Kai Sotto's coach at The Skill Factory in Atlanta believes that the Filipino teenager will make it to the NBA, citing his tremendous work ethic and basketball IQ, as well as his improvement since coming to the United States.

Rob Johnson has been working with Sotto since the teenager went to the US in November 2019 to pursue his dream of making it to the NBA.

The 18-year-old center took a big step towards that goal when he signed for the G League Select Team in May, giving him access to NBA-level coaching and mentoring, as well as exposure to tough competition.

In an interview on the Olympic Channel website, Johnson expressed his confidence that Sotto is NBA-bound.

"He just needs to take advantage of the opportunities in front of him, and continue to improve," said the coach.

As it is, Sotto has already grown by leaps and bounds since he first came to Atlanta. Johnson has observed improvements in Sotto's "overall strength and explosion" since he started working at The Skill Factory, and praised the player's willingness to keep working.

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"Kai has a great attitude about training," he said. "He is a gym rat. He loves finding out information to apply to his game to help him improve. Kai is very enjoyable to work with."

"He is dedicated to the game and enjoys the process of working and learning, so it has been a pleasure so far," he added.

Sotto's basketball IQ matches his work ethic, added Johnson.

"He is easy to coach, and (he) understands instructions and concepts at a very high level," he said.

The strides that Sotto has made since November 2019 convinced Johnson that the Filipino standout is ready for the challenges of the G-League. There, Sotto will get to play with some of the top recruits in the US, including Jalen Green, a potential No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.

Other players who have confirmed their commitment in the G League Select Team are Daishen Nix and Isaiah Todd.

"I believe the G League will be a great challenge for Kai, but I believe he is prepared to play at that level, and will continue to improve as the season develops," Johnson said.

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website).