Meet Matas Buzelis, the NBA’s next great point-forward

Buzelis is a 6-10 point forward from Sunrise Christian with the skills of a guard seven inches shorter than him. The 2022-23 Kansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year averaged 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game, displaying his all-around ability on the basketball court.

He can take the ball full court off the glass and push it in transition, hit the three-ball, and hit shots off the bounce. Buzelis is also very mobile and fluid for someone his size who can guard multiple positions.

He bypassed college to play for the NBA G-League Ignite which has a history now of producing high draft picks from Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Scoot Henderson, and more over recent years.

Buzelis showed his hunger to learn and get better by even attending this year’s Draft Combine to work out and witnessing the NBA Summer League to get a taste of what he’ll be going through this time next year. Something NBA GMs should be raising an eyebrow on which shows his desire to improve.

Buzelis will be joining other top 2024 Draft Prospects such as Ron Holland and Thierry Darlan, to name a few, in what’s looking like the most loaded Ignite team yet as the program has grown year after year.

Buzelis will need to gain muscle and continue developing his shot in order to reach his high ceiling. The man has been nicknamed “The Praying Mantis” so you can only imagine how good he can be once he tweaks the weaknesses in his game and frame.