Perth Wildcats Next Star Alex Sarr embraced the opportunity to show what he was capable of in a variety of ways and at both ends of the floor against those he'll be competing with come the NBA Draft with the 'Cats taking on the G League Ignite in Las Vegas.

The Wildcats have ramped up their preparations for the NBL24 season, with a two-game trip to Las Vegas to play against the NBA G League Ignite team ahead of the NBL Blitz starting next weekend. 

What it provided was the chance for the Wildcats players to not only show what they are capable of in front of as many 160 scouts of NBA club executives who were at The Dollar Loan Centre in Vegas, but to also compete against a host of players expected to be top NBA draft picks in 2024.

Right now Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland are predicted to go one and two in next year's draft, and both had a significant impact in the G League Ignite winning 124-105 against the Wildcats, but the result was only a small part of the equation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Alexandre Sarr can do it all ?<br><br>Perth’s Next Star has 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks so far ?<br><br>Catch the final quarter via NBA TV / NBA App ?<a href="https://t.co/KDp6Ia9qhR">pic.twitter.com/KDp6Ia9qhR</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1699619826090786966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

For the 'Cats, it's a dual purpose for the team to continue their preparations for the NBL season that starts later this month as a unit, but also for individuals with higher ambitions to show what they can do on a big stage.

It was Sarr who grabbed his opportunity in exciting fashion, where he not only showed what an impact he can have this upcoming NBL season as a Next Star with Perth, but also what an NBA future he has.

The 18-year-old Frenchman put on a spectacular show at both ends of the floor. His athleticism and anticipation at the defensive end to deliver six blocked shots for the game, with four of those in the first half made quite the statement.

Sarr finished the game with 17 points, seven rebounds and those six blocks, with the 7'1 excitement machine also hitting two-of-three from downtown, showing a nice shooting touch on top of what his length and athleticism allows him to do closer to the basket.

New Wildcats import Jordan Usher was also impressive to end up with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists on nine-of-14 field goal shooting and draining a couple of three-point bombs too.

Bryce Cotton might not have had the best shooting night at four-of-15, but still had 13 points and five rebounds for Perth with another young gun, West Australian local Ben Henshall ,who is fresh out of the Centre of Excellence having 11 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Michael Harris added 10 points for the 'Cats, development player Jack Andrew six points and three rebounds, and new signing David Okwera six points, four boards and four assists. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not once, but twice ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/PerthWildcats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PerthWildcats</a> Next Star has four rejections at the half ?<br><br>Catch the action via NBA TV / NBA App ? <a href="https://t.co/bvmt8h3n89">pic.twitter.com/bvmt8h3n89</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1699610354492596488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tai Webster split the point guard duties with Cotton for a lot of the game and had five points, six assists, five steals and four rebounds too.

As for the young guns of the G League Ignite, Ronald Holland did his high draft pick prospects no harm with 23 points, five rebounds and three steals, with John Jenkins starting hot and finishing with 17 points and five boards.

Potential No. 1 pick Matas Buzelis ended up with 16 points and five rebounds with Babacar Sane adding 15 points and six boards, Tyler Smith 15 points and four steals, and Izan Almansa 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The G League Invite and Wildcats teams will do it all again now on Friday night local time in Las Vegas before the 'Cats return home to prepare for next week's NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast.

NBA G LEAGUE FALL INVITATIONAL – GAME 1

NBA G LEAGUE INVITE 124 (Holland 23, Jenkins 17, Buzelis 16)
PERTH WILDCATS 105 (Usher 22, Sarr 17, Cotton 13) 

BOX SCORE