's there, just go for it.'"
Warriors star point guard Stephen Curry even lauded the 26-year-old before a Saturday night matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder:
"It speaks about how encouraging, motivating and unifying basketball is for him to go put himself out there, go out for a tryout," Curry said. "He said his jumper needed some improvement. He's a little self critical, but we gave him the confidence to keep trying and keep his attitude high. I like the fact that he put himself out there because it's no easy task. So, shoutout to Jonathan."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr didn't know about the tryout, but admitted he'll absolutely be talking to Amey about the experience:
"I've got to ask him about it," Kerr said. "Good for him, just to fulfill a dream and to go for it. I love it, that's great."
Amey previously played intramural basketball at Cal State East Bay.
NBA G League Draft 2021 Results: Complete List of Selections for All Teams
Oct 23, 2021
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 09: LiAngelo Ball #8 of the Charlotte Hornets passes the ball up the court against the Sacramento Kings during the 2021 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on August 9, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Kings defeated the Hornets 80-70. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Rosters for the 2021-22 G League season are likely set for all 28 teams after Saturday's draft.
There were 99 players eligible, and several had previous NBA experience, including Lance Stephenson and Brandon Knight.
This season will mark a return to normalcy for the league. The previous two years were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2019-20 campaign was canceled in June after play was stopped in March.
Only 18 teams took part in the monthlong 2021 season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex outside Orlando, Florida.
The 2021-22 season will tip off Nov. 5.
Here are the results from the draft.
First Round
1. Delaware (From South Bay): Shamorie Ponds
2. College Park: Tyler Hagedorn
3. Fort Wayne: Gabe York
4. Westchester: Justin Turner
5. Agua Caliente (From Stockton): Nate Darling
6. Sioux Falls (From Grand Rapids): Brandon Knight
7. Texas (From Raptors905): Eddie Stansberry
8. Motor City: Jaylen Johnson
9. Iowa (From Wisconsin): Michael Gbinije
10. Salt Lake City: Zaire Wade
11. Texas (From Austin): Loudon Love
12. Santa Cruz (From Memphis): Alan Griffin
13. Grand Rapids (From Sioux Falls): Lance Stephenson
14. Greensboro (From Delaware via WES): LiAngelo Ball
15. Lakeland (From Texas via AUS): TJ Haws
16. Cleveland: BJ Taylor
17. Windy City (From Lakeland): Scottie Lindsey
18. Maine: Isaiah Ross
19. Iowa (From Birmingham): Ruot Monyyong
20. Lakeland (From Long Island): Marlon Stewart
21. Stockton (From Agua Caliente): Joe Young
22. Iowa: Samir Doughty
23. Greensboro (From Santa Cruz via SBL): Chudier Bile
24. Capital City: Rodney Pryor
25. Windy City: Tim Bond
26. Greensboro: Tyree White
27. Cleveland (From OKL via RGV): Montell McRae
28. RGV: Cullen Russo
Second Round
1. Memphis (From South Bay): Karim Mane
2. College Park: Kalob Ledoux
3. Memphis (From Fort Wayne): Gerard Tarin
4. Delaware (From Westchester): Barra Njie
5. Raptors 905 (From Stockton via CTN and RGV): Tahj Eaddy
Shamorie Ponds, PG, Delaware Blue Coats (Philadelphia 76ers affiliate)
Since he was undrafted out of St. John's two years ago, Shamorie Ponds has spent the bulk of his professional career in the G League. He had a summer league stint with the Houston Rockets in 2019 before signing with the Toronto Raptors on a two-way contract.
Ponds appeared in four games for the Raptors during the 2019-20 season. The 23-year-old averaged 2.3 points per game in 11 total minutes. He had a brief run with Spars Realway of the Bosnian League earlier this year, shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range in five games.
When he was coming out of college, Ponds drew praise for his scoring ability.
Glen Willis of Peachtree Hoops wrote Ponds "might be one of the very best offensive prospects in the 2019 NBA draft class."
The biggest knock against Ponds is size. He's listed at 6'0" and 175 pounds.
Willis did note that Ponds is an average athlete who "graded out very well both in pick-and-roll action and in isolation opportunities" during his final college season.
The Philadelphia 76ers, who should be in the market for all the help they can get at point guard, will be able to work with Ponds to develop his skills. He may not make a major impact on the organization this season, but there's plenty of upside to make him worth watching in the G League.
The saga of LiAngelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets had a happy ending for both parties.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported Friday that "procedural issues" caused Ball to be entered into the G League draft instead of going straight to the Hornets.
Per ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Ball was waived by Charlotte on Oct. 15 after signing a nonguaranteed contract one day earlier.
Bontemps noted the move was "a precursor" to Ball's ending up with the Greensboro Swarm.
One week later, Ball joined the Swarm after being selected with the No. 14 pick. The 22-year-old will remain in the Hornets family after appearing in five games for the team during summer league.
LiAngelo Ball scored 16 points and made five 3-pointers in his Summer League debut with the Hornets.
Ball has had a winding path to reach this point. He began his professional career in 2018 with Prienai of the Lithuanian Basketball League, and the California native shot 41.5 percent from three in 14 appearances.
LiAngelo's next stop was in the Junior Basketball Association, founded by his father, LaVar Ball.
Early scouting reports on Ball weren't kind about his chances of making it to the NBA:
Ball will struggle to find a serious job playing pro basketball, including the G-League. @Mike_Schmitz projected him in high school as a small-ball stretch 4-man at the mid-major college level. Would make sense for Ball to find a scholarship at a lower level and stay in school.
It's certainly possible he has improved over the past four years, but whether that will be enough to get him to the NBA has yet to be determined.
This will be Ball's first significant exposure to the G League. He did have a brief stint with the Oklahoma City Blue in March 2020, but the season was canceled before he appeared in a game.
Joe Young, PG, Stockton Kings (Sacramento Kings affiliate)
It's perhaps a bit unfair to highlight Joe Young since he already has three years of NBA experience. The Oregon product appeared in 127 games with the Indiana Pacers from 2015-16 to 2017-18.
The 2017-18 season was his best, as he averaged 3.9 points per game with 37.9 percent shooting from behind the arc.
On Dec. 31, 2017, Young dropped 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting in the Pacers' 107-90 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After the 2017-18 season, Young played in the Chinese Basketball Association. The 29-year-old spent two years with the Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings before moving to the Beijing Royal Fighters for the 2020-21 campaign.
He averaged 36.1, 38.3 and 25.2 points per game in those three seasons.
LiAngelo Ball Selected No. 14 Overall by Greensboro Swarm in 2021 NBA G League Draft
Oct 23, 2021
LiAngelo Ball speaks with the media at a pre-draft workout at the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA basketball facility in El Segundo, Calif., Tuesday, May 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
After some unusual roster maneuvering that didn't pan out, LiAngelo Ball is officially a member of the Charlotte Hornets' G League affiliate.
The Greensboro Swarmselected Ball with the No. 14pick in the 2021 G League draft on Saturday.
It wasn't initially clear that Ball would even be part of the draft. He signed a nonguaranteed contract with the Hornets and was waived last week, but the intention was to have him play for their G League affiliate.
On Friday, though, ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported that Ball was draft-eligible after "procedural issues" prevented him from joining the Greensboro Swarm.
Ball did appear in five games for the Hornets during summer league. He averaged 9.6 points on 37.5 percent shooting.
This marks the second G League draft of the year. The first one took place in January after being delayed two months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That draft set up the 2021 season that ran from February 9 to March 11 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida.
Saturday's draft set the stage for the 2021-22 season, which will return to a traditional format. The regular season will run from Nov. 5 to April 2, followed by the postseason.
Ball will get his first significant NBA exposure on a G League roster. The 22-year-old does have professional experience from his time with Prienai in the Lithuanian Basketball League in 2018. He averaged 12.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14 games with the club.
The Oklahoma City Blue, G League affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder, signed Ball in March 2020. He didn't appear in a game with the team before the season was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ball did sign with the Detroit Pistons during training camp prior to the start of the 2020-21 season, but he was released before playing in a game.
Now that he is a member of the Swarm, Ball will get his first real opportunity to showcase his skills over the course of an entire season. He will attempt to parlay that into a chance to play in the NBA.
Report: LiAngelo Ball Entering G League Draft Due to 'Procedural Issues' with Hornets
Oct 22, 2021
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 09: LiAngelo Ball #8 of the Charlotte Hornets passes the ball up the court against the Sacramento Kings during the 2021 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on August 9, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Kings defeated the Hornets 80-70. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LiAngelo Ball has been entered into the G League draft after originally planning to play for the Charlotte Hornets' affiliate.
Per ESPN's Jonathan Givony, procedural issues will prevent Ball from being assigned to the Hornets' G League team.
On Oct. 14, ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported the Hornets signed Ball to a nonguaranteed deal and released him in order to "eventually sign with their G League team."
The move came ahead of the NBA's deadline to set their 15-man roster for the regular season, as well as finalize two-way deals and G League teams, on Oct. 18 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Luke Adams of HoopsHype noted most player releases would likely happen by Oct. 16 to allow them to clear waivers in time for the start of the regular season.
Ball was invited to participate in Hornets training camp by his brother, LaMelo. The front office signed LiAngelo to their roster for summer league. He averaged 9.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in five appearances.
Summer league marked Ball's first game action with an NBA team in his professional career. The 22-year-old previously had stints with the Oklahoma City Blue in the G League during the 2020 season and Detroit Pistons during training camp last year, but he never appeared in a game for either team.
The 2021 G League draft will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The Delaware Blue Coats (affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers) own the No. 1 overall pick.
NBA G League Draft 2021: Order, Schedule and Notable Prospects
Oct 22, 2021
SANTA CRUZ, CA - JANUARY 16: A detailed view of the NBA D-League logo on a basketball during the game between the Delaware 87ers and the Iowa Energy during the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung at the Kaiser Permanente Arena on January 16, 2015 in Santa Cruz, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
After a shortened 2020-21 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA G League is back with a new format for the 2021-22 campaign. Things get started with the NBA G League draft on Saturday.
The G League will start regular-season play on Nov. 5 with an expanded Showcase Cup, a 14-game tournament that concludes at the annual NBA G League Winter Showcase from Dec. 19-22.
In the Showcase Cup, teams will be separated into four regional pods and play 12 games against one another. The four teams with the best record in each pod plus the next best four teams will advance to the single-elimination Winter Showcase to compete for the Showcase Cup. The teams outside of the top eight will play in two games outside of the event.
Following the Showcase Cup, the teams' records will reset and the 36-game regular season will begin on Dec. 27. Combined with the Showcase Cup, each team will play a total of 50 regular-season games.
The top six teams from each conference will advance to the playoffs in April 2022 for a chance to compete in the NBA G League Finals presented by YouTube TV.
NBA G League Ignite and Capitanes de la Ciudad de Mexico will compete in the Showcase Cup but will not take part in the 36-game regular season.
NBA G League Draft Info
Date: Saturday, Oct. 23
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Notables in NBA G League Draft Player Pool
LiAngelo Ball
After playing impressively for the Charlotte Hornets during the 2021 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, LiAngelo Ball didn't manage to earn an invite to Charlotte's training camp. Undeterred from chasing his NBA dreams, Ball has signed a G League contract, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
In five Summer League games, Ball averaged 9.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game while shooting 37.5 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three-point range. The middle brother to NBA players Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, LiAngelo could land with the Hornets' G-League affiliate in Greensboro, which holds the 26th pick.
Lance Stephenson
Nine-year NBA veteran guard Lance Stephenson has signed a G League contract and will be in the draft, according to NBA reporter JD Shaw. Stephenson most recently played in China after a stint with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2019-20 season.
Stephenson has played in over 500 games in his NBA career and is known for his position versatility and his creativity on the court. Stephenson has also been known to get under the skin of his opponents, most notably pestering LeBron James during the 2014 playoff series between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers.
Stephenson likely wants to play for a title contender as he nears the end of his career. Signing with the G League shows that he's ready to do the work to prove he's worthy of a roster spot.
Joe Young
A former second-round pick to the Pacers in 2015, Joe Young spent three seasons in Indiana before heading overseas to play in China. Young impressed during his time in the CBA, with performances of 51 and 74 points. He averaged a league-high 38.3 points in the 2019-20 season.
After three years away from the NBA, Young signed a G League contract, according to Pacers reporter Scott Agness. At age 29, Young will have the chance to put his scoring prowess on display and potentially work his way back into the league.
NBA G League Draft Order (First Round)
1. Delaware (From South Bay)
2. College Park
3. Fort Wayne
4. Westchester
5. Agua Caliente (From Stockton)
6. Sioux Falls (From Grand Rapids)
7. Raptors905
8. Motor City
9. Iowa (From Wisconsin)
10. Salt Lake City
11. Texas (From Austin)
12. Memphis
13. Grand Rapids (From Sioux Falls)
14. Westchester (From Delaware)
15. Austin (From Texas)
16. Cleveland
17. Windy City (From Lakeland)
18. Maine
19. Iowa (From Birmingham)
20. Lakeland (From Long Island)
21. Stockton (From Agua Caliente)
22. Iowa
23. Greensboro (From Santa Cruz via SBL)
24. Capital City
25. Windy City
26. Greensboro
27. Cleveland (From OKL via RGV)
28. RGV
Click here to see the complete NBA G League draft order for all three rounds.
LiAngelo Ball, Hornets Agree to Non-guaranteed Contract; Rumored to Join G League
Oct 14, 2021
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 09: LiAngelo Ball #8 of the Charlotte Hornets passes the ball up the court against the Sacramento Kings during the 2021 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on August 9, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Kings defeated the Hornets 80-70. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Charlotte Hornets and LiAngelo Ball agreed Thursday to a non-guaranteed contract.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Ball will start the 2021-22 season with the Greensboro Swarm, Charlotte's affiliate in the NBA G League. Charania reported Monday that the 22-year-old was originally planning to sign a G League deal ahead of the league's Oct. 23 draft.
Ball played for the Hornets' NBA Summer League team and averaged 9.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in five games. HIs best performance came in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, when he made five three-pointers and scored 16 points.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_e-nV04WNc
NBA insider Jordan Schultz reported in August that team officials were encouraged by what they saw from the 22-year-old:
Spoke w/#Hornets assistant coach Jay Triano, who said this of @LiAngeloBall: “Great kid. Love him. He was at the facility practicing everyday for two months to play in the Summer League. Shows a ton of character. He can shoot it, great feel, knack for scoring.”
Head coach James Borrego told reporters during the Hornets' media day that Ball "performed well and opened eyes and played at a higher level than I expected."
Ball hasn't had the chance to play in the G League yet. The Oklahoma City Blue acquired his rights in March 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic paused and eventually canceled the remainder of the 2019-20 G League season.
Suiting up for the Swarm provides the California native with his clearest path to earning an NBA roster spot. Even if he's unable to team up with his younger brother LaMelo on the Hornets, he could perform well enough for another franchise to give him a shot.
Report: LiAngelo Ball Signs G League Contract, Will Enter Pool for Oct. 23 Draft
Oct 11, 2021
LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 14: LiAngelo Ball #8 of Charlotte Hornets looks on against the Toronto Raptors during the 2021 Las Vegas Summer League on August 14, 2021 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LiAngelo Ball is signing a contract with the NBA G League, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
Following the deal, Ball will eligible for the G League draft on Oct. 23.
Most recently, the 22-year-old was signed to the Charlotte Hornets for the NBA Summer League. He could potentially land with Charlotte's G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.
In five games with the Hornets in the Vegas summer league, he averaged 9.6 points and 2.0 rebounds. He also shot 37.5 percent from the floor and 34.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Ball hit five three-pointers en route to a 16-point performance as Charlotte lost 93-86 to the Portland Trail Blazers in what was his best showing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_e-nV04WNc
NBA insider Jordan Schultz reported in August he was earning plaudits within the Charlotte organization:
Spoke w/#Hornets assistant coach Jay Triano, who said this of @LiAngeloBall: “Great kid. Love him. He was at the facility practicing everyday for two months to play in the Summer League. Shows a ton of character. He can shoot it, great feel, knack for scoring.”
Ball's contributions weren't enough for him to get a spot on the Hornets' training camp roster for the 2021-22 season. Still, landing with the Swarm would get him one step closer toward teaming up with younger brother LaMelo.
In the event he winds up with another team, simply playing in the G League would provide Ball with the kind of showcase he needs to earn his way onto an NBA roster.
The California native was poised to suit up for the Oklahoma City Blue after they acquired him in March 2020, only for the COVID-19 pandemic to put the G League's 2019-20 season on hold and eventually force its cancellation altogether.
Jason Terry Agrees to Contract as Head Coach of Nuggets' G League Affiliate
Aug 19, 2021
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 29: Jason Terry #31 of Trilogy warms up against Triplets during week two of the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Spectrum Center on June 29, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/BIG3/Getty Images)
Longtime NBA player Jason Terry was hired as the head coach of the Grand Rapids Gold, a G League squad that will be an affiliate of the Denver Nuggets beginning this upcoming season.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN initially reported the two sides were nearing a deal.
Prior to being affiliated with Denver, Grand Rapids was previously connected to the Detroit Pistons.
Terry spent 19 years in the NBA as a player, competing for six different organizations. He entered coaching last season as an assistant at the University of Arizona, his alma mater.
The 43-year-old also has experience in the G League after serving as an assistant general manager for the Texas Legends.
Terry is still best known for his extensive playing career that saw him average 13.4 points per game while winning the NBA title in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks. He also won Sixth Man of the Year in 2008-09 and currently sits seventh all-time in made three-pointers.
Though he never made an All-Star Game, Terry ranks 10th in NBA history with 1,410 games played.
That came after a college career that featured an NCAA title and an All-American selection for the Wildcats.
Terry will now get a chance to impart his knowledge to a younger group of players.
5-Star Recruit Jaden Hardy Says His Game Is Better for Pros After Choosing G League
May 16, 2021
Combo guard Jaden Hardy, who is ranked third overall on 247Sports' list of the top boys' high school basketball prospects in the class of 2021, explained why he chose to play for the NBA G League Ignite over going to college Saturday.
"It was the best move for me," Hardy said, per Jason Jordan of Sports Illustrated. "I never got the chance to take my official visits, so that made things harder. I feel like this is the right move for me, and I feel like I'm ready for it."
Hardy added: "I feel like my game translates better at the pro level. I train for that level."
The 6'4", 190-pound combo guard out of Coronado High School in Henderson, Nevada, averaged 30.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game during his junior campaign in 2019-20.
Hardy's senior high school season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hardy appears destined for an NBA court, with Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports providing a glowing scouting report that compared him to Washington Wizards superstar shooting guard Bradley Beal.
Hardy is the best offensive player in the senior class. He gets buckets from four different ranges on the floor and is elite at creating his own shot on demand. He has the touch of an elite scorer who can hit jumpers with a high degree of difficulty. He has tremendous range out to the NBA three-point line that stretches a defense and opens up driving lanes for his teammates.
He draws comparisons to Bradley Beal due to his shooting stroke, and ability to take over a game with his knack to score. A true killer who can win a game in clutch scenarios, Hardy's game translates to the highest of levels as he is always a threat to fill it up on any given night.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Hardy had offers from Kentucky, UCLA and Arizona, among other schools. Charania broke the news of Hardy's decision earlier Saturday.
Hardy follows in the footsteps of other players who have made the same decision to choose the G League over college, including Jalen Green, whom Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report pegs second in his latest 2021 NBA draft big board.
5-Star PF Prospect Michael Foster to Join G League Ignite over FSU, Georgia
Apr 23, 2021
Hillcrest Prep's Mike Foster #11 is seen against Sunrise Christian Academy during a high school basketball game at the Hoophall Classic, Sunday, January 19, 2020, in Springfield, MA. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Michael Foster, one of the top prospects in the 2021 college basketball recruiting class, announced Friday he's forgoing the college route to join the NBA G League Ignite.
Foster explained his decision to Jason Jordan of Sports Illustrated:
Foster is a 5-star prospect and the No. 14 player in the 2021 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He's ranked as the No. 5 power forward and the best player from Arizona.
The Hillcrest Prep standout's recruitment was sluggish compared to other top prospects, something he attributed to unsubstantiated rumors early in the process during a January interview with Jordan.
"I don't have all of the schools calling for me like that," Foster said. "I don't know why, but I've heard that coaches think they can't get me because I'm going pro. I've never even had a conversation about that, so I don't know where that could've come from."
The forward, who has all the tools to become a key player at both ends of the floor, told Jordan the reality was quite the opposite.
"I've always wanted to play in the NCAA tournament and compete in the Final Four and try to win a national title," he said. "I've never talked about overseas. But I can't control what college coaches think. I'm happy with the schools that are showing interest. At the end of the day, you want to be wanted."
The Milwaukee native does most of his damage in the paint, but he's started to showcase offensive range that stretches to the three-point line. His length and athleticism have also made him a high-end defender in high school.
He'll need to add more weight to his 6'9", 220-pound frame to contend with elite post players, and increasing his variety of offensive moves is also a work in progress.
Although Foster downplayed his interest in going straight to pro ball, he decided it was the best option. He'll try to earn consistent playing time with the Ignite to continue his development while awaiting the 2022 NBA draft.
The forward has the physical tools to hold his own against older competition, but it's hard to project how much playing time he'll earn straight out of high school in the G League.
