Though mock drafts from respected outlets in the States see Kai Sotto going undrafted to the big league come 2021, one Team USA veteran believes the 7-foot-2 Filipino is a sure pick next year.
Having worked with the 18-year-old closely, Reggie Hearn is confident that he will not just be drafted, but also make a big impact in the NBA.
“I think all three will get drafted,” said the 29-year-old veteran of NBA G League Ignite about Sotto, Jalen Green, and Jonathan Kuminga. “It will happen especially if we get some games under their belt, competition, between the work we’ve been doing here.
“I think they’ll be ready to make an impact for whatever team wants to have them.”
Hearn went unpicked during the 2013 NBA Draft. After that, he played for G League teams Idaho and Reno, before being called up by Detroit in 2018.
Though relegated to a couple of California-based G League teams, the 6-foot-5 guard was pivotal in Team USA’s campaign in the World Cup Qualifiers, averaging 12.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
His service to the national team led him to winning the 2018 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year citation.
Since then, he has worked with Ignite as one of its veteran mentors.
One of the things he likes about Sotto is that he is coachable, which is a huge plus in the NBA.
“The thing I love about him, of them, is they’re very humble, they’re willing to listen to us vets,” he gushed.
Besides that, he believes that Sotto’s offense is already polished.
“Kai has all the necessary skills to be a great offensive big man in this league. He’s also very very smart.”
