Player of the Week:
Michael Foster Jr., Ignite
While the Showcase Cup may not be the premier G-League event the NBA was hoping for, it is allowing the prospects on their Ignite team to get acclimated to the league before the regular season. With each passing game we are continuing to learn more about what each prospect will bring to their future organization, and this week we focus on Michael Foster Jr (pictured).. Foster Jr. has been featured in six of the seven Ignite games and has been a contributor on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Averaging 15.3 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 1.7 APG with shooting splits of 52/22/69, he has proven to be both an offensive threat and a reliable rebounder. Add 2.0 BPG and 1.7 SPG and you can see that even though he is only listed at 6-8 he has the ability to protect the rim and get into passing lanes every night. As he continues to develop it will be extremely important to work on expanding his shooting range and become more confident taking shots on the perimeter. At his size he has the physical attributes to be an ideal combo forward however, the difference between being selected in the first or second round could hinge on improving his ability to space the floor. All six Ignite prospects have shown that they deserve to play in the league. Hopefully they can find more success in the win column during the regular season.
Who’s Hot
Scoot Henderson, Ignite
A player that is not draft eligible until 2023, [Scoot Henderson] has played four excellent games to start his G-League career. An extremely intelligent guard with physical and athletic attributes you only see in some of the most explosive guards in the league, he has an opportunity to be one of the best players in the 2023 draft. It is clear that skipping his senior year was the correct decision for Henderson, currently averaging 22.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 5.0 APG with shooting splits of 51/19/90. While the 19% from behind the three point line may stick out he continues to average three attempts per game. Which is exactly what he should be doing. The Ignite team is all about development and Henderson is going to take full advantage of the opportunity over the next two seasons. Already a strong finisher with the ability to score above the rim or through contact, expect Henderson to keep working on his jump shot. If he can continue to raise his game he may solidify himself as the best prospect in 2023.
Who’s Cold
College Park Skyhawks
It is safe to say the Atlanta Hawks G-League affiliate has struggled out of the gate. Even though the team touts 2021 draft picks [Jalen Johnson] and [Sharife Cooper], they are winless in the Showcase Cup. Losing four games at home and two games on the road the pressure to win will continue to mount throughout the season. The league itself is becoming more than a place to develop young talent. As the level of competition continues to rise, even though the pressure to win will be far less than the NBA level, winning games is a priority. This losing streak won’t impact the overall development of Cooper or Johnson but their contribution isn’t creating a positive result. If the team can’t find a win soon, Cooper and Johnson could begin trying to win games on their own which would hurt their short term development. In every professional league organizations have talented players and still struggle to win games however, in a league that is designed to create competitive development the Skyhawks need to surround their young players with the tools to succeed. When the real season begins their record will become 0-0 and the team will have a chance to erase their ugly Showcase performance.
Top 5 Rebounders
An elite rebounder can be an essential asset to any organization. From a developing roster to a championship contender, high level rebounders always seem to find minutes on the floor. The most recent draft class touts five of the best rebounders in the G-League, because of their ability they could have a chance to carve out utility minutes at the NBA level later in the season.
#5 Sandro Mamukelashvili, Wisconsin Herd
The fifty fourth overall pick has only played three games with the Wisconsin Herd but should be considered one of the best rebounders in his G-League class. [Sandro Mamukelashvili] is currently pulling down 8.7 RPG, 3.7 of them on the offensive glass. While his stay should be short lived because he was originally featured in the Bucks rotation, if he does stay expect his rebounding numbers to increase.
#4 RJ Nembhard, Cleveland Charge
One of the bigger surprises on this list, [RJ Nembhard] was never considered a high level rebounder in college. Over his four years at TCU, his highest average over any of the four years was 4.3 RPG during his senior season. This has changed since he began playing in the G-League. Nembhard is currently averaging 9.2 RPG over six games more than doubling his senior year average. Standing at 6’5”, Nembhard has always had the size and intensity to become more involved on the glass. Improving so drastically, in such a short amount of time, positions the undrafted rookie to compete for a chance at the main roster.
#3 Usman Garuba, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
During the NBA draft process Garuba’s greatest strength was his ability on the defensive end of the floor. Only standing at 6’8” the Houston Rockets big man leans on his physical strength, speed and 7’3” wingspan. These three attributes also make him a solid rebounder and the third best rebounder in the G-League. Even though he was recently recalled to the main roster [Usman Garuba] played five games with the Rockets affiliate and averaged 9.6 rebounds, 3.2 coming on the offensive glass. His ability to rebound on both ends of the floor will only continue to improve as he gains experience. If Garuba comes back to the G-League for an extended amount of time expect him to pick up where he left off.
#2 Jalen Johnson, College Park Skyhawks
After Johnson left Duke, in the middle of the season, his draft stock became uncertain. Sliding outside of the lottery and to the Hawks at #20, Johnson has found himself on a talented young team that has yet to reach their full potential. The issue for [Jalen Johnson] is that the roster is so crowded he can’t find rotation minutes at the NBA level. Instead, Johnson is polishing his game with the College Park Skyhawks. Currently averaging 11.6 RPG, Johnson’s size, strength and leaping ability has made him one of the best rebounders in the league. Expect Johnson to improve other portions of his game during the season while continuing to be a top tier rebounder.
#1 Terry Taylor, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Going undrafted in the 2021 draft [Terry Taylor] signed with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and has not looked back. It is hard to imagine that the best rebounder in the development league is a 6-5 guard but it has become reality during the showcase. A player that has always committed himself to cleaning up the offensive glass, Taylor averaged 9.8 rebounds over his collegiate career and 11 rebounds in both his junior and senior season. However even with his collegiate rebounding history, no one could have predicted his current rebounding output. Currently leading the league with 13.8 rebounds per game over six games, the Austin Peay alum is grabbing 6.7 offensive rebounds. A major asset for the Mad Ants, he is a prime example of the increasing amount of talent in basketball.