Daishen Nix latest five-star recruit skipping college to join G League

Daishen Nix has become the latest five-star recruit to decide to skip college in favor of the NBA's G League, as the point guard announced he was de-committing from UCLA to join the G League pathway program.

"I think it was the right thing for me because it was a family thing and a myself thing," Nix told the Los Angeles Times. "Playing in G League is basically getting me ready for the NBA draft. It's just one step below the NBA."

Nix was a highly-touted prospect, ranking 20th on ESPN's 100 for 2020 and being a consistent lottery pick in 2021 mock drafts. The 6-foot-5 high school star committed to UCLA last August before signing with the school in November. However, he has joined the trend of five-star recruits who decide to join the G League's newly established pathway program instead. Five-star forward Isaiah Todd and No. 1 prospect Jalen Green both have chosen the G League over college.

The pathway program was established in 2018, with the idea of not interfering with players who had committed to playing college ball. However, with more and more players opting to play overseas, including LaMelo Ball, NBA commissioner Adam Silver began working with G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim to make the G League a more attractive option for recruits.

“The couple of players that likely will look at this option are kids that were looking for other opportunities, to do something other than college basketball,” Abdur-Rahim told the New York Post.

It's a strategy that appears to be working, as big-name players like Green and Nix are drawn in by the promise of a salary over playing college basketball for no pay. According to the Athletic, Nix signed a deal that will earn him around $300,000.

And with the one-and-done rule expected to be abolished sooner rather than later, the trend of high-profile recruits choosing the pros over college might just be getting started.