More often than not, future stars of the NBA have spent years affixed atop recruiting rankings, starring on the grassroots circuit and earning national attention as high school prospects. They were known long before they reached the pros.
But every year, a handful of players take a different path. Talent ultimately determines who reaches the NBA, but perseverance, work ethic, coachability and competitive drive often determine who maximizes it.
Once drafted, summer league serves as the first glimpse of how a player could look against his peers -- which includes free agents and other early-career professionals fighting for roster spots. None of the players below was in the SC Next 100 rankings when he finished high school.
Some of them were late bloomers physically. Others needed time to develop their skill sets, confidence or understanding of the game.
A few simply landed in the right college program at the right time. What they all shared, however, was a willingness to keep improving, long after many evaluators had moved on to the next recruiting class.
Ultimately, they managed to carve out their own developmental paths and become first-round draft picks who are now taking another step, starting in the summer league. Here's how, and why, they got there.
Keaton Wagler , G, LA Clippers Pick: No. 5 College: Illinois High school rank: Low four-star Wagler was a two-time state champion in Kansas and the 2024-25 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year, so he wasn't entirely under the radar.
But he projected more as a mid-major centerpiece or a high-major role player than a future NBA lottery pick. He didn't receive any high-major offers until August 2024, from both Illinois and Minnesota.
"His game film was attractive and that's how we fell in love with his game," Illinois assistant coach Tyler Underwood said. "His steadfast ability to make simple plays, along with his shotmaking and playmaking stood out." The 6-foot-6 guard ultimately committed to the Illini, weighing just 170 pounds with significant room to develop physically.
Wagler's competitiveness was evident on the grassroots circuit as well, where he played for Victor Williams Basketball Academy. "He makes others better with his winning and basketball IQ," Williams said.
"He has a gift for processing the game in real time." College basketball impact Not even Illinois anticipated how quickly Wagler would emerge. "We thought he could be a contributor, but we never saw any of this," Underwood said.
Arguably his biggest moment of the season -- which included a run to the Final Four -- came when he had 46 points against Purdue in an 88-82 win in late January. Wagler was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, after leading the Illini in scoring (17.9 points), assists (4.2) and steals (0.9) while finishing second on the team in 3-point percentage (39.7%).
Per Just Play Solutions, Wagler was responsible for 36% of Illinois' assists and the team scored 1.3 points per possession while he was on the floor. Why he fits with the Clippers Evaluators viewed Wagler as the best traditional playmaking point guard in this draft class, and he has all the tools to become a productive long-term combo guard under Clippers head coach Ty Lue.
The physicality of this next level -- the summer league allows 10 fouls per player -- will clearly be his biggest adjustment, though he has gained noticeable muscle and weight since the end of the college season. He could follow a similar trajectory to Philadelphia 76ers guard Anfernee Simons , who entered the league at 160 pounds 10 years ago and is now up to 200 pounds and an effective all-around scorer.
Ebuka Okorie , G, Detroit Pistons Pick: No. 17 College: Stanford High school rank: Three-star The New Hampshire native began his high school career at Cushing Academy before transferring to Brewster Academy, while playing his summer ball for BABC.
As a senior, he shot 54.5% from the field and 38.5% from 3 while earning New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year honors alongside four-star teammate Sebastian Wilkins . But at 6-2 and 185 pounds, he projected as a low- to mid-major prospect.
He initially committed to Harvard before reopening his recruitment and choosing Stanford. No other schools offered him in the Northeast except the Ivy Leagues.
College basketball impact The summer session at Stanford was a turning point in Okorie's development. "I watched film of the practices and spent time on my body and shooting along with my ballhandling," he said.
Okori