Kai Sotto declares for 2022 Draft in hopes of fulfilling Philippines first Full-Blooded Filipino in the NBA

Kai Sotto will be hoping to make it in the big time after declaring for the NBA draft on Thursday.

The 2.18-meter center — who only turns 20 on May 11 — just finished his first season with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s National Basketball League, where he averaged 7.52 points and 4.48 rebounds across 23 games.

Fresh off the back of being named the NBL Fans’ Most Valuable Player on Wednesday evening, Sotto declared his intentions on an Instagram post which initially began with him expressing gratitude after his season with the 36ers.

“I have declared for the 2022 NBA Draft,” wrote Sotto.

“Please pray for me and support me during my quest to fulfill my ultimate dream.”

Sotto’s name was absent from the 2022 NBA draft early entrants list released on Tuesday, which featured 36 international players among a total of 283 candidates.

The 19-year-old had a breakout game earlier this month with a career-high 21 points in the 36ers’ 93-85 loss to the Brisbane Bullets, from 17:34 minutes off the bench.

The 76th edition of the NBA draft is scheduled to be held on June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

https://www.espn.com/basketball/story/_/id/33818401/kai-sotto-declares-2022-nba-draft