Top 5 G League prospects heading into 2024 NBA Draft ft. Matas Buzelis

The NBA G League, particularly the NBA G League Ignite since its inception, has provided amateur players with an alternative path to the NBA. Over the past three drafts, since they joined the league, the Ignite have had ten players selected in the NBA Draft. Four of those players have been lottery selections, with Jalen Green being drafted the highest at second overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Several G League players have entered the 2024 NBA Draft. This year's draft will be the first year that the two rounds of the draft are split into two days. The first round is set to begin on Wednesday, June 26 while the second round will take place on Thursday, June 27.

Take a look at the top-five G League prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft below.

Top 5 G League prospects heading into the 2024 NBA Draft

#1: Matas Buzelis

Matas Buzelis was a five-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class before opting to join the G League Ignite. In 34 games played, he averaged 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.9 blocks in 31.0 minutes per game while shooting 45.3% from the field, 26.1% from three-point range and 69.6% from the free-throw line. He is expected to be one of the first ten players off the board.

#2: Ron Holland

Ron Holland was yet another five-star prospect and 247's top-ranked overall prospect, in the 2023 recruiting class who opted to join the G League Ignite. He played 29 games, averaging 19.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.4 spg and 0.9 bpg in 31.9 mpg while shooting 45.5% from the field, 23.7% from three-point range and 72.8% from the free-throw line. He is viewed as a surefire lottery pick.

#3: Tyler Smith

Tyler Smith was a five-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, however, he opted to turn pro at the age of 16, joining Overtime Elite. He signed with the G League Ignite at the age of 18 and appeared in 43 games. Smith averaged 13.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.8 spg and 1.0 bpg in just 22.2 mpg while shooting 47.4% from the field, 36.0% from three-point range and 73.2% from the free-throw line. He is expected to be selected in the late first round or early second round.

#4: Babacar Sane

Babacar Sane joined the G League Ignite ahead of the 2022-23 season after emerging from the NBA Academy Africa. He appeared in 41 games in his first season with the team, averaging 6.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.7 apg, 0.3 spg and 0.5 bpg in just 19.4 mpg while shooting 42.7% from the field, 29.4% from three-point range and 62.2% from the free-throw line.

Sane played 31 games this past season and averaged 10.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.5 spg and 0.5 bpg in just 22.7 mpg while shooting 44.5% from the field, 26.3% from three-point range and 69.9% from the free-throw line. He is expected to go undrafted, however, there is a possibility that he will hear his name called in the second round.

#5: Bryson Warren

Bryson Warren was a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, however, he opted to turn pro at the age of 16, joining Overtime Elite. He signed with the Sioux Falls Skyforce at the age of 18 and appeared in 27 games. Warren averaged 6.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.6 spg and 0.3 bpg in just 17.4 mpg while shooting 37.6% from the field, 32.5% from the three-point range and 80.0% from the free-throw line. He is expected to go undrafted, however, there is an outside chance that he will hear his name called in the second round.