17-year-old Dink Pate enters landmark deal to become youngest pro basketball player in U.S. history

Dink Pate, a 17-year-old basketball prospect, signed with the NBA G League Ignite program, marking him as the youngest professional player in U.S. history.
Pate reclassified to graduate high school early and forgo offers from over 30 college programs to turn pro.
Pate will spend two years training with the Ignite program before becoming eligible for the 2025 NBA draft.
Pate is expected to make his professional debut at the NBA Summer League later this year.
The deal establishes a new precedent for elite high school prospects to skip college for the pros.