The top 2020 prospect still on the board, Van Coleman’s Nothing But Net Magazine #3 senior 6-5 wing guard Jalen Green (Prolific Prep/Napa CA) has finally made his choice. Green turned down a long list of suitors that included Auburn, Memphis, Oregon, USC and Fresno State to enter the NBA G-League (as part of a new NBA G-League initiative) next winter prior to entering the 2021 NBA Draft. This new NBA “professional pathway” is being led by former NBA guard Rod Strickland and G-League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
Jalen is a Fresno CA native that spent his first 3 years of high school at nearby San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno CA) before capping off his high school senior year at Prolific Prep. Electrifying athletic wing guard really refined his shooting touch and extended his range this past season, leading Prolific Prep (31-3) to the Grind Session National Championship and defeating Our Savior Lutheran (NY) 95-80 in the title game. He averaged 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5 assists per game this season on 42% shooting from the 3-point arc and 84% from the FT line.
After starting off the 2019 Nike EYBL 1st session with the Oakland Soldiers, Green switched over to Team Why Not (sponsored by NBA star Russell Westbrook) and led them to the finals of the 2019 Nike Peach Jam, losing to eventual champ MoKan Elite in the title game. Jalen was sensational in both the Peach Jam semi-finals and finals, posting back to back 27 point outbursts. His EYBL season averages were 18.2 points, 3.9 boards, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
He was the youngest member of the 2019 USA Basketball U19 squad that won the gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Crete, Greece last summer, averaging 10.1 points per game.
Jalen was named as the 2020 MaxPreps as well as Sports Illustrated Player of the Year. Green was an obvious choice as a 2020 McDonald’s All-American and his terrific play earned him 2020 #1 player status from ESPN.com. Green burst onto the national scene as an 8th grader and showed elite promise at the 2016 Pangos Junior All-American Camp where he was named camp MVP
