Kentucky target Matas Buzelis picks G League. And the top UK basketball recruiting links.
Five-star basketball recruit Matas Buzelis committed to the G League on Friday, picking the NBA developmental path over the Kentucky Wildcats and three other finalists.
UK hosted Buzelis for an official visit in December and made his final list — along with Florida State, North Carolina and Wake Forest — but the G League emerged over the past few weeks as his most likely destination. The versatile, 6-foot-9 wing from Chicago is the No. 6 player in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
Buzelis is the first five-star prospect in the 2023 class to pick the G League, which emerged two years ago as a more realistic option for top high school recruits. Over the past two NBA Drafts, three players — Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Dyson Daniels — have been top-10 picks after going the G League route, with Scoot Henderson almost certain to join that group in 2023.
Others have had less success, however. The latest example was Jaden Hardy, who was long considered a top-five recruit in the 2021 class but went No. 37 overall in Thursday’s draft after picking the G League over Kentucky and other college suitors.
Top Kentucky basketball recruiting links
Star recruit picks Kentucky: Robert Dillingham commits to the Cats
NJSIAA starts investigation of possible cheating at DJ Wagner’s school
Five-star recruit Mikey Williams will take first official visit to Kansas
2023 NBA Draft: It’s projected to be a major year for UK draft picks
Shaedon Sharpe goes No. 7: Star Kentucky recruit is a lottery pick
TyTy Washington to Houston: UK guard goes with the No. 29 pick
Kentucky’s first-round draft dominance being challenged by Duke
Former UK target Jaden Hardy goes 2nd round via G League route
Team USA recruits pick most impressive player at this week’s camp
247Sports: 80 freshmen you need to know ahead of 2022-23 season
Is Dennis Evans the most interesting player in high school basketball?
Former Villanova star Maalik Wayns expected to coach at Camden
More Next Cats links: Top recruiting news from earlier in the week
This story was originally published June 24, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
