In 2018, the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that they were now allowing the top prospects in high school basketball to skip college and play professional basketball immediately. The NBA would allow the prospects to play in the G-League and develop for a minimum of one year before they could then enter the NBA draft. This option to play in the G-League was intriguing for many players because it provided them with a way of making money before entering the NBA, whereas in college basketball, it is prohibited to make any money while being an NCAA athlete. 

   Now in 2020, the NBA has created a new G-League pathway program for the prospects coming out of high school. This pathway program is different than the original option because the program provides the players with a much larger salary and more development options. The program will provide guidance to the players with more coaches and mentors to help them prepare for the NBA draft. 

   The pathway program is already taking off and intriguing some of the top talent in the nation. Stars like Jalen Green, Daishen Nix and Isaiah Todd have all already committed to playing for a G-league team. Green, the number one prospect in the country, is reportedly going to earn up to five hundred thousand dollars next year. Nix and Todd were both committed to college programs for the 20-21 season before de-committing and announcing that they would also take part in the pathway program. Green, Nix and Todd are the first three to join the program but are expected to be joined by several others before long.

   The program’s team will be coached by Sam Mitchell, a former NBA coach of the year. The team is going to be a mix of the prospects coming from high school and veteran players who can help to guide the younger players. Unlike other G-League teams, this team is expected to play only 10-12 games against other G-League teams that will not count towards the standings. The whole goal of the program is assimilation and growth into the NBA on several different levels. Not only will the program focus on basketball skills, but also life skills such as how to deal with their money and new responsibilities within the NBA. The program will be new in the 20-21 season, but may not be around for long with the NBA looking to officially eliminate the one and done rule as early as 2021.