Sotto, 'di apektado sa NBA mock drafts; Fil-Am Green, pasok na sa top 5

ni MC - @Sports | January 18, 2021

Sinuwerteng makapasok si US-based Filipino Jalen Green sa top 5 sa inilabas na mock drafts para sa NBA prospects, habang hindi naman napansin ang higanteng si Pinoy center Kai Sotto ng draft experts.

Nalagay sina Green at G League Ignite temmate Jonathan Kuminga sa 3rd at 5th, ayon sa pagkakasunod sa CBS Sports ranking habang sa listahan ng Bleacher report, nasa pang-5 si Kuminga at si Green ay no. 3. Nasa first overall naman si Oklahoma State freshman point guard Cade Cunningham sa 2021 NBA Draft. Patungkol kay Green, sinabi ng CBS Sports na, "He's an athletic marvel and shot-hunter whose talent at every level he's played at -including on the Olympic circuit -have been validated."

Idinagdag ng Bleacher Report na ang ball skills at shooting ni Green ay kahanga-hanga lalo na ang explosiveness at quickness nito. Pero inaasahang tatalunin si Green ni Cunningham, (Evan) Mobley, Kuminga at Jalen Suggs sa efficiency, depensa at playmaking abilities subalit hindi umano ito masyadong malalaglag sa rankings. "Greens scoring upside is as high as anyone's in the draft," anang Bleacher report.

Samantala, ang pangalan ni Sotto ay lumabas sa latest na listahan ng NBA Draft Room at nasa 65th place ito habng ang ESPN ay inilagay ang Pinoy sa 99th. "Tall and smooth with an emerging game, Sotto has filled out his frame well over the past few years. He's looking stronger and quicker and more like an NBA player, "ayon sa note na inilagay ng NBA Draft room patungkol kay Sotto.

Patuloy na nage-ensayo si Sotto upang mag-improve ang kanyang laro bago ang pagbubukas ng NBA G League at sinabing hindi siya paaapekto sa resulta ng mock draft. "I know what I'm capable of doing. And, me and my dad, my dad always tells me that, Don't think about it too much because you're just gonna focus on your improvement as a player and as a person. So, for me that doesn't really matter as much,"ani Sotto.