Jalen Green, the nation’s top basketball prospect, is heading to the G-League
Jalen Green isn’t going to be one-and-done – he’s just done.
the #NBAGLeague future is now pic.twitter.com/U9GTz6eRVE
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) April 16, 2020
Green, the No. 1 ranked high school player according to ESPN, announced Thursday that he is skipping college to join the NBA’s G-League.
blessing from the man above??❤️ pic.twitter.com/TItfZTSX85
— Jalen Green? (@JalenGreen) April 16, 2020
And it looks like he’s going to get a sweet deal in the process.
Jalen Green’s NBA G League deal is expected to be in range of $500,000 and an ability to reach more with endorsements, appearances and education, sources told @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. https://t.co/T3DDuw8OkR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 16, 2020
All indications this week were that Green was either going to go to Memphis, Auburn or join the G-League.
With Thursday’s announcement, we also learned that the G-League will expand its number of teams in order to headline Green, a native of Fresno, California who last season attended Prolific Prep in the Napa region of Northern California.
Sources: Jalen Green will headline a new G League team in Los Angeles and focus on development and preparation for NBA. https://t.co/BMnWfceUUH
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 16, 2020
Green’s move is already having ripple effects across college and the G-League. ESPN’s No. 13 ranked prospect Isaiah Todd is set to join Green in the G-League.
Five-star prospect Isaiah Todd, who decommitted from Michigan, is expected to sign an NBA G League deal and join the new Southern California team featuring Jalen Green, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 16, 2020
Green is 6’5″, 180-pound shooting guard who has become famous for his athleticism. He is a two-time gold medalist with the USA junior national team, and after his senior season, he was selected to the McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit before all three were cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Green will now be eligible for the 2021 NBA Draft, where he is expected to be a top 5 pick.
It remains to be seen what effect Green’s decision will have on college basketball going forward, but with the G-League becoming a viable option for high school players to play professional out of high school and remain in the United States, one has to think that many will follow in Green’s footsteps in the future.
New on ESPN+: @DraftExpress, @BobbyMarks42 and I take a deeper look at what Jalen Green’s decision means. https://t.co/2a4jKdWWQQ
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) April 16, 2020
LaMelo Ball, the younger brother of New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball, skipped college to play in the National Basketball League in Australia this past season, and Ball is projected to be a top 5 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
As NBA/NBPA talks on eliminating one-and-done remain stalled, strengthening the pro pathway initaitive became even more important to Adam Silver. In many ways, this is a bridge to that eventual day. LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton signing in Australia accelerated these changes.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2020
If Ball is indeed selected at the top of the draft, followed by Green in another year, it could set the precedent for the top high school players going forward.
Stay tuned for more updates.
