Kai Sotto Could Be the First NBA Player From the Philippines

Kai Sotto is a Ung Basketball player from the Philippines who has already made waves in the sport. At just 17 years old, he is already 7 feet tall and is being scouted by several NBA teams

If he is drafted, Kai Sotto could be the first NBA player from the Philippines. This would be a huge accomplishment not just for him, but for the country as well.

Introduction

Kai Sotto is a 7-foot-2 High School basketball player from the Philippines who is making waves in the United States He has garnered attention from major college basketball programs and could be the first NBA player from the Philippines.

Early Life and Career

Kai Sotto is a Filipino professional basketball player who is widely regarded as one of the best young players in Asia. He began playing basketball when he was just five years old, and by the time he was thirteen, he was already playing for the Philippine national team

Sotto’s career took off in 2017 when he won a gold medal at the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship, and he has since gone on to win several other medals with the National Team In 2019, he led the Philippines to a bronze medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup and he was named tournament MVP.

Sotto has also had a successful career at the club level, winning multiple championships with the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. In 2020, he helped lead Ateneo to a victory over arch-rivals De La Salle University in the UAAP Finals, earning him Finals MVP honors.

Sotto is currently working towards his dream of playing in the NBA, and many experts believe that he has what it takes to become the first Filipino player in the league.

Rise to Prominence

Kai Sotto’s career began to take off when he was just 14 years old. In 2016, he was scouted by the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, one of the Philippines’ most prestigious high school basketball programs He immediately made an impact, averaging 3.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in his first season.

The following year, Sotto took his game to new heights, averaging 10.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. His breakout performance helped lead the Blue Eaglets to the 2017 National Basketball Championship title. After the season, Sotto was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Sotto’s impressive play continued into his third year with the Blue Eaglets. He averaged 13.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game en route to another National Basketball Championship title. Once again, Sotto was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player

Following his third consecutive championship with the Blue Eaglets, Sotto decided to forego college and declare for the 2020 NBA draft Although he is still eligible to play in college if he changes his mind, Sotto is currently projected to be a second-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft If he is drafted, Sotto would become the first Filipino player in NBA history

International Success

Kai Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from the Philippines, is making headlines as he continues to dominate against international competition. While most 17-year-olds are just trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives, Sotto is already being hailed as a future NBA Star He has even caught the attention of some current NBA players including Lebron James

Sotto first made waves on the international scene when he led the Philippines to a fifth-place finish at the 2018 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship. He averaged 13.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game in that tournament. He followed that up with another strong showing at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup where he averaged 15 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.

Sotto’s success is even more impressive when you consider that he is not playing against weak competition. In fact, he is often facing players who are several years older than him. Despite this disadvantage, Sotto has more than held his own against some of the best young players in the world.

There is no doubt that Kai Sotto has a very bright future ahead of him. If he continues to develop at his current pace, it is only a matter of time before he becomes the first NBA player from the Philippines.

NBA Potential

At 7’2”, Kai Sotto is already one of the tallest basketball players in the world. But what makes him special is his potential to become the first NBA Player from the Philippines.

Sotto’s father, Ervin, played Professional Basketball in the Philippines and was on the country’s National Team He has been training his son since he was three years old.

Sotto began to draw attention from U.S. college scouts when he was just 14 years old. Since then, he has played for various AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) teams in the United States as well as for the Philippine national team

In 2018, Sotto made headlines when he announced that he was skipping college to play professionally in the G League, the NBA’s official minor league He is currently playing for the Ignite, a team of prospects created by the NBA specifically for players who want to prepare for the NBA Draft without going to college first.

Sotto’s skills and size have drawn comparisons to NBA All-Star Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia. Porzingis is 7’3” and was drafted by the New York Knicks in 2015. He is currently out with an injury but is expected to return to the court soon.

If Sotto is successful in making it to the NBA, he could be an inspiration to other Filipino athletes and help grow basketball in his home country.

Physical Attributes

Standing 7-foot-2 and still growing, Kai Sotto has the physical attributes that has caught the attention of scouts all over the world.
Sotto grew up playing basketball in the Philippines, and at 14, he was already 6-foot-9. By 16, he was 7-foot-1. Now, at 18, he is 7-foot-2 and weighs 230 pounds.

Skillset

At 7’2″, Kai has the length and size that college basketball coaches covet in a center. He also has the footwork and mobility of a player much shorter. These extraordinary gifts have allowed him to dominate the paint at the high school level in the Philippines, where he is currently enrolled at Ateneo de Manila University.

But his skillset is not limited to just being a big body in the middle. He has shown an ability to put the ball on the floor and make plays for himself and others. He has a soft touch around the basket and is an improving shooter from beyond the arc. In fact, one of his recent highlights was a step-back three-pointer against Team USA in the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup

Weaknesses

Sotto has acknowledged that he still needs to improve his Strength and Conditioning as well as his outside shooting. He is currently working on these weaknesses in preparation for the NBA.

NBA Comparison

Kai Sotto, a 7-foot-2 center from the Philippines, has been turning heads with his impressive basketball skills Some have even compared him to NBA Star Anthony Davis

Sotto first gained attention when he was just 14 years old, when he won MVP at the 2018 Under Armour Asia Pacific Camp. He continued to impress at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup where he averaged 9.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game.

At just 17 years old, Sotto is still raw and has a lot of room to grow. But his potential is undeniable, and he could very well be the first NBA player from the Philippines.

Conclusion

Kai Sotto has the potential to not only be the first NBA Player from the Philippines, but also one of the best players in the world. His size and skill set are rare and he has a High Basketball IQ. If he can continue to develop his game, there is no reason why he can’t be an All-Star in the NBA.