Two moves took place this week (so far) in the NBA featuring former Illinois prep athletes.
- Keita Bate-Diop (University)
- Jahlil Okafor (Whitney Young)
Keita Bates-Diop- San Antonio Spurs
University’s Keita Bates-Diop is stating with the San Antonio Spurs to start the season. The Spurs currently have 17 guys for training camp. Two will eventually be waved. Diop played solid bench minutes and is hoping he can continue to improve and prove himself to the Spurs.
He told San Antonio Express News, “It will be a competition for sure, but you want that.” Bates-Diop later adds, “It’s not supposed to be easy. It’s part of the growth process.”
Last season in 30 Spurs games, he averaged 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.2 minutes per game. Numbers don’t fully reflect what he did over the course of his game time.
Jahlil Okafor- Brooklyn Nets
On September 4, Whitney Young’s Jahlil Okafor was sent to the Brooklyn Nets with Sekou Doumbouya from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for C DeAndre Jordan and a draft consideration. On Thursday, September 5, Okafor was waived by the Nets, making him a free agent.
Last season in 27 games for the Pistons, Okafor averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.
