Video: WeNext with Jalen Green Find out what makes nation's top 2020 basketball prospect
Jalen Green is the No. 1 Class of 2020 high school basketball recruit in the country according to
247Sports.
As a sophomore at
San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.), he averaged 27.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard topped the 40-point mark twice, including a career high 46 in late December against Clovis West.
But numbers don't quite tell the whole story.
Still just 16 years old, Green is described as friendly, soft-spoken, loyal and humble off the court. On it, he's rather brash, relentless and one heck of a trash-talker.
Combined with his spectacular dunks and camera-friendly offensive arsenal, Green has a knack for attracting attention.
College coaches and pro scouts would note that he's also a tough defender and fine passer in addition to his scoring exploits. At the high school level, he can play every position.
It's that inner drive, displayed metaphorically with his relentless drives to the hoop, that sets him apart, says his high school coach Brad Roznovsky.
"You hear stuff that he resembles Penny Hardaway, Tracy McGrady. I'm a big Kobe Bryant fan," San Joaquin Memorial head coach Brad Roznovsky told
Colin Ward-Henninger of CBS Sports. "And obviously those are some big coattails to follow, but Kobe just had that 'it' factor, and Jalen's got that 'it' factor."
Green has already won two gold medals with USA Basketball, earned MVP honors at the FIBU U17 World Cup last month in Argentina. He's being projected as a top pick in either the 2020 or 2021 NBA Draft.
Green averaged over 27 points and seven rebounds per game in 2017-18 at San Joaquin Memorial en route to MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year honors.
Photo by: David Dennis
If the world's greatest basketball league lets high school kids jump right in after high school again, Green may be among the first to try.
He's already something of a local celebrity in Fresno. His name was dropped in the hook of a song by local rappers, which probably puts him on pace to surpass other local hoops legends like Brook and Robin Lopez, Quincy Pondexter and DeShawn Stevenson.
While high school and club basketball is the focus now, Green's dreams go far beyond San Joaquin Memorial and Fresno.
"I love the game," Green said. "I got a feel for it. Without basketball, my life would be boring, you know? … I love it, and I just want to be the greatest that could ever play."
Jalen Green enjoyed a moment with his dog Twilight before being interviewed by MaxPreps at his parent's home in the Fresno area.
Photo by: David Dennis
