Chris Youngblood isn’t expected to be selected in June’s NBA Draft, but that doesn’t mean his professional aspirations are over. Many players who go undrafted manage to earn spots in the NBA by working their way up through the G-League. Alabama has produced a few of those success stories—JaMychal Green and Braxton Key among them.
While Youngblood hasn’t received an invitation to the NBA Combine yet, he’s still in the mix. On Saturday, he was announced as one of 44 players invited to the NBA G League Elite Camp, a key step toward making the Combine.
After transferring from USF to Alabama—where he earned AAC Player of the Year honors in 2023–24—Youngblood averaged 10.3 points and shot 38.8% from beyond the arc in 28 games (18 starts) with the Crimson Tide. Though he’s considered a bit undersized for a shooting guard and needs to tighten up his handle, his solid shooting and physical defense make him a promising 3-and-D prospect.
Youngblood also caught attention at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Virginia. Though he struggled from three, shooting under 32%, he still averaged over 11 points and shot 46% from the field overall. Scouts were especially impressed with his interviews and basketball IQ.
That strong showing helped earn him the G League Elite Camp invite, which runs May 9–11. Top performers from that event can earn a late call-up to the NBA Combine in Chicago (May 11–18). Even if Youngblood doesn’t make the Combine, the Elite Camp gives him a valuable chance to showcase his skills in front of NBA decision-makers, potentially earning a shot at the Summer League and a path into the G-League next season.
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