2024 NBA Draft Profile: Matas Buzelis

A standout prospect from Chicago, Matas Buzelis played his senior high school season at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas before officially signing with G League Ignite in May of 2023. He was named the 2022-23 Gatorade Kansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year after averaging 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks and shooting 53.7 percent from the field, including 43.1 percent from 3-point range. Buzelis led the team to a 22-8 record and the Final Four of GEICO Nationals. As a junior at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, Buzelis was selected as the 2021-22 Gatorade New Hampshire Boys Basketball Player of the Year and won the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class AAA Tournament championship.

Buzelis was named the Most Valuable Player of the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp at NBA All-Star 2023 in February and competed in the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game in March. He was also selected to the World Team for the 2022 Nike Hoop Summit. His parents both played professional basketball in their native country Lithuania. As a junior at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, Buzelis was selected as the 2021-22 Gatorade New Hampshire Boys Basketball Player of the Year and won the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class AAA Tournament championship.

The 6-foot-10 forward showcased his diverse skillset throughout the season for Ignite, averaging 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 blocks across 34 total games while shooting 45.3 percent from the field. His 2.1 blocks per game in the Regular Season were good enough to finish tied for fourth in the G League. The 19-year-old prospect scored 20+ points in seven games and made at least two 3-pointers in eight games while also finishing the Regular Season with six double-doubles.

2023-24 Season Averages: 34 GP, 14.1 PTS, 6.6 REB, 1.9 AST, 1.0 STL, 1.9 BLK, 45.3% FG

Top Performance:

Buzelis put on a show during the second week in December, coming up clutch in consecutive home wins over the Rip City Remix shortly after making his season debut. The Chicago native first dropped an efficient 21 points on just eight shots to go with 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in a win on Dec. 12 and delivered perhaps his signature moment of the season with a fadeaway baseline jumper for the win at the buzzer. Two days later, he poured in a career-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting to go with 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks to help Ignite close the game on a 16-6 run in a 110-105 win over the Remix.

All-Star Weekend 2024:

Buzelis participated in both the Panini Rising Stars and G League Up Next Game during NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. He scored 7 points and added 2 assists for Team Detlef in their Semifinals win over Team Pau in the Panini Rising Stars matchup, hitting the winning jumper to hit the Final Target Score and give the G League team its first win at an NBA All-Star Rising Stars event. He then represented GM Kris London on Team Giraffe Stars for the NBA G League Up Next Game presented by AT&T, posting 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting in their lone game against Team Ball Is Life.

Draft Prep Chatter: