2024 NBA Draft: Midseason scouting report on Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland and other G League Ignite prospect

OC—G League Ignite scored 0-2 at the Winter Showcase and is 4-12 in the first half, their worst start since their founding three years ago. Seven young draftees chose the Ignite over college this season.

[{"selector":"#anim-e36fe3dc-39af-46ae-ba10-373b35c62f30 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(10.849999762439316%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94b9c1d8-7928-4a68-921a-ac73f16ccd84","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21fd93b2-b4ad-44a4-994c-abf73bf19bd2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(104.49736%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

In the McDonald's All-American Game, Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis chose the Ignite over Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Florida State. S2 Ignite added London Johnson, Tyler Smith, Izan Almansa, Thierry Darlan, and Babacar Sane.

[{"selector":"#anim-7189ea77-d9b1-4696-943b-05776917a077 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(5.900243309002439%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9c4a771-ef36-480a-bc52-70cde28f4852","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-762d5dca-0438-4d3c-b575-70a6848cc9fe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(104.98688%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-646f8b74-ca80-48f8-bf07-bdc24df5d4f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e6f9795-5e61-4134-bcfc-664cd7bbb114","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.58824%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Yellow Wavy Line

Following an ankle injury, Buzelis scored 46 points in two games in December, including a win over Rip City. He improved within. Buzelis' 6-foot-11 perimeter and rim protection helped the Ignite go 4-2 in his first six after returning.

[{"selector":"#anim-d8d260d2-4962-489d-8229-e411708fafb0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.558905276010538%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4cd2e26-674b-4432-afdd-472d9441854a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-149fa6b2-7512-480b-8050-62ad78043ba2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.74699%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f40f3ab5-1277-44e0-9e95-6e446d17bd83","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dff14d42-799f-487b-a5a3-451bf8ce3996","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.58824%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Yellow Wavy Line

"I've always been a playmaker and enjoy it "Buzeliis said. No matter the level, I'll do what my coach asks. My coach played me as a point guard when I was young.

[{"selector":"#anim-af846e3e-ed43-4b30-a8d7-8a7f624cab58","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc0e9d8a-b8ff-4a71-a371-b8987e814c44","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(109.32945%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1273f6e3-6d12-4868-a5ab-6b6dca5c5c6a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c82f056e-b5fa-4eaf-8314-8470ba2d9e2c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.58824%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-032c9d19-e757-43d6-9025-a0b32bc0ce2d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(15.591755110361047%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Yellow Wavy Line

According to 247 Sports, Holland was the top recruit this season and has NBA wing potential. Very few guys in this draft class can get downhill and finish near the rim like Holland.

[{"selector":"#anim-95db26df-3ba8-46b5-8064-f89599e9e4fd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.031249769607102%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c76aad34-76e3-45e7-a7f0-d7abc3adfcf4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-681f7b69-65a4-4946-9ca5-0b9222721b84","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(109.16905%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37b51618-bd4d-46b7-9f91-3d0ac95d5d14","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ebea7dd5-6dbc-415e-a9bc-8b01a6a15c0c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.58824%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Yellow Wavy Line

The Ignite's best player this season is on defence. He can defend four spots and disrupts defences with five or more thefts in two games this season.

[{"selector":"#anim-a4aa7e8e-c36b-49d7-af26-65b3c93d20b9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.896276376668688%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0932ccc2-be14-4cec-a246-a7bafc5526e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31f03f79-4641-4daa-9569-bb9e8d936e36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(112.76595%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-076d39c8-96b2-4079-b31e-91a907949942","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff971f15-d866-4e58-b7b0-ab6c1fd50525","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.58824%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Yellow Wavy Line

Smith's 3-point shooting started the season well and caught NBA scouts' interest. Despite cooling off from the 3-point line, he's been productive and impactful on the court. His pick-and-pop footwork, foot setting, and ball-screen selection have improved the most.

[{"selector":"#anim-ddf7e883-95e3-49f0-ac6c-f337a49fbca9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.25160697887971%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6beabda-d150-4391-bca4-0fcb01d289e5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a394a734-32f8-42aa-b9c1-bec59d76d288","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(104.49736%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbd54fc3-fbaa-49a9-b8cb-7e77744a7182","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8854d9c2-3cb3-4f43-b6f4-6e6657d6bbcb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.58824%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Yellow Wavy Line

My growth has focused on that, Smith told Yahoo Sports. This season, I've been working on popping for a 3 or dragging off the rip because league bigs drop a lot. Despite these losses, I'm still a competitor and will play hard.

[{"selector":"#anim-04da374c-5dd5-4b2a-a109-a77a2a84cf51 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(5.593348450491309%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3898b7b7-8950-47c9-b84d-ac23827b06cc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e394da1c-af29-49ab-81c9-c8eb3b402d78","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(107.20222%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f781f00d-bea0-4341-976f-3b9eb3e96070","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d87186c-9dd3-4cd2-b0a6-3257e656d2ae","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.58824%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Yellow Wavy Line

also see

[{"selector":"#anim-1abc6fce-1e21-4fd3-a93e-bf93770f9c32","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.08833%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37e56a31-8317-4a56-aee5-82d47b47638d","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-53f491f1-d108-4568-9c30-870d5e578476","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ce117b2-7081-4fb1-a39d-e56f36e807f7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.4088%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c595f6d4-e0c0-4879-ae67-2ec64fe37301","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -346.84349%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -97.532389388%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -33.158237643999996%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -12.451681291%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -5.410758443999999%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"fill":"both"}] Swipe Up

2024 NBA Draft: Midseason scouting report on Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland and other G League Ignite prospect

OC—G League Ignite scored 0-2 at the Winter Showcase and is 4-12 in the first half, their worst start since their founding three years ago. Seven young draftees chose the Ignite over college this season.

In the McDonald's All-American Game, Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis chose the Ignite over Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Florida State. S2 Ignite added London Johnson, Tyler Smith, Izan Almansa, Thierry Darlan, and Babacar Sane.

Following an ankle injury, Buzelis scored 46 points in two games in December, including a win over Rip City. He improved within. Buzelis' 6-foot-11 perimeter and rim protection helped the Ignite go 4-2 in his first six after returning.

Matas Buzeli

"I've always been a playmaker and enjoy it "Buzeliis said. No matter the level, I'll do what my coach asks. My coach played me as a point guard when I was young.

According to 247 Sports, Holland was the top recruit this season and has NBA wing potential. Very few guys in this draft class can get downhill and finish near the rim like Holland.

Ron Holland

The Ignite's best player this season is on defence. He can defend four spots and disrupts defences with five or more thefts in two games this season.

Smith's 3-point shooting started the season well and caught NBA scouts' interest. Despite cooling off from the 3-point line, he's been productive and impactful on the court. His pick-and-pop footwork, foot setting, and ball-screen selection have improved the most.

Tyler Smith

My growth has focused on that, Smith told Yahoo Sports. This season, I've been working on popping for a 3 or dragging off the rip because league bigs drop a lot. Despite these losses, I'm still a competitor and will play hard.

also see

also see

Jayson Tatum shares update on sprained ankle after loss to Warriors