Wembanyama on his No. 1 pick contender: 'If I was never born, Scoot would deserve 1st spot' / News - Basketnews.com

Victor Wembanyama's Metropolitans 92 will take on fellow top prospect Scoot Henderson and the G League Ignite in a pair of exhibitions.

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson are the top two prospects for the 2023 NBA draft class, according to multiple draft analysts.

Wembanyama and Metropolitans 92 are in Las Vegas to take on Henderson and the G League Ignite in a pair of exhibitions, the first on Tuesday and the second on Thursday.

This will be Wembanyama's first NBA taste, and he feels more than ready for that.

"We're playing against an NBA team, with NBA rules, on an NBA court," the 18-year-old Frenchman said Monday. "This is really going to be a first for me. I'm curious to know how it's going to go. I know it's going to go well, but I'm still curious."

Wembanyama recognizes his upcoming contender on the hardcourt and NBA draft by praising Scoot Henderson for an NBA-level skill set he already possesses.

"Out of all the prospects I've heard about in our class, I think he's my favorite one," Wembanyama said. "I think he's the most reliable that I've seen. He's really a great player. If I was never born, I think he would deserve the first spot."

The 18-year-old Henderson is a five-star recruit from Georgia who signed with the Ignite last year and played in 10 games.

"People always try to compare and contrast whoever. I don't look at it like that," Henderson spoke. "I look at it as two good ballplayers."

"Wembanyama is one of those types of players, honestly, where you say like there'll never be like another Shaq or there'll never be another that," Ignite coach Jason Hart added about the French super talent.

"He's that. You'll never see another one of those. The scouting report on him is tough. … I'm honored that I'm getting to play him at 18, because at 24, he's going to be something different."

Wembanyama has been a pro for three seasons already. This off-season, he joined Metropolitans 92 in part to be coached by Vincent Collet, who also coaches the French national team.

Collet is welcoming the chance.

"I think he's the best prospect we've ever had in our league," Collet said. "He's amazing, not only by his size but incredible skills. Despite that, he still needs to learn the game. He"s very young.

We will try to give him this experience. That's the deal we have together, him and me. We want to give him the experience before he gets to the league. It's most important to get him ready for what will follow next year."

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