Jalen Duren of
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), considered the No. 1 high school basketball prospect in the Class of 2022 by
247Sports, announced Friday that he is skipping his senior year and heading to Memphis to play for Penny Hardaway next season on ESPN's SportsCenter.
Duren, a 6-foot-10, 230-pound center, is graduating early and joining the Class of 2021, putting a wrap on an impressive three-year prep career. He was named the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year following the 2020-21 season after helping Montverde Academy go 24-1 and win its fifth national title since 2013.
The Philadelphia native posted 14.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game for the Orlando-area powerhouse last season, which faced 12 MaxPreps Top 25 opponents last season with a record of 11-1 in those games.
Duren began his prep career at
Roman Catholic (Philadelphia). He earned first team MaxPreps Freshman All-American honors after chipping in 12.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per outing. A year later he was back on the first team MaxPreps Sophomore All-America Team after putting up 18.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per contest.
More recently, Duren led Team Final to the Peach Jam title on the Nike EYBL circuit, finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in a 64-61 championship game victory over Bradley Beal Elite.
Expectations are that Duren will be a one-and-done at Memphis and top 10 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Jalen Duren throws down the dunk during his junior year for Montverde Academy.
File Photo: Annette Wilkerson
