Just how good is Kai Sotto?
Well besides dominating the UAAP, the International Basketball Federation also sees him as the top under-18 prospect in Asia.
In a year-end list by FIBA.com, the 7-foot-1 big man out of Ateneo High School was ranked as the number one youth player in Asia. And he is just 16 years old.
Sotto started his 2018 campaign by leading the Philippines to the U17 World Cup with norms of 16.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game in the U16 Asian Championship.
Then in Argentina, Sotto was still able to get his numbers of 16.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks during the World Cup that saw the Philippines finish in 13th place.
Facing a higher age group did not deter Sotto as he ended up averaging 12.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per contest in the U18 Asian Championship, helping book the country’s first appearance in the U19 World Cup in four decades.
The 23 for 2023 Gilas Cadet bested Australia’s Tamuri Wigness, China’s Wang Quanze, Korea’s Lee Hyunjung, and Australia’s Samson Froling.
Part of the honorable mention list is fellow Filipino tower AJ Edu.
