The Los Angeles Lakers go all out signing four star players, comprising forward Vincent Valerio-Bodon and guards Damion Baugh, Bryce Hamilton, and Scotty Pippen Jr.
The Lakers Go All Out Signing Four Star Players
Vincent Valerio-Bodon, standing at 6 feet 9 inches and weighing 200 pounds, recently played for Sopron KC in the Hungarian NBIA during the 2022-23 season. Across 30 games, all of which he started, he averaged 8.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. His shooting percentages were impressive, with 50.3 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 87.9 percent from the free-throw line. This 22-year-old player had previously been with DEAC in the Hungarian NBIA during the 2021-22 season, where he played 28 games, 24 of which he started, and averaged 5.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Valerio-Bodon also made an appearance for the Boston Celtics at the 2023 NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas, contributing 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one block in a 25-minute game.
Damion Baugh, standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 194 pounds, is commencing his professional career after four seasons split between TCU (2021-23) and the University of Memphis (2019-21). During his collegiate journey, he participated in 117 games, 88 of which he started, and held averages of 7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, with an average playing time of 26.8 minutes. In his final season as a Horned Frog, he played in 29 games, all of which he started, and averaged 12.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in 35.0 minutes per game. This performance earned him All-Big 12 Second Team honors, with his name ranking third in the conference for total assists (169) and 13th in the NCAA for assists per game (5.8).
Bryce Hamilton, who stands at 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 205 pounds, had a solid rookie season, appearing in 29 regular-season games, 27 of which he started, for the South Bay Lakers. He posted averages of 14.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, with an average playing time of 28.2 minutes. Hamilton hails from Pasadena, California, and spent four collegiate seasons at UNLV (2018-22). During this period, he played in 119 games, 69 of which he started, and maintained averages of 14.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 26.0 minutes per game. In his senior year, he achieved a career-high average of 21.8 points per game, leading all-conference players. Hamilton’s consistent performance led to three consecutive All-Mountain West conference team selections, including two first-team selections in 2019-20 and 2021-22.
Scotty Pippen Jr., a 6-foot-1, 185-pound rookie, played in 19 NBA G League regular season games, four of which he started, for South Bay in the 2022-23 season. He showcased impressive stats, averaging 21.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 27.9 minutes. At the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Game during NBA All-Star Weekend, he was a selected participant and also earned the title of NBA G League Player of the Week on December 19. Additionally, Pippen Jr. had six appearances for the Los Angeles Lakers in the previous season, contributing an average of 2.3 points in 5.3 minutes per game. During his three collegiate seasons (2019-22) at Vanderbilt University, where he played in 90 games, 89 of which he started, he maintained averages of 17.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.6 steals in 31.6 minutes. His impressive performances earned him All-SEC First Team honors in his sophomore and junior campaigns.
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