Matas Buzelis

Matas Buzelis is a Lithuanian-American basketball player who currently finished the season at the Sunrise Christian Academy. Matas Arvidas Buzelis valued among top prospects for the 2024 NBA Draft class. Next season he will play in the NBA G League, or simply the G League, for Ignite exhibition team.

Matas Buzelis
NBA G League Ignite
PositionSmall forward / Shooting guard / Power forward
LeagueNBA G League
Personal information
Born (2004-10-13) October 13, 2004
Hinsdale, Illinois
NationalityLithuanian/American
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school

Buzelis grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois. Both of his parents played basketball professionally in Lithuania before immigrating to the United States and settling in the Chicago area.[1] Buzelis initially attended Hinsdale Central High School and played on their junior varsity team as a freshman.[2] He transferred to Brewster Academy, a boarding school in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, midway through the start of the first semester of his sophomore year after Hinsdale Central's basketball season was postponed due to concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.[3] As a junior, Buzelis was named the New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year after 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game.[4] He was also selected to play for Team World in the 2022 Nike Hoops Summit.[5]

Buzelis transferred to Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas before the start of his senior year.[6] Buzelis was selected to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys Game.[7] He also took part in the Basketball Without Borders camp and was named the camp's MVP.[8]

Recruiting

Buzelis is a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 class, according to major recruiting services.[9] He ultimately chose to play professionally for NBA G League Ignite.[10][11] Buzelis had also considered playing college basketball for Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Florida State, or Wake Forest.[12]

References
  1. "UNC basketball, Hubert Davis target 5-star recruit Matas Buzelis". The Fayetteville Observer. May 17, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  2. "Future Illini? Hinsdale Central sophomore Matas Buzelis weighs an offer from Illinois — while waiting to play first varsity game". Chicago Tribune. October 18, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  3. Henricksen, Joe (November 3, 2021). "City/Suburban Hoops Report: The search for a No. 1 in 2023, two-sport powerhouses, prep school threats". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  4. "BREWSTER ACADEMY STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED GATORADE NEW HAMPSHIRE BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR" (PDF) (Press release). March 16, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  5. Vecenie, Sam (February 14, 2023). "Bronny James, DJ Wagner, 'JuJu' Watkins headline Nike Hoop Summit rosters". The Athletic. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  6. Bossi, Eric (October 6, 2022). "Sunrise Christian has reloaded for the 2022-23 season". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  7. Fair, Daniel (January 24, 2023). "Wichita basketball player named McDonald's All-American". KSN.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  8. "M. Buzeliui atiteko prestižinės NBA stovyklos MVP apdovanojimas". Lrytas.lt (in Lithuanian). February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  9. "Kentucky, UNC, G League battle for top recruit Matas Buzelis". Lexington Herald Leader. June 8, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  10. Wojnarowski, Adrian (June 24, 2022). "Sources: Five-star recruit Matas Buzelis chooses G League Ignite over college". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  11. Conway, Tyler (June 24, 2022). "5-Star PF Matas Buzelis Commits to G League Ignite over Kentucky, Duke, More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  12. Jones, Andrew (June 2, 2022). "UNC In Matas Buzelis' Top 5". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
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