How did Skanderbeg become connected to the Ottoman court as a young person?

Skanderbeg, born George Kastrioti, became connected to the Ottoman court as a young person because he was given to the Turkish sultan as a hostage by his father, John (Gjon) Kastrioti, a prince of Emathia.1

Following his arrival at the court, he was converted to Islam and received his education in Edirne, Turkey. Under Sultan Murad II, he was given the name Iskander—a reference to Alexander the Great—and was granted the rank of bey, which led to the name Skanderbeg. He remained in the service of the Ottoman Empire until 1443, when he abandoned his post during the defeat of the Turks at Niš to return to Albania and lead his countrymen against the Ottoman forces.1