IN basketball, height is might.

That’s why even in the NBA and everywhere in the basketball universe, the seven-footers remain a hot commodity.

On and off the playing court, they always appear larger than life. Sometimes, you are tempted to ask, “How’’s the weather up there?”

But we all know by now that being 7-footers are not nearly enough.

Look at Victor Wenbanyama, the No 1 pick by the San Antonio Spurs in last Friday’s NBA Rookie Draft, and Kai Sotto, the Philippines’ brightest prospect for the NBA.

Wenbanyama, the 7-4 find from France and Sotto, the 7-3 phenom from Parañaque, are now taking the short and long route to NBA superstardom.

But while Wenbanyama is now getting all the attention as the brightest find in this year’s rookie draft, Sotto is quietly making his way after getting invited by the Orlando Magic for the 2023 NBA Summer League set on July 7-17 in Las Vegas and hopefully, make it all the way from there.

The good news of Sotto getting an invitation to the NBA off-season tournament was confirmed by no less than his agent, Tony Ronzone of Wasserman Sports.

Actually, the 21-year-old pride of Las Piñas participated in three NBA training camps by the Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks in the past few weeks.

Interestingly, it was the Magic who got the nod of Sotto, whose resume included a gold medal as a member of Gilas Pilipinas in the 2016 SEABA Under-16 Championship.

After all, the Gilas Pilipinas center had previously worked out with Orlando ahead of the 2022 NBA draft last year.

The Filipino, however, went undrafted during the ceremony, prompting him to return to Adelaide 36ers in NBL Australia and later with the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japan B.League.

With his second stint with the Magic, Sotto hopes to get another shot at fulfilling his dream of making it to the NBA as the first full-blooded Filipino player.

Sotto, son of former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Ervin Sotto. could be joining this year’s Orlando draft picks in Anthony Black, a 6-5 guard from Arkansas, who was selected at No. 6; Jeff Howard, a 6-8 guard from Michigan, who was picked at No. 11, and Ande Jackson, Jr, a 6-6 forward from Connecticut, who was taken in at No. 36.

Based on schedule released by the NBA, Sotto and the Magic will play against the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, and Portland Trailblazers during the NBA Summer League on July 7-17.

Sotto will get his first chance against the Pistons and NBA No. 5 overall pick Ausar Thompson on July 9.

Two days later, the Pacers and No. 8 overall Jarace Walker will take on Sotto and the Magic on July 11.

The Knicks, who have no pick in both the first and second rounds, will test the mettle of the Magic on July 13.

Then it will be Portland and No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson, who will be facing the Magic on July 14.

Unfortunately, Sotto will not get the chance to match up with Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA Summer League.

Wembanyama, the towering 19-year-old center who arrives in the NBA as the most coveted No. 1 pick since LeBron James entered the league in 2003, will sturt his wares in the Califronia Classic Summer League against the Charlotte Hornets on July 3 and the Los Angeles on July 5.

Filipino-American guard Kihei Clark is also playing for the Utah Jazz in the Salt Lake City Summer League on July 3-6.

In Salt Lake City, Utah will play against the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 3, Philadelphia 76ers on July 5 and Memphis Grizzlies on July 6.

The 23-year old Clark, who traces his roots from Ilocos, was undrafted during recent NBA Rookie Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

If Clark makes it to Utah’s opening-day roster, he will get a chance to play with fellow Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson.

NOTES — Advance happy birthday to my Mom, Virginia Nell-Andaya, who will turn another year older on July 4.

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