Four-star recruit Dink Pate, a 17-year-old out of Dallas, signed with the G League Ignite, becoming the youngest known American basketball pro in history.
Pate beats out Scoot Henderson by five weeks as the youngest pro. Henderson, who also honed his skills in G League Ignite, is projected to be a top-5 pick in June’s NBA draft.
Pate, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard, is listed as the 64th-best recruit in the country by 247Sports composite rankings.
“The whole idea of why I started playing basketball was to be a pro,” Pate told ESPN on Monday. “G League Ignite brings me one step closer to my dream. It’s all about the development of my game. … I’m going to keep working to the best of my ability to prove that I can play in the NBA.”
Pate, who just turned 17 last month, said he took extra online classes in order to graduate a year early. He told ESPN that he’s moving to Las Vegas to begin training at the G League’s practice facility. He’ll be eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft, the year he turns 19.
Had he opted for college, Pate said he was eyeing either Alabama or Arkansas.
“I was leaning toward Alabama,” Pate said. “I liked the facility, especially the football team. Coach Oats and Coach Musselman are both great coaches.”
–Field Level Media