MANILA – Filipino-American Jalen Green is to be the first-ever high school prospect to enter the National Basketball Association (NBA) G-League’s select program after saying no to playing college ball.
Green is expected to earn $500,000 for a five-month season based on the G-League Select Contract.
G-League’s select program gives opportunities to 18-year-old prospects to play in the league if they are not yet eligible to play in the NBA.
The 6-foot-5 combo guard, who is a potential 2021 NBA Rookie Draft No. 1 overall pick, made the announcement on Instagram TV on Thursday night (Friday in Manila).
Green said: “I have decided to partner with the NBA G League’s new team for elite players. At the end of the day, it was exciting for my family. But the ultimate goal is still the NBA.”
“I think the main reason for this is I want to be better, to be able to work on my skill and to be stronger. I want to be ready when that time comes,” Green said. “It’s been crazy, but it was not agonizing. It was exciting,” he added.
The 18-year-old, whose great grandfather’s roots can be traced back to Ilocos Sur, had suitors to play college basketball from giant National Collegiate Athletic Association teams such as Auburn, Memphis, Florida State, and Southern California.
Green – five-star recruit from Fresno Calfornia – won gold medals with the USA basketball team during the FIBA U17 and U19 World Championships in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Green also played for FilAm Sports in the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Chooks-to-Go National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) National Finals in the country.
He holds NBTC’s highest scoring record by dropping 51 points against the National University Bullpups back in March 21, 2018./PN
