Few others like Makur Maker, Kai Sotto, Zaire Wade, Henri Drell and Samson Ruzhentsev are also there. Still, there's a near consensus that he still has a lot of work to do before becoming a no-brainer pick for a spot on an NBA roster. In general, catch-and-shoot shots (8.5 percent) and pick and pops (4.5 percent) comprised a small percentage of his shots, and Adelaide was below average in possessions that involved Sotto in those plays, per InStat. "I feel like the next year or so is going to give us a better idea of the extent of his perceivable upside. "It's a different kind of pressure, I guess," Sotto said of the hype. In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Kai Sotto talked about playing internationally and being the face of Philippines basketball. So I always gotta perform. Kai Sotto's hope of realizing a nation's NBA dreams depends on whether the league will favor potential over results. Sotto was eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft because he is a 19-year-old talent one year removed from playing high school basketball. ESPN talked to some of these scouts and regional experts working and covering the NBL and asked them to weigh in on the prospect of Sotto becoming the first full-blooded Filipino to make it to the NBA. At the end of the day, you're still a Filipino. Some might say trainers in the Philippines are better, but there's just a lot of trainers here who are willing to help. For the second year in a row, Kai Sotto of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets has been named the best high school player in the country. Listed at 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m) and 232 pounds (105 kg), he plays the center position. "While his late season performances certainly helped, it felt like only a glimpse of his potential, and with those flashes, it felt like another season in the NBL would have seen him play a bigger role that could've highlighted his game even more," Houben said. "I feel like the next year or so is going to give us a better idea of the extent of his perceivable upside. Kai Sotto's bid to become the first homegrown Philippines player to enter the NBA remains unfulfilled after 30 teams passed on the 7-foot-3 center. Sotto wasn't selected in this year's NBA draft, but he stoked Filipino pride last week after a strong showing against the Phoenix Suns in an exhibition game where he scored 11 points. "The first thing that stands out with Kai is that the size is very real. "If I really wanted to get better, I could get better by myself. (3:42), Kai Sotto: Filipino players should play abroad and 'go out and explore', Ginebra sets Manila Clasico date with Magnolia in Commissioner's Cup semis, Beermen will now look to slay Dragons in PBA Commissioner's Cup semis, Bay Area Dragons make short work of Rain or Shine, Magnolia ousts stubborn Phoenix, moves on the semis, Zavier Lucero is the key to unlocking UP's treasure of talent, Promising prospects could give rising UE Red Warriors a chance, Gilas Pilipinas: What we learned from the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and what lies ahead, How a visit to the Dead Sea revived Gilas in their World Cup qualifying campaign, From super sub to super starter: Tio's perfect landing in Phoenix, From the MBA to the PBA, Hugnatan and Reavis share longevity and mutual admiration built over two decades. Hometown Loganville, Ga. School The Skill Factory Prep School; . "A negative assist-to-turnover ratio indicates further experience is needed to make him an efficient player with ball in hand," Houben added. Ateneo's Forthsky Padrigao was ranked 11th overall, followed by NCAA finals MVP Paolo Hernandez of Mapua at 12, while Inand Fornilos, La Salle Greenhills' lockdown defender, earned the 13th spot. His passing and floor vision has garnered some attention over the years, but the potential has yet to fully materialize, as Sotto tallied more turnovers (32) than assists (14) in his first year with Adelaide. His appearance in an NBA preseason game has made him even more a symbol of Philippine basketball on the international stage, heaping more pressure on his shoulders from a basketball-crazy country still in search of its first NBA player. It depends on you as a person and as a player. Completing the top 10 is NU's fiery guard Terrence Fortea. So I always gotta perform. ", "His mobility and awareness are above average at his height," Chan added. "[But] it is generally only justifiable to play a seven-footer on an NBA floor if they're being heavily utilized on the offensive end, and whilst Sotto has shown utility as a finisher and lob threat at the NBL level, a clear cut offensive skill will go a long way into making him a useful NBA player.". You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. Sotto averaged 11.6 points on 52.6 percent shooting along with 4.2 boards and 1.2 swats while breaching double-digit scoring in three of those contests. He was the centerpiece for the Blue Eaglets in their runner-up finish this season. "More minutes, along with another year of skill development and physical training, could only help his stock in the eyes of NBA evaluators.". Their confidence is not unfounded. Few others like Makur Maker, Kai Sotto, Zaire Wade, Henri Drell and Samson Ruzhentsev are also there. KAI SOTTO NILAMPASO ANG MGA YOUNG NBA PROSPECTS SA NBL, GINULAT ANG ESPN MOCK DRAFT CLASS 2022 His shooting stroke was apparent at times, but Sotto did not take enough 3s and attempted just 14 shots from beyond the arc through 24 games, including just four from the corners. College Basketball College Basketball; ESPN.com: . I'm totally aware of that. PBA Commissioner's Cup Power Rankings: SMB on the rise. Rounding up the top five is steady playmaker Gerry Abadiano of NU. Sotto averaged 11.6 points on 52.6 percent shooting along with 4.2 boards and 1.2 swats while breaching double-digit scoring in three of those contests. If he can continue to improve his hands and strength offensively, whilst refining a basic but effective post game to penalize smaller lineups, then Sotto has a legitimate role offensively," Houben said. Commissioner's Cup Power Rankings: Leading lights Converge, Bay Area, Magnolia march on. Sotto was eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft because he is a 19-year-old talent one year removed from playing high school basketball. Michael Houben, a scouting expert for the Australian independent basketball publication "The Pick and Roll," said Sotto's decision to head to the draft felt buoyed mostly by a strong finish in the last five games of the NBL season. Already an Insider? KAI SOTTO Wala Sa ESPN RANKING Dahil Dito Kai Mike Schmitz? Scoring dynamo Clint Escamis of Mapua sits at eighth and Aaron Fermin is at nine after being the guiding force of Arellano. Today we look at Sotto's decision to declare for the draft and what he brings on offense. "More minutes, along with another year of skill development and physical training, could only help his stock in the eyes of NBA evaluators.". "Outside of being a drop-off/lob option, he seems most successful in getting his offense in the pick and roll. Player Rankings Player Rankings; . In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Sotto, who declined to play college ball in the Philippines to try his luck in the United States, said Filipino players should "go out and explore" the competition in other countries. "There's no doubt that Sotto is a skilled big man -- his touch, particularly on short floaters, stood out as a skill he can use to get points around the rim, and he had some fun moments as a lob threat as well. Joshua David, forward, La Salle Greenhills. "Ever since before it felt like some people were just trying to stop those players from coming out of the country and explore," Sotto said. In this edition of the NBTC rankings, the top high school players from the UAAP, NCAA, and CESAFI were ranked all-year long for the first time ever. A lot of players are exploring different levels of the game and I'm just happy to see a lot of players explore and do great.". ", Scouting Report: Kai Sotto | The Jump (2:08), Grading Sotto: How the Philippines' prospect's offense stacks up in the 2022 NBA draft, Ginebra sets Manila Clasico date with Magnolia in Commissioner's Cup semis, Beermen will now look to slay Dragons in PBA Commissioner's Cup semis, Bay Area Dragons make short work of Rain or Shine, Magnolia ousts stubborn Phoenix, moves on the semis, Zavier Lucero is the key to unlocking UP's treasure of talent, Promising prospects could give rising UE Red Warriors a chance, Gilas Pilipinas: What we learned from the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and what lies ahead, How a visit to the Dead Sea revived Gilas in their World Cup qualifying campaign, From super sub to super starter: Tio's perfect landing in Phoenix, From the MBA to the PBA, Hugnatan and Reavis share longevity and mutual admiration built over two decades, Kai Sotto declares for 2022 NBA draft in hopes of fulfilling "ultimate dream", Kai Sotto claims NBL Fans' Most Valuable Player award. Displaying his tenacity and on-court wizardry, he helped the Junior Blazers to a second place finish this past season. "Ever since before it felt like some people were just trying to stop those players from coming out of the country and explore," Sotto said. But you only live once. These recent developments reinforce the optimism previously expressed by a few voices -- including former Philippines men's national team head coach Rajko Toroman and Sotto's agent Joel Bell -- who believe the 20-year-old's combination of youth, physical tools, and intangibles outweigh some of the weaknesses he showed during his first pro season with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia's National Basketball League. Joel Cagulangan, guard, La Salle Greenhills, 7. You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. "For me, it's the rise of Philippine basketball. You can still go back there. "Further growth as a passer as he matures and the games slows down for him will also be extremely helpful, as he has shown a certain level of vision at previous levels of play.". Sotto managed to carve out a niche in the NBL, albeit in a limited role, because of his unusual blend of size and mobility. "Continuing to find ways to maximize the value he gets out of his physical tools while he continues to work on improving the processing and shooting seems to be the current path for Kai," Smith offered. But the experience is different because you're going against a higher level, higher caliber of basketball players and also the trainers and the coaches as well.". FEU Baby Tamaraw RJ Abarrientos ended up at sixth while Harvey Pagsanjan of Hope Christian high school put himself at seventh after his stellar run in the MMBL. Having played and trained mostly abroad for the past three years, Sotto has seen first-hand how exposure to the basketball culture in the U.S. can make all the difference for young prospects. "When you look at the international level, the highest level of basketball is in the U.S., in the NBA," Sotto said. "I imagine Sotto goes undrafted, but even if he [isn't] picked up, he still has two years on his contract with the Adelaide 36ers, and the NBL is an excellent environment for giving Kai the resources and opportunity to further develop and work towards bigger opportunities.". You don't know how long your career is, so at a young age, just go out and explore. There's just a lot of players here, a lot of talent. "If I was in their place I would have done the same thing. "He has the type of movement that allows him to find himself an open lane for big-time dunks and create open shots for himself.". Sotto posted up a lot -- about 19.3 percent of his offense came from the block, per InStat, which was the second-highest figure from his portfolio -- but Adelaide only scored 0.68 PPP during those trips, well below the league average of 0.89. . It's the type of pressure that I feel like I always have to perform well because there are a lot of people and fans and players also that's looking up to me and setting me as a standard. "While his late season performances certainly helped, it felt like only a glimpse of his potential, and with those flashes, it felt like another season in the NBL would have seen him play a bigger role that could've highlighted his game even more," Houben said. "And just the experience that I had training with guys that are trying to get in the league and players that are already in the NBA, it really helped me opened my awareness of how good these guys really are. He was part of the initial 33-man list of such prospects, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony: This "also-eligible" list (33 players) includes: Dominick Barlow, Marjon Beauchamp, Dyson Daniels, Michael Foster, Jaden Hardy, Jean Montero, Kok Yat and Fanbo Zeng. Michael Houben, a scouting expert for the Australian independent basketball publication "The Pick and Roll," said Sotto's decision to head to the draft felt buoyed mostly by a strong finish in the last five games of the NBL season. Having played and trained mostly abroad for the past three years, Sotto has seen first-hand how exposure to the basketball culture in the U.S. can make all the difference for young prospects. ", "His mobility and awareness are above average at his height," Chan added. Per tracking data from InStat, the 36ers scored 1.33 points per possession (PPP) with Sotto as a cutter and 1.17 PPP when he was involved as a roller, both marks above the league average (1.09 and 1.02 PPP, respectively). In Adelaide, Sotto mostly subsisted on cuts and as a roll man in the pick and roll -- two of four play types where he derived most of his offense. KAI SOTTO VS EVAN MOBLEY: ESPN Rank #75 from the Philippines and Rank #1 from Riverside California Pinoy Breezy 22.2K subscribers Subscribe 310 76K views 2 years ago This is by far the. Explosive guard Mark Nonoy claimed the fourth spot after putting up eye-popping performances as part of the UST Tiger Cubs. Jeremy Lin urges undrafted Kai Sotto to keep believing. "The first thing that stands out with Kai is that the size is very real. His appearance in an NBA preseason game has made him even more a symbol of Philippine basketball on the international stage, heaping more pressure on his shoulders from a basketball-crazy country still in search of its first NBA player. MANILA, Philippines Kai Sotto's exposure through Atlanta-based The Skill Factory (TSF) is seemingly paying off with the 17-year-old ranking 68th in the ESPN recruitment class of 2020. (3:42). His shooting stroke was apparent at times, but Sotto did not take enough 3s and attempted just 14 shots from beyond the arc through 24 games, including just four from the corners. In the NBL, Sotto provided glimpses of what could come and averaged 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in over 15 minutes. But the experience is different because you're going against a higher level, higher caliber of basketball players and also the trainers and the coaches as well.". Having played and trained mostly abroad for the past three years, Sotto has seen first-hand how exposure to the basketball culture in the U.S. can make all the difference for young prospects. (2:08). Kai Sotto's decision to declare for the NBA draft was a surprise to some who thought the prospect would continue to work on his game in Australia's NBL. 4d Sid Ventura. Dan Jung/ESPN. Prior to that, local basketball officials had talked about the "poaching" of Filipino talent by other Asian professional leagues. You can always go back to the Philippines. . You have come to the ESPN Africa edition, for other ESPN editions, click above. Latest on ADELAIDE 36ers center Kai Sotto including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Sotto, who declined to play college ball in the Philippines to try his luck in the United States, said Filipino players should "go out and explore" the competition in other countries. In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Kai Sotto talked about playing internationally and being the face of Philippines basketball. Despite coming to the U.S. at a young age, Sotto adapted quickly to his new surroundings. His decision to make the NBA jump despite having two more years left on his Adelaide contract (with a team option on the final year) did not come as a surprise to the 36ers. Kai Sotto still PH's top high school player, Late-night homework and 6 a.m. prayers: Inside Malick Diouf's surge as surprise MVP, Ginebra sets Manila Clasico date with Magnolia in Commissioner's Cup semis, Beermen will now look to slay Dragons in PBA Commissioner's Cup semis, Bay Area Dragons make short work of Rain or Shine, Gilas Pilipinas: What we learned from the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and what lies ahead, How a visit to the Dead Sea revived Gilas in their World Cup qualifying campaign, From super sub to super starter: Tio's perfect landing in Phoenix, From the MBA to the PBA, Hugnatan and Reavis share longevity and mutual admiration built over two decades, Over 1,500 expected to join Coaches Convention. SBP prevented Navarro from pursuing an opportunity to play in Korea due to a contract with the Philippines' basketball governing body. "It's not the type of pressure that I get nervous. "With Kai's progression throughout the season, it was within expectation Kai would declare for the 2022 Draft. . Submitting a dominant showing this past UAAP Season 81 Juniors tournament, the 7-foot-1 phenom was recognized as the number one player in this year's Chooks-to-Go NBTC 24 high school basketball rankings. Standouts from the MMBL were also part of the final rankings. "There's no reason Sotto would not have the potential to be a productive contributor on the offensive end of the floor," Houben said. Despite coming to the U.S. at a young age, Sotto adapted quickly to his new surroundings. Prior to that, local basketball officials had talked about the "poaching" of Filipino talent by other Asian professional leagues. And I think that's the difference. Filipino fans came out to support Kai Sotto as the Adelaide 36ers played against the Phoenix Suns in an exhibition game. "He has the type of movement that allows him to find himself an open lane for big-time dunks and create open shots for himself.". His decision to make the NBA jump despite having two more years left on his Adelaide contract (with a team option on the final year) did not come as a surprise to the 36ers. But there is belief Sotto can build around those figures in order to raise his ceiling and find a place on offense in the modern NBA. "For me, it's the rise of Philippine basketball. The 7-foot-3 center, who will be playing his second season in Australia's NBL, was in the news recently for tweeting his support for Gilas Pilipinas teammate William Navarro. Sotto posted up a lot -- about 19.3 percent of his offense came from the block, per InStat, which was the second-highest figure from his portfolio -- but Adelaide only scored 0.68 PPP during those trips, well below the league average of 0.89. He was part of the initial 33-man list of such prospects, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony: This "also-eligible" list (33 players) includes: Dominick Barlow, Marjon Beauchamp, Dyson Daniels, Michael Foster, Jaden Hardy, Jean Montero, Kok Yat and Fanbo Zeng. NBA personnel have been keeping track of him so he will have his fair chance of being considered," said Theodore Chan, Adelaide's scouting director. "I imagine Sotto goes undrafted, but even if he [isn't] picked up, he still has two years on his contract with the Adelaide 36ers, and the NBL is an excellent environment for giving Kai the resources and opportunity to further develop and work towards bigger opportunities.". (3:42), Kai Sotto: Filipino players should play abroad and 'go out and explore', Late-night homework and 6 a.m. prayers: Inside Malick Diouf's surge as surprise MVP, Ginebra sets Manila Clasico date with Magnolia in Commissioner's Cup semis, Beermen will now look to slay Dragons in PBA Commissioner's Cup semis, Bay Area Dragons make short work of Rain or Shine, Gilas Pilipinas: What we learned from the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and what lies ahead, How a visit to the Dead Sea revived Gilas in their World Cup qualifying campaign, From super sub to super starter: Tio's perfect landing in Phoenix, From the MBA to the PBA, Hugnatan and Reavis share longevity and mutual admiration built over two decades, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. ", Scouting Report: Kai Sotto | The Jump (2:08), Grading Sotto: How the Philippines' prospect's offense stacks up in the 2022 NBA draft, Late-night homework and 6 a.m. prayers: Inside Malick Diouf's surge as surprise MVP, Ginebra sets Manila Clasico date with Magnolia in Commissioner's Cup semis, Beermen will now look to slay Dragons in PBA Commissioner's Cup semis, Bay Area Dragons make short work of Rain or Shine, Gilas Pilipinas: What we learned from the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and what lies ahead, How a visit to the Dead Sea revived Gilas in their World Cup qualifying campaign, From super sub to super starter: Tio's perfect landing in Phoenix, From the MBA to the PBA, Hugnatan and Reavis share longevity and mutual admiration built over two decades, Kai Sotto declares for 2022 NBA draft in hopes of fulfilling "ultimate dream", Kai Sotto claims NBL Fans' Most Valuable Player award, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Kai Sotto talks discusses the pressure of being the Philippines' most recognisable basketball star. Learn about Kai Sotto and other recruit player profiles on RecruitingNation.com. "Kai had a more productive NBL season statistically than I think many were expecting him to, but as it remains, there is still room for improvement," Smith said. . NBA personnel have been keeping track of him so he will have his fair chance of being considered," said Theodore Chan, Adelaide's scouting director. In 24 games, he shot 49.6% from the floor, 35.7% from 3-point range and 68.1% from the free throw line -- numbers that have drawn polarizing opinions from those who have followed Sotto's journey with close interest. Sotto and Cagulangan, who both topped the list for the second consecutive year, will serve as the team captains in the annual NBTC All-Star Game later this month at the Mall of Asia Arena. "There's no reason Sotto would not have the potential to be a productive contributor on the offensive end of the floor," Houben said. Andrew Gaze and Nat Edwards breakdown 218cm Kai Sotto's impact on the Adelaide 36ers, areas of improvement and future prospects. "Wherever you train, you'll still get better. In Adelaide, Sotto mostly subsisted on cuts and as a roll man in the pick and roll -- two of four play types where he derived most of his offense. Sotto managed to carve out a niche in the NBL, albeit in a limited role, because of his unusual blend of size and mobility. "I wasn't really shocked (by the level of play)," he said. Kai Sotto's hope of realizing a nation's NBA dreams depends on whether the league will favor potential over results. Visit ESPN for the play-by-play of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants vs. Cleveland Charge NBA G League basketball game on 8 December 2022. . Kai Sotto talks discusses the pressure of being the Philippines' most recognisable basketball star. Some might say trainers in the Philippines are better, but there's just a lot of trainers here who are willing to help. Adelaide 36ers center Kai Sotto says Filipino basketball players should not be prevented from playing and developing in leagues abroad. Player Rankings Player Rankings; Transfer Rankings Transfer Rankings; Class Rankings Class Rankings; SBP prevented Navarro from pursuing an opportunity to play in Korea due to a contract with the Philippines' basketball governing body. And I think that's the difference. You can still go back there. In the NBL, Sotto provided glimpses of what could come and averaged 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in over 15 minutes. ", What is it like being the face of Philippines basketball? That's your home. "If I really wanted to get better, I could get better by myself. "If I was in their place I would have done the same thing. You don't know how long your career is, so at a young age, just go out and explore. Representing the University of Visayas, Joshua Yerro snared the 14th spot followed by Adamson Baby Falcons' Joel Sabandal at 15th. These recent developments reinforce the optimism previously expressed by a few voices -- including former Philippines men's national team head coach Rajko Toroman and Sotto's agent Joel Bell -- who believe the 20-year-old's combination of youth, physical tools, and intangibles outweigh some of the weaknesses he showed during his first pro season with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia's National Basketball League. "A negative assist-to-turnover ratio indicates further experience is needed to make him an efficient player with ball in hand," Houben added. At the end of the day, you're still a Filipino. I'm totally aware of that. "Outside of being a drop-off/lob option, he seems most successful in getting his offense in the pick and roll. Kai Zachary Perlado Sotto ( English: / ka /, Tagalog: [ka st]; born May 11, 2002) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). Behind Sotto at number two is NCAA Season 94 Juniors MVP Joel Cagulangan. "Wherever you train, you'll still get better. As the NBA draft draws closer, some teams have shown an increasing interest in . Pacers at Clippers WORKOUT LatestDisclaimer:.PASENSYA NAPO KAYO TUNO NG AKING BOSES KASI BISAYA . Andrew Gaze and Nat Edwards breakdown 218cm Kai Sotto's impact on the Adelaide 36ers, areas of improvement and future prospects. Here is the complete list of this season's Chooks-to-Go NBTC 24: 2. In 24 games, he shot 49.6% from the floor, 35.7% from 3-point range and 68.1% from the free throw line -- numbers that have drawn polarizing opinions from those who have followed Sotto's journey with close interest. (2:08). The fearless leader of the LSGH Junior Blazers put up 18.7 points, 7.1 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 steals. Kai Sotto. (3:42). It's a sentiment echoed by another expert in Tim Smith, a New Zealand-based scout who keeps tabs on the leagues around the region. Carl Tamayo of the Nazareth School of National University, who earned finals MVP recognition after being one of the catalysts in the Bullpups' championship run, was ranked third overall. For the second year in a row, Kai Sotto of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets has been named the best high school player in the country. Kai Sotto's hope of realizing a nation's NBA dreams depends on whether the league will favor potential over results. Adelaide 36ers center Kai Sotto says Filipino basketball players should not be prevented from playing and developing in leagues abroad. Aside from being named the best rising stars in the country, all 24 players will be part of the NBTC All-Star Game, the yearly spectacle of the NBTC League National Finals. Kai Sotto. It's a sentiment echoed by another expert in Tim Smith, a New Zealand-based scout who keeps tabs on the leagues around the region. FIBA Sotto combines this touch with good footwork and feel for the primary defender in the low block, though he also has the awareness to detect help defenders while he backs down to get to his spot under the basket. As the NBA draft draws closer, some teams have shown an increasing interest in Sotto's potential. The 7-foot-3 center, who will be playing his second season in Australia's NBL, was in the news recently for tweeting his support for Gilas Pilipinas teammate William Navarro. ", What is it like being the face of Philippines basketball? "I wasn't really shocked (by the level of play)," he said. Submitting a dominant showing this past UAAP Season 81 Juniors tournament, the 7-foot-1 phenom was recognized as the number one player in this year's Chooks-to-Go NBTC 24 high school basketball rankings. Per tracking data from InStat, the 36ers scored 1.33 points per possession (PPP) with Sotto as a cutter and 1.17 PPP when he was involved as a roller, both marks above the league average (1.09 and 1.02 PPP, respectively). After not appearing in any major mock drafts for the past few months -- including ESPN's big board, which lists the 7-foot-3 center as the 11th-best prospect at center -- the Filipino talent cracked Sports Illustrated's post-combine top 60 released on May 24 and is reportedly in line for a workout with NBA teams. But you only live once. It's the type of pressure that I feel like I always have to perform well because there are a lot of people and fans and players also that's looking up to me and setting me as a standard. In general, catch-and-shoot shots (8.5 percent) and pick and pops (4.5 percent) comprised a small percentage of his shots, and Adelaide was below average in possessions that involved Sotto in those plays, per InStat. But I think what America has [compared] to the Philippines is they got a lot more resources here, they got a lot more trainers, they got lots of people who help players get better. Sotto wasn't selected in this year's NBA draft, but he stoked Filipino pride last week after a strong showing against the Phoenix Suns in an exhibition game where he scored 11 points. As the NBA draft draws closer, some teams have shown an increasing interest in Sotto's potential. If he can continue to improve his hands and strength offensively, whilst refining a basic but effective post game to penalize smaller lineups, then Sotto has a legitimate role offensively," Houben said. James Worsfold/Getty Images Michael Houben, a scouting expert for the Australian independent basketball publication "The Pick and Roll," said Sotto's decision to head to the draft felt buoyed . That's your home. Insiders can access ESPN.com's complete RecruitingNation coverage, plus exclusive expert analysis from Scout's Inc. "It's a different kind of pressure, I guess," Sotto said of the hype. After not appearing in any major mock drafts for the past few months -- including ESPN's big board, which lists the 7-foot-3 center as the 11th-best prospect at center -- the Filipino talent cracked Sports Illustrated's post-combine top 60 released on May 24 and is reportedly in line for a workout with NBA teams. There's just a lot of players here, a lot of talent. 7-1 | Class of 2020. You can always go back to the Philippines. "When you look at the international level, the highest level of basketball is in the U.S., in the NBA," Sotto said. Just try new stuff and just go to what you think will help you get better.". But I think what America has [compared] to the Philippines is they got a lot more resources here, they got a lot more trainers, they got lots of people who help players get better. "Kai had a more productive NBL season statistically than I think many were expecting him to, but as it remains, there is still room for improvement," Smith said. Their confidence is not unfounded. ESPN talked to some of these scouts and regional experts working and covering the NBL and asked them to weigh in on the prospect of Sotto becoming the first full-blooded Filipino to make it to the NBA. Learn about Kai Sotto and other recruit player profiles on RecruitingNation.com. "With Kai's progression throughout the season, it was within expectation Kai would declare for the 2022 Draft. Kai Sotto: Filipino players should play abroad and 'go out and explore' 35d Sid Ventura. Sotto put up gaudy averages of 25.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game and was named the UAAP Juniors Most Valuable Player. "And just the experience that I had training with guys that are trying to get in the league and players that are already in the NBA, it really helped me opened my awareness of how good these guys really are. Today we look at Sotto's decision to declare for the draft and what he brings on offense. Kai Sotto averaged 11.7 points and 7.9 rebounds at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup. "[But] it is generally only justifiable to play a seven-footer on an NBA floor if they're being heavily utilized on the offensive end, and whilst Sotto has shown utility as a finisher and lob threat at the NBL level, a clear cut offensive skill will go a long way into making him a useful NBA player.". 6d Sid Ventura. "There's no doubt that Sotto is a skilled big man -- his touch, particularly on short floaters, stood out as a skill he can use to get points around the rim, and he had some fun moments as a lob threat as well. Harvey Pagsanjan, forward, Hope Christian, 13. "It's not the type of pressure that I get nervous. A lot of players are exploring different levels of the game and I'm just happy to see a lot of players explore and do great.". His fluidity and mobility is an intriguing aspect of his game and really stands out when rolling to the basket, where he had some vicious dunks," Smith said. His passing and floor vision has garnered some attention over the years, but the potential has yet to fully materialize, as Sotto tallied more turnovers (32) than assists (14) in his first year with Adelaide. Inand Fornilos, forward, La Salle Greenhills, 20. Just try new stuff and just go to what you think will help you get better.". "Continuing to find ways to maximize the value he gets out of his physical tools while he continues to work on improving the processing and shooting seems to be the current path for Kai," Smith offered. It depends on you as a person and as a player. "Further growth as a passer as he matures and the games slows down for him will also be extremely helpful, as he has shown a certain level of vision at previous levels of play.". But there is belief Sotto can build around those figures in order to raise his ceiling and find a place on offense in the modern NBA. Still, there's a near consensus that he still has a lot of work to do before becoming a no-brainer pick for a spot on an NBA roster. His fluidity and mobility is an intriguing aspect of his game and really stands out when rolling to the basket, where he had some vicious dunks," Smith said. 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