What will Jalen Green do? A list of options for the former San Joaquin Memorial star
Jalen Green is nearly ready to make a big decision about his basketball career.
Auburn, Fresno State, Memphis, Oregon and USC are on a short list of college options for the former San Joaquin Memorial High star.
Or Green, considered at the top of the Class of 2020, could go pro. The NBA doesn’t take players straight out of high school but Green could play overseas or even domestically in the G League. The NBA announced beginning in the 2019-20 season, elite players can earn $125,000 for the five-month season prior to the NBA draft in the G League.
Green says he’ll reveal his choice on his Instagram page at 10 a.m. Thursday. (He has 866,000 followers.)
“I’ve always tried to be the best out there,” Green told The Bee in an interview in 2018. “I want to try to get to the NBA eventually. … I just want to be the best I can be and want to keep working.”
His former Panthers coach Brad Roznovsky has seen that first-hand plenty of times.
“Jalen was given some God-given talent,” Roznovsky said. “He is who he is today because of that work ethic. He was able to maintain his grades, but yet work hard during that two-hour practice and work another hour and a half after practice. Jalen was not afraid to put in that extra time and was always willing to do it.”
High school sensation
He dazzled in the Fresno area, leading Memorial to back-to-back Central Section championships.
Green, 18, transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa for his senior season and averaged 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and five assists. He set Prolific Prep’s single-season scoring record with 1,008 points.
The 6-foot-5 guard is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the class of 2020 by ESPN. Rivals ranks at No. 2 and 247Sports has him No. 3.
Green in AAU and Team USA
Green was born in Merced and moved to Fresno when he was in third grade. Growing up he played basketball for AAU teams including Team EBO, a top travel team started by former Washington Union High and Fresno State standout Demetrius Porter.
Team EBO squads were led by NBA coaches Sam Mitchell and Lionel Hollins.
Porter compares Green to an NBA superstar: “He has one of those Kobe Bryant work ethics. There’s been times where Jalen would work out two hours before practice and work out for two to three hours after at a high level. He has a passion and dedication to the game.”
Green helped Team USA to gold medels in the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup, 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup and 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.
He was named the MVP of the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup.
Fresno roots
Roznovsky said he’ll root for Green wherever he goes.
“It’s really exciting that he still calls San Joaquin Memorial and Fresno, California, is still his home,” Roznovsky said.
“When I did ask him about Thursday he said he’s very excited, which makes me know that he knows what he’s doing and confident. No matter the path he takes, he’s projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft.”
