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{{Infobox basketball biography
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Princepal Singh
| name = Princepal Singh
| image =
| image =  
| image_size =
| image_size =  
| caption =
| caption =  
| number = 12
| position = [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]] / [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| position = [[Power forward (basketball)|Power forward]] / [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| height_ft = 6
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 9
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 221
| weight_lb = 221
| team = NBA G League Ignite
| league =
| league = [[NBA G League]]
| team = Free agent
| number =  
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|1|3|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|1|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Firozpur]], [[Punjab, India]]
| birth_place = [[Firozpur]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India
| draft_year = 2021
| nationality = Indian
| nationality = Indian
| career_start = 2021
| career_start = 2019
| career_end =  
| career_end =  
| years1 = 2019
| years1 = 2019
| team1 = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| team1 = BA Centre of Excellence
| years2 = 2021–present
| years2 = 2021
| team2 = [[NBA G League Ignite]]
| team2 = [[NBA G League Ignite]]
| highlights =
| highlights =  
* [[SABA Championship|SABA]] Under-16 Championship MVP (2017)
* [[SABA Championship|SABA]] Under-16 Championship MVP (2017)
* [[National Basketball Championship]] winner (2019)<ref>[https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/70th-national-championship-punjab-men-railways-women-champions 70th National Basketball Championship: Punjab men and Railways women repeat as champions] Gopalakrishnan R ([[Sportskeeda]]), 1 April 2020. Accessed 13 August 2021.</ref>  
* [[National Basketball Championship]] winner (2019)<ref>[https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/70th-national-championship-punjab-men-railways-women-champions 70th National Basketball Championship: Punjab men and Railways women repeat as champions] Gopalakrishnan R ([[Sportskeeda]]), 1 April 2020. Accessed 13 August 2021.</ref>
| medal_templates =
| medal_templates =  
{{Medal|Sport|Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{Medal|Sport|Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{IND}}}}
{{Medal|Country|{{IND}}}}
Line 32: Line 33:
{{Medal|Gold|2017 Nepal|[[India men's national under-16 basketball team|Team]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|2017 Nepal|[[India men's national under-16 basketball team|Team]]}}
}}
}}
'''Princepal Singh Bajwa''' ({{lang-pa|ਪਿ੍ੰਸਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ}}; born 3 January 2001) is an Indian professional [[basketball]] player for the [[NBA G League Ignite]] of the [[NBA G League]]. Listed at {{convert|6|ft|9|in|m|2}} and {{convert|221|lbs|kg|0}}, he plays the [[Power forward (basketball)|power forward]] and [[Center (basketball)|center]] position. His favorite player is [[Anthony Davis]] as both have the same height and his skill on-court - shooting, rebound and his speed is great.
'''Princepal Singh Bajwa''' ({{lang-pa|ਪਿ੍ੰਸਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ}}; born 3 January 2001) is an Indian professional [[basketball]] player. Listed at {{convert|6|ft|9|in|m|2}} and {{convert|221|lbs|kg|0}}, he plays the [[Power forward (basketball)|power forward]] and [[Center (basketball)|center]] position.


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
Singh is a native of [[Dera Baba Nanak]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India and grew up playing [[volleyball]]. In 2014, he travelled to [[Ludhiana]] to try out for a volleyball academy but instead drew the attention of Jaipal Singh, a coach at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy (LBA).<ref name="sen">{{cite web |last1=Sen |first1=Debayan |title=Meet Princepal, Indian basketball's 'next big Singh' |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/25457550/princepal-singh-indian-basketball-next-big-singh-set-make-senior-team-debut-super-kung-sheung-cup-international-championship |publisher=[[ESPN]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=5 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hope to make it to the NBA one day: India''s Princepal Singh |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/hope-to-make-it-to-the-nba-one-day-indias-princepal-singh/1693571 |website=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |publisher=[[Indo-Asian News Service]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=24 December 2019}}</ref> Standing {{height|m=1.98}} at the time, he soon joined the LBA and learned how to play basketball from Jaipal Singh.<ref name="raj">{{cite web |last1=Raj |first1=Pratyush |title=Gurdaspur hoopster is the new 'Prince' of Indian basketball |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/gurdaspur-hoopster-is-the-new-prince-of-indian-basketball/articleshow/71814698.cms |website=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=30 October 2019}}</ref> In 2016, Singh earned a three-year full scholarship, worth $75,000, to play at SPIRE Institute and Academy in [[Geneva, Ohio]] but was unable to join the program after his [[travel visa|visa]] was rejected twice.<ref name="senthil">{{cite web |last1=Senthil |first1=Anjana |title=Princepal's tryst with destiny |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/basketball/princepal-singh-national-team-super-kung-sheung-cup-nba-academy-ludhiana/article25673369.ece |website=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=5 December 2018}}</ref>  
Singh is a native of [[Dera Baba Nanak]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India and grew up playing [[volleyball]]. In 2014, he travelled to [[Ludhiana]] to try out for a volleyball academy but instead drew the attention of Jaipal Singh, a coach at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy (LBA).<ref name="sen">{{cite web |last1=Sen |first1=Debayan |title=Meet Princepal, Indian basketball's 'next big Singh' |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/25457550/princepal-singh-indian-basketball-next-big-singh-set-make-senior-team-debut-super-kung-sheung-cup-international-championship |publisher=[[ESPN]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=5 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hope to make it to the NBA one day: India''s Princepal Singh |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/hope-to-make-it-to-the-nba-one-day-indias-princepal-singh/1693571 |website=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |publisher=[[Indo-Asian News Service]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=24 December 2019}}</ref> Standing {{height|m=1.98}} at the time, he soon joined the LBA and learned how to play basketball from Jaipal Singh.<ref name="raj">{{cite web |last1=Raj |first1=Pratyush |title=Gurdaspur hoopster is the new 'Prince' of Indian basketball |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/gurdaspur-hoopster-is-the-new-prince-of-indian-basketball/articleshow/71814698.cms |website=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=30 October 2019}}</ref> In 2016, Singh earned a three-year full scholarship, worth $75,000, to play at SPIRE Institute and Academy in [[Geneva, Ohio]] but was unable to join the program after his [[travel visa|visa]] was rejected twice.<ref name="senthil">{{cite web |last1=Senthil |first1=Anjana |title=Princepal's tryst with destiny |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/basketball/princepal-singh-national-team-super-kung-sheung-cup-nba-academy-ludhiana/article25673369.ece |website=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=5 December 2018}}</ref>  


Singh trained at the NBA Academy India in [[New Delhi]] for 18 months, before being called up to the NBA Global Academy, a training center at the [[Australian Institute of Sport]] Centre of Excellence in [[Canberra]], in May 2017.<ref name="matange2">{{cite web |last1=Matange |first1=Yash |title='The NBA Academy experience has been great for me' - Princepal Singh says while discussing the three-year journey and more |url=https://in.nba.com/news/the-nba-academy-experience-has-been-great-for-me-princepal-singh-says-while-discusses-the-three-year-journey/1e5xw4gdgr3zp18ps2sht88rtj |publisher=[[National Basketball Association]] |accessdate=20 June 2020 |date=8 May 2020}}</ref> Singh trained at the Global Academy on a two-year contract.<ref name="menon">{{cite web |last1=Menon |first1=Anirudh |title='I will play in the NBA' - Princepal Singh has eyes firmly set on the big prize |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28500317/i-play-nba-princepal-singh-eyes-firmly-set-big-prize |publisher=[[ESPN]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=17 January 2020}}</ref> In October 2019, he was named [[most valuable player]] (MVP) at the Indian Junior National Championship after leading Punjab to the title and scoring 40 points against [[Rajasthan]] in the final.<ref name=raj/> Singh helped Punjab capture a gold medal in the under-21 category of the [[2020 Khelo India Youth Games|Khelo India Youth Games]] in January 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Matange |first1=Yash |title=Khelo India Youth Games 2020: Princepal Singh leads Punjab to gold in U-21 category as Kerala grabs most basketball medals |url=https://in.nba.com/news/khelo-india-youth-games-2020-princepal-singh-nba-academy-leads-punjab-to-gold-kerala-grabs-most-basketball-medals/1qpyyz422hcm15ewdxeh4xelj |publisher=[[National Basketball Association]] |accessdate=20 June 2020 |date=22 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=J|first=Raunak|date=2020-07-31|title="Didn't expect it to happen so quickly," says India's Princepal Singh after signing NBA G League contract [Exclusive]|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-didn-t-expect-happen-quickly-says-india-s-princepal-singh-signing-nba-g-league-contract-exclusive|access-date=2020-12-23|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en}}</ref>
Singh trained at the NBA Academy India in [[New Delhi]] for 18 months, before being called up to the NBA Global Academy, a training center at the [[Australian Institute of Sport]] in [[Canberra]], in May 2017.<ref name="matange2">{{cite web |last1=Matange |first1=Yash |title='The NBA Academy experience has been great for me' - Princepal Singh says while discussing the three-year journey and more |url=https://in.nba.com/news/the-nba-academy-experience-has-been-great-for-me-princepal-singh-says-while-discusses-the-three-year-journey/1e5xw4gdgr3zp18ps2sht88rtj |publisher=[[National Basketball Association]] |accessdate=20 June 2020 |date=8 May 2020}}</ref> Singh trained at the Global Academy on a two-year contract.<ref name="menon">{{cite web |last1=Menon |first1=Anirudh |title='I will play in the NBA' - Princepal Singh has eyes firmly set on the big prize |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28500317/i-play-nba-princepal-singh-eyes-firmly-set-big-prize |publisher=[[ESPN]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=17 January 2020}}</ref> In 2019, he played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the [[NBL1]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Princepal Singh |url=https://basketball.usbasket.com/player/Princepal-Singh/NBA-G-League/Stockton-Kings/469038 |website=usbasket.com |access-date=10 November 2021}}</ref>
 
In October 2019, he was named [[most valuable player]] (MVP) at the Indian Junior National Championship after leading Punjab to the title and scoring 40 points against [[Rajasthan]] in the final.<ref name=raj/> Singh helped Punjab capture a gold medal in the under-21 category of the [[2020 Khelo India Youth Games|Khelo India Youth Games]] in January 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Matange |first1=Yash |title=Khelo India Youth Games 2020: Princepal Singh leads Punjab to gold in U-21 category as Kerala grabs most basketball medals |url=https://in.nba.com/news/khelo-india-youth-games-2020-princepal-singh-nba-academy-leads-punjab-to-gold-kerala-grabs-most-basketball-medals/1qpyyz422hcm15ewdxeh4xelj |publisher=[[National Basketball Association]] |accessdate=20 June 2020 |date=22 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=J|first=Raunak|date=2020-07-31|title="Didn't expect it to happen so quickly," says India's Princepal Singh after signing NBA G League contract [Exclusive]|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-didn-t-expect-happen-quickly-says-india-s-princepal-singh-signing-nba-g-league-contract-exclusive|access-date=2020-12-23|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en}}</ref>


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
===NBA G League Ignite (2021–present)===
===NBA G League Ignite (2021)===
On 28 July 2020, Singh signed a one-year contract with the [[NBA G League Ignite]], a developmental team affiliated with the [[NBA G League]]. He became the first NBA Academy India graduate to sign a professional contract.<ref>{{cite web |title=Princepal Singh Becomes First NBA Academy Graduate To Sign With NBA G League |url=https://gleague.nba.com/news/princepal-singh-becomes-first-nba-academy-graduate-to-sign-with-nba-g-league/ |publisher=[[NBA G League]] |accessdate=28 July 2020 |date=28 July 2020}}</ref> Singh played sparingly in his first season, averaging 2.3 points in four games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Isaga |first1=JR |title=Tried and tested: Assessing the NBA G League Ignite prospects |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/nba/assessing-g-league-ignite-prospects |website=[[Rappler]] |access-date=24 April 2021 |date=8 March 2021}}</ref> Singh prospects in the world's best basketball league got boost as the [[Sacramento Kings]] gave a berth in their 17-member squad  for the 3rd Annual California Classic Summer League. Also, Singh played in [[2021 NBA Summer League]] from [[Sacramento Kings]].
On 28 July 2020, Singh signed a one-year contract with the [[NBA G League Ignite]], a developmental team affiliated with the [[NBA G League]]. He became the first NBA Academy India graduate to sign a professional contract.<ref>{{cite web |title=Princepal Singh Becomes First NBA Academy Graduate To Sign With NBA G League |url=https://gleague.nba.com/news/princepal-singh-becomes-first-nba-academy-graduate-to-sign-with-nba-g-league/ |publisher=[[NBA G League]] |accessdate=28 July 2020 |date=28 July 2020}}</ref> He played sparingly during the [[2020–21 NBA G League season|2021 G League hub season]], averaging 2.3 points in four games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Isaga |first1=JR |title=Tried and tested: Assessing the NBA G League Ignite prospects |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/nba/assessing-g-league-ignite-prospects |website=[[Rappler]] |access-date=24 April 2021 |date=8 March 2021}}</ref>
 
Singh was a member of the [[Sacramento Kings]] roster for the [[2021 NBA Summer League]]. He was selected by the [[Stockton Kings]] with the fifth pick of the third round of the [[2021 NBA G League draft (October)|2021 NBA G League draft]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Princepal Singh Selected by the Stockton Kings in 2021 NBA G League Draft |url=https://www.news18.com/news/sports/princepal-singh-selected-by-the-stockton-kings-in-2021-nba-g-league-draft-4378250.html |access-date=2 November 2021 |work=News18 |date=29 October 2021}}</ref>
 
===New Zealand Breakers (2021–2022)===
On 10 November 2021, Singh signed with the [[New Zealand Breakers]] of the Australian [[National Basketball League (Australia)|National Basketball League]] to a two-year development player contract.<ref>{{cite news |title=India's Top Prospect Signs with the Sky Sport Breakers |url=https://www.nzbreakers.basketball/news/indias-top-prospect-signs-with-the-sky-sport-breakers |access-date=10 November 2021 |work=nzbreakers.basketball |date=10 November 2021}}</ref> He parted ways with the Breakers in January 2022 before playing in a game for the team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Jackson |date=2022-01-11 |title=Singh just the latest departure for luckless Breakers |url=https://www.theinnersanctum.com.au/princepal-singh-and-new-zealand-breakers-part-ways/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=The Inner Sanctum |language=en-GB}}</ref>


==National team career==
==National team career==
===Indian junior national team===
===Junior national team===
In September 2017, Singh led [[India men's national under-16 basketball team|India]] to the gold medal at the [[SABA Championship|SABA]] Under-16 Championship in [[Kathmandu]], Nepal. He was named tournament MVP after scoring 20 points in a 131–50 win over Bhutan in his final game.<ref>{{cite web |title=India crowned 2nd SABA U16 Zone champions |url=http://ekalavyas.com/2017/09/09/india-crowned-2nd-saba-u16-zone-champions/ |publisher=Ekalavyas |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=9 September 2017}}</ref> In April 2018, Singh competed at the [[2017 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship|FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship]] in [[Foshan]], China, averaging 22.7 points and 13 rebounds per game.<ref name=fiba>{{cite web |title=Princepal primed to be the Next Big Singh for India Basketball |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u18/2018/news/princepal-primed-to-be-the-next-big-singh-for-india-basketball |publisher=[[FIBA]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=31 July 2018}}</ref> At the [[2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship]] in [[Nonthaburi]], Thailand, he averaged 15.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game as the [[captain (sports)|captain]] of the Indian team.<ref name="flojo">{{cite web |last1=Flojo |first1=Enzo |title=Which other youth standouts can play at the senior level now? |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/news/which-other-youth-standouts-can-play-at-the-senior-level-now |publisher=[[FIBA]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=8 November 2018}}</ref>
In September 2017, Singh led [[India men's national under-16 basketball team|India]] to the gold medal at the [[SABA Championship|SABA]] Under-16 Championship in [[Kathmandu]], Nepal. He was named tournament MVP after scoring 20 points in a 131–50 win over Bhutan in his final game.<ref>{{cite web |title=India crowned 2nd SABA U16 Zone champions |url=http://ekalavyas.com/2017/09/09/india-crowned-2nd-saba-u16-zone-champions/ |publisher=Ekalavyas |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=9 September 2017}}</ref> In April 2018, Singh competed at the [[2017 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship|FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship]] in [[Foshan]], China, averaging 22.7 points and 13 rebounds per game.<ref name=fiba>{{cite web |title=Princepal primed to be the Next Big Singh for India Basketball |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u18/2018/news/princepal-primed-to-be-the-next-big-singh-for-india-basketball |publisher=[[FIBA]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=31 July 2018}}</ref> At the [[2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship]] in [[Nonthaburi]], Thailand, he averaged 15.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game as the [[captain (sports)|captain]] of the Indian team.<ref name="flojo">{{cite web |last1=Flojo |first1=Enzo |title=Which other youth standouts can play at the senior level now? |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/news/which-other-youth-standouts-can-play-at-the-senior-level-now |publisher=[[FIBA]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=8 November 2018}}</ref>


===Indian senior national team===
===Senior national team===
In December 2018, Singh made his debut for the [[India men's national basketball team|Indian senior national team]] at the Super Kung Sheung Cup International Championship in [[Hong Kong]].<ref name=sen/> In February 2020, he was selected to represent India for Window 1 of the [[2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification]] stage.<ref name="matange">{{cite web |last1=Matange |first1=Yash |title=FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers: Princepal Singh and Amaan Sandhu part of India squad for Window 1 |url=https://in.nba.com/news/fiba-asia-cup-2021-qualifiers-basketball-federation-india-announce-squad-window-1-princepal-singh-amaan-sandhu/s6bxe4h9nws1xoz5qqxdbqmg |publisher=[[National Basketball Association]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=17 February 2020}}</ref> In his first game, on 21 February, Singh recorded three points, five rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes in a 68–67 loss to [[Bahrain men's national basketball team|Bahrain]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Princepal Singh |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/asiacup/2021/qualifiers/player/Princepal-Singh |publisher=[[FIBA]] |accessdate=19 June 2020}}</ref>
In December 2018, Singh made his debut for the [[India men's national basketball team|Indian senior national team]] at the Super Kung Sheung Cup International Championship in [[Hong Kong]].<ref name=sen/> In February 2020, he was selected to represent India for Window 1 of the [[2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification]] stage.<ref name="matange">{{cite web |last1=Matange |first1=Yash |title=FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers: Princepal Singh and Amaan Sandhu part of India squad for Window 1 |url=https://in.nba.com/news/fiba-asia-cup-2021-qualifiers-basketball-federation-india-announce-squad-window-1-princepal-singh-amaan-sandhu/s6bxe4h9nws1xoz5qqxdbqmg |publisher=[[National Basketball Association]] |accessdate=19 June 2020 |date=17 February 2020}}</ref> In his first game, on 21 February, Singh recorded three points, five rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes in a 68–67 loss to [[Bahrain men's national basketball team|Bahrain]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Princepal Singh |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/asiacup/2021/qualifiers/player/Princepal-Singh |publisher=[[FIBA]] |accessdate=19 June 2020}}</ref>


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*[https://basketball.australiabasket.com/player/Princepal_Singh/Australia/BA-Centre-of-Excellence/469038 Asia-basket.com profile]
*[https://basketball.australiabasket.com/player/Princepal_Singh/Australia/BA-Centre-of-Excellence/469038 Asia-basket.com profile]
*[https://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u16/2017/player/Princepal-Singh-- fiba.com player profile]
*[https://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u16/2017/player/Princepal-Singh-- fiba.com player profile]
{{NBA G League Ignite current roster}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Princepal}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Princepal}}
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[[Category:Basketball players from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]]
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Indian expatriates in Australia]]
[[Category:Indian expatriates in Australia]]
[[Category:Indian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:Indian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]

Revision as of 15:27, 22 June 2022


Princepal Singh
Free agent
PositionPower forward / Center
Personal information
Born (2001-01-03) 3 January 2001 (age 25)
Firozpur, Punjab, India
NationalityIndian
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight221 lb (100 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2021 / Undrafted
Playing career2019–present
Script error: No such module "sports career".
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  India
SABA Under-16 Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 Nepal Team

Princepal Singh Bajwa (Punjabi: ਪਿ੍ੰਸਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ; born 3 January 2001) is an Indian professional basketball player. Listed at 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) and 221 pounds (100 kg), he plays the power forward and center position.

Early life and career

Singh is a native of Dera Baba Nanak, Punjab, India and grew up playing volleyball. In 2014, he travelled to Ludhiana to try out for a volleyball academy but instead drew the attention of Jaipal Singh, a coach at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy (LBA).[2][3] Standing 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) at the time, he soon joined the LBA and learned how to play basketball from Jaipal Singh.[4] In 2016, Singh earned a three-year full scholarship, worth $75,000, to play at SPIRE Institute and Academy in Geneva, Ohio but was unable to join the program after his visa was rejected twice.[5]

Singh trained at the NBA Academy India in New Delhi for 18 months, before being called up to the NBA Global Academy, a training center at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, in May 2017.[6] Singh trained at the Global Academy on a two-year contract.[7] In 2019, he played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the NBL1.[8]

In October 2019, he was named most valuable player (MVP) at the Indian Junior National Championship after leading Punjab to the title and scoring 40 points against Rajasthan in the final.[4] Singh helped Punjab capture a gold medal in the under-21 category of the Khelo India Youth Games in January 2020.[9][10]

Professional career

NBA G League Ignite (2021)

On 28 July 2020, Singh signed a one-year contract with the NBA G League Ignite, a developmental team affiliated with the NBA G League. He became the first NBA Academy India graduate to sign a professional contract.[11] He played sparingly during the 2021 G League hub season, averaging 2.3 points in four games.[12]

Singh was a member of the Sacramento Kings roster for the 2021 NBA Summer League. He was selected by the Stockton Kings with the fifth pick of the third round of the 2021 NBA G League draft.[13]

New Zealand Breakers (2021–2022)

On 10 November 2021, Singh signed with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League to a two-year development player contract.[14] He parted ways with the Breakers in January 2022 before playing in a game for the team.[15]

National team career

Junior national team

In September 2017, Singh led India to the gold medal at the SABA Under-16 Championship in Kathmandu, Nepal. He was named tournament MVP after scoring 20 points in a 131–50 win over Bhutan in his final game.[16] In April 2018, Singh competed at the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship in Foshan, China, averaging 22.7 points and 13 rebounds per game.[17] At the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship in Nonthaburi, Thailand, he averaged 15.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game as the captain of the Indian team.[18]

Senior national team

In December 2018, Singh made his debut for the Indian senior national team at the Super Kung Sheung Cup International Championship in Hong Kong.[2] In February 2020, he was selected to represent India for Window 1 of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification stage.[19] In his first game, on 21 February, Singh recorded three points, five rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes in a 68–67 loss to Bahrain.[20]

Career statistics

Template:NBA player statistics legend

NBA G League

Regular season

Template:NBA player statistics start |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 | style="text-align:left;"| NBA G League | 4 || 0 || 6.3 || .500 || 1.000 || .500 || 1.0 || .0 || .3 || .0 || 2.3 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 4 || 0 || 6.3 || .500 || 1.000 || .500 || 1.0 || .0 || .3 || .0 || 2.3 |}

Playoffs

Template:NBA player statistics start |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 | style="text-align:left;"| NBA G League | 1 || 0 || 2.0 || – || – || – || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 1 || 0 || 2.0 || – || – || – || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |}

Personal life

Singh's father, Gurmej Singh, is an electrician.[21] His father stands 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) and his mother, Hardeep Kaur, stands 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in).[22]

References

  1. 70th National Basketball Championship: Punjab men and Railways women repeat as champions Gopalakrishnan R (Sportskeeda), 1 April 2020. Accessed 13 August 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Sen, Debayan (5 December 2018). "Meet Princepal, Indian basketball's 'next big Singh'". ESPN. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  3. "Hope to make it to the NBA one day: Indias Princepal Singh". Outlook. Indo-Asian News Service. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Raj, Pratyush (30 October 2019). "Gurdaspur hoopster is the new 'Prince' of Indian basketball". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  5. Senthil, Anjana (5 December 2018). "Princepal's tryst with destiny". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  6. Matange, Yash (8 May 2020). "'The NBA Academy experience has been great for me' - Princepal Singh says while discussing the three-year journey and more". National Basketball Association. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  7. Menon, Anirudh (17 January 2020). "'I will play in the NBA' - Princepal Singh has eyes firmly set on the big prize". ESPN. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  8. "Princepal Singh". usbasket.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  9. Matange, Yash (22 January 2020). "Khelo India Youth Games 2020: Princepal Singh leads Punjab to gold in U-21 category as Kerala grabs most basketball medals". National Basketball Association. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  10. J, Raunak (31 July 2020). ""Didn't expect it to happen so quickly," says India's Princepal Singh after signing NBA G League contract [Exclusive]". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  11. "Princepal Singh Becomes First NBA Academy Graduate To Sign With NBA G League". NBA G League. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  12. Isaga, JR (8 March 2021). "Tried and tested: Assessing the NBA G League Ignite prospects". Rappler. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  13. "Princepal Singh Selected by the Stockton Kings in 2021 NBA G League Draft". News18. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  14. "India's Top Prospect Signs with the Sky Sport Breakers". nzbreakers.basketball. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  15. MacDonald, Jackson (11 January 2022). "Singh just the latest departure for luckless Breakers". The Inner Sanctum. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  16. "India crowned 2nd SABA U16 Zone champions". Ekalavyas. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  17. "Princepal primed to be the Next Big Singh for India Basketball". FIBA. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  18. Flojo, Enzo (8 November 2018). "Which other youth standouts can play at the senior level now?". FIBA. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  19. Matange, Yash (17 February 2020). "FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers: Princepal Singh and Amaan Sandhu part of India squad for Window 1". National Basketball Association. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  20. "Princepal Singh". FIBA. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  21. Sampat, Amit (1 June 2016). "The Story Of Prince Lal Singh, An Electrician's Son Who Realized His US Basketball Dream". India Times. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  22. Mahendra, Vikram (1 June 2016). "Punjab teenager Prince Pal Singh earns $75,000 scholarship to train in USA, could play in NCAA by 2020". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 19 June 2020.

External links