Brian Shaw- HEAD COACH, (MVC) “MOST VALUABLE COACH” OF THE 2021 NBA DRAFT
3 Players from G League Ignite selected in 2021 NBA Draft
The G League team tied Texas and Florida State for the most players selected on Thursday night.
The G League Ignite had three players selected during the 2021 NBA Draft, including No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green to the Houston Rockets and No. 7 overall pick Jonathan Kuminga to the Golden State Warriors.
.@JalenGreen 🤜🤛 @JonathanKuming6 #GLeagueIgnite x #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/Jxg9mrAs1D
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) July 30, 2021
Isaiah Todd was selected with the first pick of the second round (31st overall) to the Milwaukee Bucks. Todd reportedly was acquired by the Washington Wizards after two reported trades on Thursday.
Each player was a five-star high school recruit in 2020 before joining the Ignite, which was launched to help develop young players in a one-year program focused on “NBA Draft readiness and growth of professional life skills.”
The Ignite tied Texas and Florida State for the most players selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.
75 years of the NBA. year 1⃣ of #GLeagueIgnite.#NBA75 pic.twitter.com/9SRCXb4vFs
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) July 30, 2021
75 years of the NBA. year ☝️ of #GLeagueIgnite.@JonathanKuming6 x #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/qsSeaNrK75
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) July 30, 2021
A dream fulfilled.#DubsDraft || @Oracle pic.twitter.com/prnK4FHdhI
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) July 30, 2021
“my dream’s coming true. everything I worked for.”@JalenGreen is ready to takeoff with the @HoustonRockets 🚀 pic.twitter.com/ydSUolNdYA
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) July 30, 2021
NBA G League Ignite
 Shaw on January 25, 2010
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| NBA G League Ignite | |
|---|---|
| Position | Head coach |
| League | NBA G League |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 22, 1966 Oakland, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland, California) |
| College |
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| NBA draft | 1988 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Playing career | 1988–2003 |
| Position | Point guard / Shooting guard |
| Number | 20, 22, 7 |
| Coaching career | 2005–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1988–1989 | Boston Celtics |
| 1989–1990 | Il Messaggero Roma |
| 1990–1992 | Boston Celtics |
| 1992–1994 | Miami Heat |
| 1994–1997 | Orlando Magic |
| 1997–1998 | Golden State Warriors |
| 1998 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1999 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1999–2003 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| As coach: | |
| 2005–2011 | Los Angeles Lakers (assistant) |
| 2011–2013 | Indiana Pacers (associate HC) |
| 2013–2015 | Denver Nuggets |
| 2016–2019 | Los Angeles Lakers (associate HC) |
| 2020–present | NBA G League Ignite |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player:
As assistant coach:
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 6,547 (6.9 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,183 (3.4 rpg) |
| Assists | 3,918 (4.2 apg) |
Stats  |
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| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
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Medals
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Brian Keith Shaw (born March 22, 1966) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the NBA G League Ignite of the NBA G League. He could play both guard positions, but was used primarily at point guard over the course of his 14 seasons in the league.
Early life
Shaw grew up in Oakland, California with other future basketball stars such as Antonio Davis, Jason Kidd, and Gary Payton, as well as Demetrius “Hook” Mitchell. In his youth, he was a participant at the East Oakland Youth Development Center, a local community organization where he played basketball. He attended Westlake Middle School and then Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland. For college, he attended St. Mary’s College of California for his freshman and sophomore years of college, then transferred to UC Santa Barbara for his junior and senior seasons. In his senior year, he was named Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) player of the year as he led the Gauchos to their first-ever NCAA tournament berth.
The NBA G League Ignite is a developmental basketball team affiliated with the NBA G League. Based in Walnut Creek, California, the team was designed to play exhibition games outside the G League’s traditional scheduling as part of a one-year development program for elite National Basketball Association (NBA) prospects. Its roster is made up of both prospects and veteran players. Ignite was created on April 16, 2020, and is touted as an alternative to college basketball, offering prospects salaries of up to $500,000.
Rockets Take Jalen Green of G League Ignite With Second Pick– #2
- Houston Rockets: Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite
Jalen Green, the dynamic shooting guard from G League Ignite, is headed to the Rockets with the second pick in this year’s draft. The 19-year-old bypassed college basketball to get a year of seasoning in the G League while waiting to become eligible for the draft.
He was the first high school prospect to join the new developmental team, and he quickly established himself as an offensive force. In 15 games in the Orlando bubble, he averaged 17.9 points per game while shooting 46.1% from the floor and 36.5% from three-point range. He had a 30-point effort in a playoff loss to Raptors 905.
Green joins a Houston team that has needed scoring punch from its backcourt ever since trading James Harden to Brooklyn in January. Green may not start right away, with veteran guards John Wall and Eric Gordon on the roster, but he will be the centerpiece of the rebuilding effort for a team that went 17-55 this season.
Jalen Green #2
- Houston Rockets: Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite
.jpg) Green at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup
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| Houston Rockets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | February 9, 2002 Merced, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
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| NBA draft | 2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall |
| Selected by the Houston Rockets | |
| Playing career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021 | NBA G League Ignite |
| 2021–present | Houston Rockets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Medals
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Jalen Romande Green (born February 9, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Listed at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) and 180 pounds (82 kg), he plays the shooting guard position. He was a consensus five-star recruit and the best shooting guard in the 2020 class, with ESPN ranking him number one overall. Green chose to forgo college basketball to join the Ignite. He finished his high school career at Prolific Prep in Napa, California. Green has won three gold medals with the United States at the junior level and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup.
Jonathan Kuminga- #7
- Golden State Warriors (from Timberwolves): Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite
_2.jpg) Kuminga with Our Savior New American in 2018
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| No. 00 – Golden State Warriors | |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward / Power forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 6 October 2002 Goma, DR Congo |
| Nationality | Congolese |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
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| NBA draft | 2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall |
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
| Playing career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021 | NBA G League Ignite |
| 2021–present | Golden State Warriors |
Jonathan Malangu Kuminga (born 6 October 2002) is a Congolese professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Listed at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and 210 pounds (95 kg), he plays the small forward and power forward positions. A consensus five-star recruit and the top small forward in the 2021 class, he chose to forgo his college eligibility and reclassify to the 2020 class to join the Ignite. Kuminga finished his high school career at The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 7th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Early life
Kuminga began playing basketball in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the age of two. In 2016, he moved to the United States to play high school basketball.
High school career
As a freshman, Kuminga played basketball for Huntington Prep School in Huntington, West Virginia. For his sophomore season, he transferred to Our Savior New American School in Centereach, New York and averaged 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game. In January 2019, Kuminga was named most valuable player of the Slam Dunk to the Beach showcase after scoring 40 points, a single-game record at the event, in a loss to Gonzaga College High School. He earned MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year honors. After the season, Kuminga averaged 20.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for the NY Rens at the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, facing many players older than him. He scored 43 points, shooting 7-of-11 from three-point range, against the Texas Titans, a team featuring top recruits Cade Cunningham and Greg Brown.
For his junior season, Kuminga transferred to The Patrick School in Hillside, New Jersey. On 23 December 2019, he made his season debut, scoring 20 points in a win over Roselle Catholic High School, after having been ruled ineligible for 30 days by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association due to transfer rules. On 3 January 2020, Kuminga suffered an ankle sprain that sidelined him for about one month. As a junior, he averaged 16.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Recruiting
As a high school sophomore, Kuminga emerged as one of the best recruits in the 2021 class, with most recruiting services ranking him number one in his class by the time he was a junior. On 15 July 2020, he reclassified to the 2020 class and announced that he would bypass college basketball to join the NBA G League Ignite over offers from Texas Tech, Auburn, Duke and Kentucky, among other college programs. At the end of his high school career, he was a consensus five-star recruit and the best small forward in the 2020 class. He was considered the third-best player in his class by Rivals.com and the fourth-best by 247Sports.com and ESPN after reclassifying .
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Kuminga SF |
Kinshasa, DR Congo | The Patrick School (NJ) | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | — | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: |
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| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 3 247Sports: 4 ESPN: 4 | ||||||
Sources:
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Professional career
NBA G League Ignite (2021)
On 15 July 2020, Kuminga signed a one-year contract with the NBA G League Ignite, a developmental team affiliated with the NBA G League. On 10 February 2021, he made his debut, recording 19 points, four assists and four rebounds in a 110–104 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors. Kuminga averaged 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Golden State Warriors (2021–present)
Kuminga was drafted by the Golden State Warriors as the 7th pick in the 2021 NBA draft.[19]
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA G League
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | NBA G League | 13 | 13 | 32.8 | .387 | .246 | .625 | 7.2 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .8 | 15.8 |
| Career | 13 | 13 | 32.8 | .387 | .246 | .625 | 7.2 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .8 | 15.8 | |
Personal life
Kuminga’s older brother, Joel Ntambwe, played college basketball for UNLV before transferring to Texas Tech in 2019. Two of his cousins play professional basketball: Emmanuel Mudiay in the NBA, and Omari Gudul in Europe. Kuminga’s first language is French, and he is continuing to learn English.
James Bouknight makes vow to Hornets after falling in NBA draft
The Hornets didn’t expect James Bouknight to be on the board when their pick, the 11th-overall selection, came around in Thursday’s NBA draft. Bouknight presumed he would have found a new home by then, too.
But with the Hornets on the clock, UConn’s superstar guard, a Crown Heights, Brooklyn native, found himself in his stageside seat on the floor of Barclays Center still waiting for his name to be called. Just like that, Charlotte’s backcourt — already boasting the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year in LaMelo Ball — transformed from dynamic to dynamite.
“I think we’re both young players that play with a lot of flair, have a lot of swag in their game,” Bouknight said of his new teammate. “We’re going to be box office, for sure.”
At Connecticut, the 6-foot-5 Bouknight dazzled on offense, averaging 18.7 points per game and earning first team All-Big East honors last year during his sophomore season. Now, he brings his scoring knack to Charlotte as a key part of a tantalizing nucleus of young players.
“I have high expectations for myself, never try to sell myself short,” Bouknight said. “I think we’re gonna be one of the better young teams in the league. We’re gonna be fun to watch. Playing with a lot of flair, a lot of excitement.”
Pre-draft speculation indicated Bouknight could go as high as sixth overall. Yet as the first 10 picks passed, Bouknight’s name had yet to be called.
It’s a familiar tune for Bouknight, whose rise to college stardom and an NBA lottery pick was largely subdued. He grew up playing baseball, dreaming of being an MLB shortstop, and didn’t play organized basketball until high school. Elbow and meniscus injuries nearly derailed his college recruitment.
All of that goes to say: a little extra waiting on Thursday night was nothing new.
“Every pick, I was just sitting there like, man, I got a chip on my shoulder again,” Bouknight said. “When my name was called, all the sadness went away. It was just joy.
“My whole life I’ve been slept on and Charlotte took this chance, and I’m not gonna let them down.”
Bouknight is a great player, he tore up the Big East. Good luck to him in Charlotte
James Bouknight- #11
- Charlotte Hornets: James Bouknight, G, UConn
| Charlotte Hornets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 18, 2000 Brooklyn, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | UConn (2019–2021) |
| NBA draft | 2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11th overall |
| Selected by the Charlotte Hornets | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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James David Bouknight (born September 18, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the UConn Huskies.
Bouknight grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn in New York City. He played baseball for much of his childhood and started playing basketball in middle school. He began his high school career with La Salle Academy in Manhattan, New York. As a junior, Bouknight averaged 17.4 points per game, leading his team to the New York Federation Class B state championship, and was named tournament most valuable player (MVP). He earned Catholic High School Athletic Association B Division MVP and New York State Sportswriters Association Class B Player of the Year accolades.
After the season, Bouknight reclassified down and transferred to MacDuffie School in Granby, Massachusetts to gain more exposure. In his reclassified junior season, Bouknight averaged 19.3 points, five rebounds and two assists per game before suffering a season-ending torn meniscus in his left knee. After recovering, he played for the PSA Cardinals alongside Cole Anthony on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit. As a senior, Bouknight earned All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council AA honors.
Recruiting
Bouknight was a consensus four-star recruit and was considered the 53rd-best player in the 2019 class by 247Sports. On September 18, 2018, before his senior season, he committed to play college basketball for UConn. Bouknight chose the Huskies over offers from Virginia Tech, Miami (Florida), Temple, Indiana and VCU, among others.
Kai Jones- #19
.jpg) Jones with Texas in 2020
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| Charlotte Hornets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | January 19, 2001 Nassau, Bahamas |
| Nationality | Bahamian |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 218 lb (99 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | Texas (2019–2021) |
| NBA draft | 2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19th overall |
| Selected by the New York Knicks | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Kai Martinez Jones (born January 19, 2001) is a Bahamian basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns.
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Isaiah Todd- Second Round #1
- Washington Wizards (from Rockets via Bucks and Pacers): Isaiah Todd, F, G League Ignite
.jpg) Todd with Trinity Academy in November 2018
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| Washington Wizards | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 17, 2001 Baltimore, Maryland |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 206 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
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| NBA draft | 2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 31st overall |
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Playing career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021–present | NBA G League Ignite |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Medals
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Isaiah Todd (born October 17, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Listed at 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) and 206 pounds (93 kg), he plays the power forward position. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the best power forwards in the 2020 class. A former Michigan commit, Todd chose to forgo his college eligibility to join the Ignite. He finished his high school career at the Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Early life
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Todd. When Todd started playing basketball, at age seven, he stood five feet tall. At that age, he met his first coach, Derrick Wilson, and began playing on recreational teams and on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit. Before eighth grade, Todd moved to Richmond, Virginia so that he could play year-round for his AAU program, Team Loaded.
High school career
In his first two years of high school, Todd played basketball for John Marshall High School in Richmond. As a freshman, he averaged 12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, leading his team to district and regional titles. Todd was considered one of the area’s best prospects since Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Moses Malone. As a sophomore, Todd averaged 18.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, shooting 39 percent from three-point range, to help John Marshall win the Class 3 state championship. He was recognized as the Class 3 State Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Metro honors.
For his junior season, Todd transferred to Trinity Academy, a private Christian school in Raleigh, North Carolina, on a scholarship. He was drawn there by coach Bryan Burrell, who he had previously worked with. Moving to Raleigh also allowed him to work closely with his personal trainer, Drew Hanlen. Todd led the team, which had been coming off two losing seasons, to a 21–12 record while averaging 28 points and 15 rebounds per game. He was named USA Today All-USA North Carolina Player of the Year. Todd transferred to another private Christian school in Raleigh, Word of God Christian Academy, for his final high school season, playing under Byron Williams in The Grind Session. As a senior, he was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, but both games were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recruiting
Entering his sophomore season at John Marshall, Todd was ranked as the number one recruit in the 2020 class by ESPN. On October 17, 2019, he committed to play college basketball for Michigan over offers from Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina, among others. At the time, Todd was a consensus top-15 player in his class. On April 14, 2020, he decommitted from Michigan and announced that he would forgo his college eligibility to pursue a professional career.
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaiah Todd PF |
Richmond, VA | Word of God Christian Academy (NC) | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 206 lb (93 kg) | Oct 17, 2019 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: |
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| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 20 247Sports: 30 ESPN: 15 | ||||||
Professional career
NBA G Lea
On April 17, 2020, Todd signed one-year contract with the NBA G League Ignite, a developmental team affiliated with the NBA G League. He was drawn to the G League because he wanted to “learn from pros and learn from NBA coaches and trainers.” Todd averaged 12.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA G League
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | NBA G League | 15 | 2 | 24.4 | .437 | .362 | .824 | 4.9 | .8 | .5 | .7 | 12.3 |
| Career | 15 | 2 | 24.4 | .437 | .362 | .824 | 4.9 | .8 | .5 | .7 | 12.3 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | NBA G League | 1 | 1 | 32.0 | .286 | .250 | – | 3.0 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | 9.0 |
| Career | 1 | 1 | 32.0 | .286 | .250 | – | 3.0 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | 9.0 | |
National team career
Todd won a gold medal with the United States at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Formosa, Argentina. He averaged 5.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in five games.
Hornets select JT Thor with the 37th overall pick
The Hornets add some depth at the forward spot by taking a prospect that many thought would go in the first round.
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The Charlotte Hornets have been making moves all night. Even having this pick is the result of the first one, where they took Miles Plumlee off the hands of the Pistons in exchange for a 20 spot jump up the draft order.
With the 37th pick in the draft, the Hornets took JT Thor, forward out of Auburn.
Thor is one of the draft’s youngest prospects—he doesn’t turn 19 until next month. He has great size and length and shows glimpses of a burgeoning all around skill set. He has a good looking lefty stroke from deep and put up good stock numbers defensively. The Hornets have proven to have a very good player development program, and Thor has the tools to make a lot of progress in that program. He’s not unlike the Hornets previous pick Kai Jones in that regard.
JT Thor- Second Round #7
| Charlotte Hornets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | August 26, 2002 Omaha, Nebraska |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | Auburn (2020–2021) |
| NBA draft | 2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 37th overall |
| Selected by the Detroit Pistons | |
Jokhow Panom “JT” Thor (born August 26, 2002) is a South Sudanese-American basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers.
Early life and high school career
Thor was born in Omaha, Nebraska to South Sudanese parents and moved to Anchorage, Alaska at age five. He started playing basketball in seventh grade and competed for West Anchorage High School in Anchorage, Alaska. At age 14, Thor moved to West Virginia, where his brother lived, to attend Huntington Prep School. After two seasons, he transferred to Norcross High School in Norcross, Georgia. He reclassified to the 2020 class. As a senior, Thor averaged 14.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, receiving all-state honors. He was a consensus four-star recruit and committed to playing college basketball for Auburn, choosing the Tigers over Oklahoma State.
College career
On February 13, 2021, Thor recorded a freshman season-high 24 points and nine rebounds, shooting 5-of-6 from three-point range, in an 82–80 loss to Kentucky. As a freshman at Auburn, he averaged 9.4 points, five rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. On March 23, 2021, Thor declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He later signed with an agent, forgoing his remaining eligibility.
Professional career
JT Thor was selected 37th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2021 NBA Draft, although the pick had already been traded to the Charlotte Hornets with Miles Plumlee for the 57th overall pick.[12]
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Auburn | 27 | 27 | 23.0 | .440 | .297 | .741 | 5.0 | .9 | .8 | 1.4 | 9.4 |
Personal life
Thor’s older cousin, Jal Rial, played basketball for Phoenix College and Howard College. He has four brothers and three sisters.
Hornets select Scottie Lewis with the 56th overall pick
The Hornets take a swing on a high upside wing for their final pick of the night.
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The Charlotte Hornets have wrapped up their draft by selecting Scottie Lewis with the 56th overall pick.
Lewis was a top 10 recruit coming out of high school, but he never quite lived up to the billing during his two years at Florida. He put up big stock numbers at Florida and is a tremendous athlete. His game needs a lot of polish, but you take a gamble on the talent this late in the draft. He fits the same mold as all of the Hornets other picks tonight—terrific physical tools with a a semblance of versatility that can be built upon.
There’s a good chance that Lewis doesn’t make the roster, but he’d be a likely candidate for one of the Hornets two-way deals.
We still have undrafted players to be on the lookout for, though the Hornets probably already have people in mind for their two-way deals. However, we may see some Exhibit 10 (aka camp deals) signed into the early hours of the morning.
Scottie Lewis- Second Round #26
- Charlotte Hornets (from Clippers): Scottie Lewis, G, Florida
 Lewis in January 2020
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| Charlotte Hornets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 12, 2000 The Bronx, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 189 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Ranney School (Tinton Falls, New Jersey) |
| College | Florida (2019–2021) |
| NBA draft | 2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 56th overall |
| Selected by the Charlotte Hornets | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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George Scott “Scottie” Lewis Jr. (born March 12, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Florida Gators.
High school career
Lewis played high school basketball for the Ranney School in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. He was unanimously ranked as a 5-star recruit from all major recruiting services for the class of 2019. On January 20, 2019, Lewis committed to the University of Florida. He is originally from The Bronx, New York and resides in Hazlet, New Jersey.
Recruiting
On October 2, 2018, Lewis announced that he will be playing college basketball at the University of Florida, choosing the Gators over Kentucky.
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottie Lewis SF |
Hazlet, NJ | Ranney School (NJ) | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Oct 2, 2018 | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: |
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| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 8 247Sports: 7 ESPN: 10 | ||||||
College career
In his first game in a Florida uniform, Lewis had nine points, five rebounds and two assists as the Gators defeated North Florida 74–59. On February 26, 2020, Lewis scored 18 points in a 81–66 win against LSU. He had a career-high 19 points on March 7, in a 71–70 loss to Kentucky. At the conclusion of the regular season, Lewis was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Lewis averaged 8.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, leading the team in blocks (36) and finishing second to Keyontae Johnson in steals with 36. On April 6, 2020, it was announced that Lewis would return to Florida for the 2020–21 season.
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Florida | 30 | 22 | 29.1 | .441 | .361 | .817 | 3.6 | .8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 8.5 |
| 2020–21 | Florida | 21 | 9 | 25.6 | .445 | .318 | .673 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 7.9 |
| Career | 51 | 31 | 27.6 | .443 | .343 | .759 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 8.2 | |
