Thursday, four former Illinois prep athletes saw minutes in a G League game. Below I look into and share each of their G League performances from February 11.
Charles Matthews, Canton Charge
St. Rita’s Charles Matthews hasn’t had any easy road to the NBA after suffering an ACL injury during a pre-draft tryout with the Celtics. This offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed Matthews for the preseason. He is now with the Canton Charge.
I spoke with Charles Matthews this past summer on his basketball journey and a ton more. I’ve attached it for anyone that wants to listen. It begins at the 54:29 mark.
Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sideline-icons/id1519130929?i=1000486533651
- Charles Matthews (St. Rita)- 19 minutes, 8 points, 4/10 FG, 0/4 3PT, an offensive rebound, 4 total rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, a block, a turnover, and -8 in 114-102 loss to the Memphis Hustle.
Admiral Schofield, Greensboro Swarm
Zion Benton Township’s Admiral Schofield is back in G League after spending 2020-21 between the Capital City Go-Go and the Washington Wizards (60 games combined). His G League averages were 16 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and had splits of .456/.368/810.
He was traded to the Oklahoma City with Vit Krejćí for Cassius Winston and a 2024 second overall pick. He was then release at the end of the preseason but remained a wanted man. On January 11, 2021, the Greensboro Swarm took him number 1 overall in the NBA G League.
- Admiral Schofield (Zion-Benton Township)- 29 minutes, 12 points, 5/12 FG, 2/6 3PT, a rebound, a steal, a turnover, and -29 in a 118-116 loss to the Westchester Knicks.
Brodric Thomas, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Thomas and his double-double were forces in the Vipers’ first win off the season. As I’m writing this, it was announced today he is being waived by the Rockets. Hopefully he find himself on another team soon.
- Brodric Thomas (Bolingbrook)- 34 minutes, 18 points, 8/17 FG, 2/7 3PT, 0/1 FT, 2 offensive rebounds, 10 total rebounds, an assist, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, and +7 in a 99-95 win over the Agua Caliente Clippers.
Paul White, Salt Lake City Stars
Whitney Young’s Paul White lead the Stars in points last night. He drop 19 points in a loss to the Blue.
During his time at Whitney Young, he saw much success as he was paired next another professional basketball player- Jahlil Okafor. Also on that team was a cast of strong players including Miles Reynolds (can’t for get him!!). They concluded their senior season winning the 2014 IHSA 4A State Championship. That was just one of the many accolades and honors he collected during his time in high school.
He spent his first two college seasons at Georgetown before finishing of his final two at Oregon. Over the four seasons, he played 111 games which included 60 starts. He averaged 8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 22.3 minutes. He shot 44.7 percent from the field and a solid 36.7 percent from beyond the arc. His 79.3 percent from the free throw is respectable.
This is his third season in the G League, he played for the Salt Lake City Stars in 2018-19. That year he played 22 games and averaged 9.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 19.4 minutes a game. He shot 44 percent from the field and 28.8 percent from 3-point range.
During the 2019-20 season, White split time with Raptors 905 and Salt Lake City Stars. He played another 22 G League games (11 starts) and averaged 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 18.7 minutes. He saw similar shooting percentages as the season before.
He most recently spent time as a member of the November 2020 USA Basketball Men’s AmeriCup Qualifying Team.
- Paul White (Whitney Young)- 28 minutes, 6/17 FG, 2/9 3PT, 4/4 FT, 2 offensive rebounds, 6 total rebounds, an assist, a steal, and -18 in 118-84 loss to the Oklahoma City Blue.
