5-star SF Matas Buzelis opts for G League Ignite over college route

One of Kentucky’s top class of 2023 targets is opting for the professional path.

On Friday morning, it was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that five-star Matas Buzelis will forgo college and sign with the NBA’s G League Ignite program. The 6-foot-10 wing is considered the No. 7 overall prospect in the country, according to the On3 Consensus. He chose the G League over the likes of Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida State, and Wake Forest.

Buzelis has signed a one-year deal with the Ignite program and plans to enter the 2023 NBA Draft.

“It was very hard,” Buzelis told On3’s Joe Tipton. “I feel like if you have an Ignite offer, you’re kind of scared to do it. It was hard because, you know, everyone picks college but I felt like this was perfect for me…I just had a gut feeling with doing this and I always go with my gut.

“I just felt that it was best for me. It was the coaching staff and the love and connection we had when we met. Just how they practice and everything. It’s all about development for me.”

2023 five-star Matas Buzelis will bypass college and sign with the G-League Ignite, he tells @On3Recruits.

He breaks down his decision here: https://t.co/Fhhpw5L9HJ pic.twitter.com/sRFex23WHx

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) June 24, 2022

Buzelis is one of the more unique prospects in all of high school basketball. He’s a lanky point guard in the body of a wing who can score from most areas of the floor while setting up his teammates, as well. Kentucky had been recruiting Buzelis since the winter when the staff brought him to Lexington for an official visit that ended with him receiving an offer from the ‘Cats.

Originally from Illinois, Buzelis has been the star at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire but recently transferred to one of the country’s top prep schools in Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) where he will play out his senior season.

A couple of months ago, the college route was viewed as the favorite for Buzelis. Florida State, Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Kentucky were all considered to be seriously in the mix. But smoke began to cloud up in favor of the G League in June and continued to grow until he ultimately committed.

Kentucky still has just one current ’23 commit on board with in-state guard Reed Sheppard, but the program does expect to add five-star point guard Robert Dillingham on Friday night.