Dwight Howard, Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Jordan.
When the chiseled 6-foot-10 Jalen Duren comes crashing down on dunks, these are some of the names that are evoked in scouts' minds. Duren, a former five-star recruit and current freshman at Memphis, has been a consistently positive force for the Tigers in a season that's been full of ups and downs. His immense physical tools and stand-out athleticism have had him on the prospect radar since he was a freshman in high school. Thus far, Duren has not disappointed, as he's been high on the big boards of scouts, teams and draft analysts alike.&nbsp;
From Delaware to Florida
Jalen Duren, a native of Delaware, began both his AAU and high school career with Pennsylvania roots. Duren played up with Team Final (PA) as a middle schooler. He competed with their 15-and-under team &mdash; showing no problem thriving in a league two age groups up, as he is such an overwhelming physical force. During his middle school run with Team Final, Duren blew up on the national radar, sparking a frenzy from high schools looking for the right to have him don their jersey. Duren decided upon Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School, a program that has produced the likes of Rasual Butler, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Stevens. The future Memphis Tiger linked up with a future LSU Tiger, Justice Williams, at Roman Catholic. During his first year with the private school powerhouse, the duo rolled their way to a historic Philadelphia Catholic League title. Duren brought home All-State honors following a strong debut season.
Duren's sophomore effort looked to be much of the same, as Roman Catholic seemed to be rolling their way to a third consecutive title, until the COVID-19 pandemic abbreviated the season. Duren and Williams opted to transfer to Montverde Academy for their junior seasons. Competing in the new National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), the duo joined a team loaded with high-major talent. Montverde recorded a dominant 24-1 record, in which Duren earned All-American honors. Montverde reaffirmed their spot atop the high school basketball ranks with a national championship.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Penny Way
In August of 2021, Duren made the surprising decision to reclassify, in conjunction with fellow top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates. The pair of consensus 5-stars pledged their college careers to the Memphis Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway in the same week. Bates and Duren finished fifth and sixth in the recruiting rankings respectively, and gave Memphis a consensus top-2 recruiting class in the country. The addition of the two 5-star recruits and fellow top-50 player Josh Minott to a veteran-laden Memphis team landed the Tigers at the pre-season No. 12 spot in the country. The Tigers opened the season 6-0, featuring wins against St. Louis, Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Duren averaged a double-double &mdash; 13.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during their run, while also adding 4.2 blocks per game. This impressive stretch included a dominant 22 point, 19 rebound outing against Western Kentucky's 7-5 Jamarion Sharpe. Duren was a physical monster, beasting a talented Hilltoppers squad at every turn.
After peaking at No. 9 in the rankings, Memphis hit quite a bit of turmoil, as a fissure began to form in the locker room following a string of losses. In an interview with The Athletic, Penny said, "We've got so much negativity in our locker room with veterans being jealous. Everybody's trying to get to the NBA off the ranking we had, but nobody is willing to sacrifice minutes, touches, anything. It's been miserable. You can imagine what a 17-year-old is thinking as he's trying to figure it out." Duren has remained positive for the team despite the turmoil, averaging 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I recently saw Duren take on the Central Florida Knights in a game that wasn't highly contested, as Memphis struggled.
Pregame, Duren warmed up and stretched largely individually. He came sporting a very quiet, "I'm about my business" demeanor in which he was locked-in and wasn't particularly jovial. Duren was most impactful defensively during the game, where he registered 3 blocks and was an intimidator in the paint. Offensively he struggled to get into his groove in a game where the Tigers were severely short-handed (only 7 players played, as Jayden Hardaway got injured early).&nbsp;
NBA Bound
Despite a volatile year for the Memphis program as a whole, Duren's draft stock has remained relatively unchanged, as he is still a likely top-10 pick on any reasonable draft board. Additionally, Duren's physical tools have buoyed his draft stock &mdash; he is a top .001% type of athlete.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
I spoke to our Sr. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock on what he has seen out of the 6'10" freshman this season:
"At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds of muscle to go along with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and good athleticism, Jalen Duren possesses impressive physical tools. He's also a capable passer with a higher skill set than what one might initially expect. Also, remember that he's supposed to be a high school senior this year. However, he chose to reclassify to attend Memphis a year early. It is yet to be determined how high he'll be selected exactly &mdash; and I am concerned with his selective motor &mdash; but I feel comfortable with the idea that he will likely be the first true big man to come off the board on draft night."
Jalen Duren currently sits at No. 6 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Dwight Howard, Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Jordan. When the chiseled 6-foot-10 Jalen Duren comes crashing down on dunks, these are some of the names that are evoked in scouts' minds. Duren, a former five-star recruit and current freshman at Memphis, has been a consistently positive force for the Tigers in a season that's been full of ups and downs. His immense physical tools and stand-out athleticism have had him on the prospect radar since he was a freshman in high school. Thus far, Duren has not disappointed, as he's been high on the big boards of scouts, teams and draft analysts alike.&nbsp;
From Delaware to Florida
Jalen Duren, a native of Delaware, began both his AAU and high school career with Pennsylvania roots. Duren played up with Team Final (PA) as a middle schooler. He competed with their 15-and-under team &mdash; showing no problem thriving in a league two age groups up, as he is such an overwhelming physical force. During his middle school run with Team Final, Duren blew up on the national radar, sparking a frenzy from high schools looking for the right to have him don their jersey. Duren decided upon Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School, a program that has produced the likes of Rasual Butler, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Stevens. The future Memphis Tiger linked up with a future LSU Tiger, Justice Williams, at Roman Catholic. During his first year with the private school powerhouse, the duo rolled their way to a historic Philadelphia Catholic League title. Duren brought home All-State honors following a strong debut season.
Duren's sophomore effort looked to be much of the same, as Roman Catholic seemed to be rolling their way to a third consecutive title, until the COVID-19 pandemic abbreviated the season. Duren and Williams opted to transfer to Montverde Academy for their junior seasons. Competing in the new National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), the duo joined a team loaded with high-major talent. Montverde recorded a dominant 24-1 record, in which Duren earned All-American honors. Montverde reaffirmed their spot atop the high school basketball ranks with a national championship.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Penny Way
In August of 2021, Duren made the surprising decision to reclassify, in conjunction with fellow top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates. The pair of consensus 5-stars pledged their college careers to the Memphis Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway in the same week. Bates and Duren finished fifth and sixth in the recruiting rankings respectively, and gave Memphis a consensus top-2 recruiting class in the country. The addition of the two 5-star recruits and fellow top-50 player Josh Minott to a veteran-laden Memphis team landed the Tigers at the pre-season No. 12 spot in the country. The Tigers opened the season 6-0, featuring wins against St. Louis, Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Duren averaged a double-double &mdash; 13.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during their run, while also adding 4.2 blocks per game. This impressive stretch included a dominant 22 point, 19 rebound outing against Western Kentucky's 7-5 Jamarion Sharpe. Duren was a physical monster, beasting a talented Hilltoppers squad at every turn.
After peaking at No. 9 in the rankings, Memphis hit quite a bit of turmoil, as a fissure began to form in the locker room following a string of losses. In an interview with The Athletic, Penny said, "We've got so much negativity in our locker room with veterans being jealous. Everybody's trying to get to the NBA off the ranking we had, but nobody is willing to sacrifice minutes, touches, anything. It's been miserable. You can imagine what a 17-year-old is thinking as he's trying to figure it out." Duren has remained positive for the team despite the turmoil, averaging 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I recently saw Duren take on the Central Florida Knights in a game that wasn't highly contested, as Memphis struggled.
Pregame, Duren warmed up and stretched largely individually. He came sporting a very quiet, "I'm about my business" demeanor in which he was locked-in and wasn't particularly jovial. Duren was most impactful defensively during the game, where he registered 3 blocks and was an intimidator in the paint. Offensively he struggled to get into his groove in a game where the Tigers were severely short-handed (only 7 players played, as Jayden Hardaway got injured early).&nbsp;
NBA Bound
Despite a volatile year for the Memphis program as a whole, Duren's draft stock has remained relatively unchanged, as he is still a likely top-10 pick on any reasonable draft board. Additionally, Duren's physical tools have buoyed his draft stock &mdash; he is a top .001% type of athlete.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
I spoke to our Sr. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock on what he has seen out of the 6'10" freshman this season:
"At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds of muscle to go along with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and good athleticism, Jalen Duren possesses impressive physical tools. He's also a capable passer with a higher skill set than what one might initially expect. Also, remember that he's supposed to be a high school senior this year. However, he chose to reclassify to attend Memphis a year early. It is yet to be determined how high he'll be selected exactly &mdash; and I am concerned with his selective motor &mdash; but I feel comfortable with the idea that he will likely be the first true big man to come off the board on draft night."
Jalen Duren currently sits at No. 6 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Dwight Howard, Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Jordan. When the chiseled 6-foot-10 Jalen Duren comes crashing down on dunks, these are some of the names that are evoked in scouts' minds. Duren, a former five-star recruit and current freshman at Memphis, has been a consistently positive force for the Tigers in a season that's been full of ups and downs. His immense physical tools and stand-out athleticism have had him on the prospect radar since he was a freshman in high school. Thus far, Duren has not disappointed, as he's been high on the big boards of scouts, teams and draft analysts alike.&nbsp;
From Delaware to Florida
Duren, a native of Delaware, began both his AAU and high school career with Pennsylvania roots. Duren played up with Team Final (PA) as a middle schooler. He competed with their 15-and-under team &mdash; showing no problem thriving in a league two age groups up, as he is such an overwhelming physical force. During his middle school run with Team Final, Duren blew up on the national radar, sparking a frenzy from high schools looking for the right to have him don their jersey. Duren decided upon Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School, a program that has produced the likes of Rasual Butler, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Stevens. The future Memphis Tiger linked up with a future LSU Tiger, Justice Williams, at Roman Catholic. During his first year with the private school powerhouse, the duo rolled their way to a historic Philadelphia Catholic League title. Duren brought home All-State honors following a strong debut season.
Duren's sophomore effort looked to be much of the same, as Roman Catholic seemed to be rolling their way to a third consecutive title, until the COVID-19 pandemic abbreviated the season. Duren and Williams opted to transfer to Montverde Academy for their junior seasons. Competing in the new National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), the duo joined a team loaded with high-major talent. Montverde recorded a dominant 24-1 record, in which Duren earned All-American honors. Montverde reaffirmed their spot atop the high school basketball ranks with a national championship.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Penny Way
In August of 2021, Duren made the surprising decision to reclassify, in conjunction with fellow top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates. The pair of consensus 5-stars pledged their college careers to the Memphis Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway in the same week. Bates and Duren finished fifth and sixth in the recruiting rankings respectively, and gave Memphis a consensus top-2 recruiting class in the country. The addition of the two 5-star recruits and fellow top-50 player Josh Minott to a veteran-laden Memphis team landed the Tigers at the pre-season No. 12 spot in the country. The Tigers opened the season 6-0, featuring wins against St. Louis, Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Duren averaged a double-double &mdash; 13.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during their run, while also adding 4.2 blocks per game. This impressive stretch included a dominant 22 point, 19 rebound outing against Western Kentucky's 7-5 Jamarion Sharpe. Duren was a physical monster, beasting a talented Hilltoppers squad at every turn.
After peaking at No. 9 in the rankings, Memphis hit quite a bit of turmoil, as a fissure began to form in the locker room following a string of losses. In an interview with The Athletic, Penny said, "We've got so much negativity in our locker room with veterans being jealous. Everybody's trying to get to the NBA off the ranking we had, but nobody is willing to sacrifice minutes, touches, anything. It's been miserable. You can imagine what a 17-year-old is thinking as he's trying to figure it out." Duren has remained positive for the team despite the turmoil, averaging 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I recently saw Duren take on the Central Florida Knights in a game that wasn't highly contested, as Memphis struggled.
Pregame, Duren warmed up and stretched largely individually. He came sporting a very quiet, "I'm about my business" demeanor in which he was locked-in and wasn't particularly jovial. Duren was most impactful defensively during the game, where he registered 3 blocks and was an intimidator in the paint. Offensively he struggled to get into his groove in a game where the Tigers were severely short-handed (only 7 players played, as Jayden Hardaway got injured early).&nbsp;
NBA Bound
Despite a volatile year for the Memphis program as a whole, Duren's draft stock has remained relatively unchanged, as he is still a likely top-10 pick on any reasonable draft board. Additionally, Duren's physical tools have buoyed his draft stock &mdash; he is a top .001% type of athlete.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
I spoke to our Sr. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock on what he has seen out of the 6'10" freshman this season:
"At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds of muscle to go along with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and good athleticism, Jalen Duren possesses impressive physical tools. He's also a capable passer with a higher skill set than what one might initially expect. Also, remember that he's supposed to be a high school senior this year. However, he chose to reclassify to attend Memphis a year early. It is yet to be determined how high he'll be selected exactly &mdash; and I am concerned with his selective motor &mdash; but I feel comfortable with the idea that he will likely be the first true big man to come off the board on draft night."
Jalen Duren currently sits at No. 6 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Dwight Howard, Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Jordan. When the chiseled 6-foot-10 Jalen Duren comes crashing down on dunks, these are some of the names that are evoked in scouts' minds. Duren, a former 5-star recruit and current freshman at Memphis, has been a consistently positive force for the Tigers in a season that's been full of ups and downs. His immense physical tools and stand-out athleticism have had him on the prospect radar since he was a freshman in high school. Thus far, Duren has not disappointed, as he's been high on the big boards of scouts, teams and draft analysts alike.&nbsp;
From Delaware to Florida
Duren, a native of Delaware, began both his AAU and high school career with Pennsylvania roots. Duren played up with Team Final (PA) as a middle schooler. He competed with their 15-and-under team &mdash; showing no problem thriving in a league two age groups up, as he is such an overwhelming physical force. During his middle school run with Team Final, Duren blew up on the national radar, sparking a frenzy from high schools looking for the right to have him don their jersey. Duren decided upon Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School, a program that has produced the likes of Rasual Butler, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Stevens. The future Memphis Tiger linked up with a future LSU Tiger, Justice Williams, at Roman Catholic. During his first year with the private school powerhouse, the duo rolled their way to a historic Philadelphia Catholic League title. Duren brought home All-State honors following a strong debut season.
Duren's sophomore effort looked to be much of the same, as Roman Catholic seemed to be rolling their way to a third consecutive title, until the COVID-19 pandemic abbreviated the season. Duren and Williams opted to transfer to Montverde Academy for their junior seasons. Competing in the new National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), the duo joined a team loaded with high-major talent. Montverde recorded a dominant 24-1 record, in which Duren earned All-American honors. Montverde reaffirmed their spot atop the high school basketball ranks with a national championship.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Penny Way
In August of 2021, Duren made the surprising decision to reclassify, in conjunction with fellow top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates. The pair of consensus 5-stars pledged their college careers to the Memphis Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway in the same week. Bates and Duren finished fifth and sixth in the recruiting rankings respectively, and gave Memphis a consensus top-2 recruiting class in the country. The addition of the two 5-star recruits and fellow top-50 player Josh Minott to a veteran-laden Memphis team landed the Tigers at the pre-season No. 12 spot in the country. The Tigers opened the season 6-0, featuring wins against St. Louis, Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Duren averaged a double-double &mdash; 13.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during their run, while also adding 4.2 blocks per game. This impressive stretch included a dominant 22 point, 19 rebound outing against Western Kentucky's 7-5 Jamarion Sharpe. Duren was a physical monster, beasting a talented Hilltoppers squad at every turn.
After peaking at No. 9 in the rankings, Memphis hit quite a bit of turmoil, as a fissure began to form in the locker room following a string of losses. In an interview with The Athletic, Penny said, "We've got so much negativity in our locker room with veterans being jealous. Everybody's trying to get to the NBA off the ranking we had, but nobody is willing to sacrifice minutes, touches, anything. It's been miserable. You can imagine what a 17-year-old is thinking as he's trying to figure it out." Duren has remained positive for the team despite the turmoil, averaging 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I recently saw Duren take on the Central Florida Knights in a game that wasn't highly contested, as Memphis struggled.
Pregame, Duren warmed up and stretched largely individually. He came sporting a very quiet, "I'm about my business" demeanor in which he was locked-in and wasn't particularly jovial. Duren was most impactful defensively during the game, where he registered 3 blocks and was an intimidator in the paint. Offensively he struggled to get into his groove in a game where the Tigers were severely short-handed (only 7 players played, as Jayden Hardaway got injured early).&nbsp;
NBA Bound
Despite a volatile year for the Memphis program as a whole, Duren's draft stock has remained relatively unchanged, as he is still a likely top-10 pick on any reasonable draft board. Additionally, Duren's physical tools have buoyed his draft stock &mdash; he is a top .001% type of athlete.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
I spoke to our Sr. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock on what he has seen out of the 6'10" freshman this season:
"At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds of muscle to go along with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and good athleticism, Jalen Duren possesses impressive physical tools. He's also a capable passer with a higher skill set than what one might initially expect. Also, remember that he's supposed to be a high school senior this year. However, he chose to reclassify to attend Memphis a year early. It is yet to be determined how high he'll be selected exactly &mdash; and I am concerned with his selective motor &mdash; but I feel comfortable with the idea that he will likely be the first true big man to come off the board on draft night."
Jalen Duren currently sits at No. 6 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Dwight Howard, Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Jordan. When the chiseled 6-foot-10 Jalen Duren comes crashing down on dunks, these are some of the names that are evoked in scouts' minds. Duren, a former 5-star recruit and current freshman at Memphis, has been a consistently positive force for the Tigers in a season that's been full of ups and downs. His immense physical tools and stand-out athleticism have had him on the prospect radar since he was a freshman in high school. Thus far, Duren has not disappointed, as he's been high on the big boards of scouts, teams and draft analysts alike.&nbsp;
From Delaware to Florida
Duren, a native of Delaware, began both his AAU and high school career with Pennsylvania roots. Duren played up with Team Final (PA) as a middle schooler. He competed with their 15-and-under team &mdash; showing no problem thriving in a league two age groups up, as he is such an overwhelming physical force. During his middle school run with Team Final, Duren blew up on the national radar, sparking a frenzy from high schools looking for the right to have him don their jersey. Duren decided upon Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School, a program that has produced the likes of Rasual Butler, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Stevens. The future Memphis Tiger linked up with a future LSU Tiger, Justice Williams, at Roman Catholic. During his first year with the private school powerhouse, the duo rolled their way to a historic Philadelphia Catholic League title. Duren brought home All-State honors following a strong debut season.
Duren's sophomore effort looked to be much of the same, as Roman Catholic seemed to be rolling their way to a third consecutive title, until the COVID-19 pandemic abbreviated the season. Duren and Williams opted to transfer to Montverde Academy for their junior seasons. Competing in the new National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), the duo joined a team loaded with high-major talent. Montverde recorded a dominant 24-1 record, in which Duren earned All-American honors. Montverde reaffirmed their spot atop the high school basketball ranks with a national championship.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Penny Way
In August of 2021, Duren made the surprising decision to reclassify, in conjunction with fellow top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates. The pair of consensus 5-stars pledged their college careers to the Memphis Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway in the same week. Bates and Duren finished fifth and sixth in the recruiting rankings respectively, and gave Memphis a consensus top-2 recruiting class in the country. The addition of the two 5-star recruits and fellow top-50 player Josh Minott to a veteran-laden Memphis team landed the Tigers at the pre-season No. 12 spot in the country. The Tigers opened the season 6-0, featuring wins against St. Louis, Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Duren averaged a double-double &mdash; 13.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during their run, while also adding 4.2 blocks per game. This impressive stretch included a dominant 22 point, 19 rebound outing against Western Kentucky's 7-5 Jamarion Sharpe. Duren was a physical monster, beasting a talented Hilltoppers squad at every turn.
After peaking at No. 9 in the rankings, Memphis hit quite a bit of turmoil, as a fissure began to form in the locker room following a string of losses. In an interview with The Athletic, Penny said, "We've got so much negativity in our locker room with veterans being jealous. Everybody's trying to get to the NBA off the ranking we had, but nobody is willing to sacrifice minutes, touches, anything. It's been miserable. You can imagine what a 17-year-old is thinking as he's trying to figure it out." Duren has remained positive for the team despite the turmoil, averaging 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I recently saw Duren take on the Central Florida Knights in a game that wasn't highly contested, as Memphis struggled.
Pregame, Duren warmed up and stretched largely individually. He came sporting a very quiet, "I'm about my business" demeanor in which he was locked-in and wasn't particularly jovial. Duren was most impactful defensively during the game, where he registered 3 blocks and was an intimidator in the paint. Offensively he struggled to get into his groove in a game where the Tigers were severely short-handed (only 7 players played, as Jayden Hardaway got injured early).&nbsp;
NBA Bound
Despite a volatile year for the Memphis program as a whole, Duren's draft stock has remained relatively unchanged, as he is still a likely top-10 pick on any reasonable draft board. Additionally, Duren's physical tools have buoyed his draft stock &mdash; he is a top .001% type of athlete.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
I spoke to our Sr. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock on what he has seen out of the 6'10" freshman this season:
"At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds of muscle to go along with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and good athleticism, Jalen Duren possesses impressive physical tools. He's also a capable passer with a higher skill set than what one might initially expect. Also, remember that he's supposed to be a high school senior this year. However, he chose to reclassify to attend Memphis a year early. It is yet to be determined how high he'll be selected exactly &mdash; and I am concerned with his selective motor &mdash; but I feel comfortable with the idea that he will likely be the first true big man to come off the board on draft night."
Duren currently sits at No. 6 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Dwight Howard, Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Jordan. When the chiseled 6-foot-10 Jalen Duren comes crashing down on dunks, these are some of the names that are evoked in scouts' minds. Duren, a former 5-star recruit and current freshman at Memphis, has been a consistently positive force for the Tigers in a season that's been full of ups and downs. His immense physical tools and stand-out athleticism have had him on the prospect radar since he was a freshman in high school. Thus far, Duren has not disappointed, as he's been high on the big boards of scouts, teams and draft analysts alike.&nbsp;
From Delaware to Florida
Duren, a native of Delaware, began both his AAU and high school career with Pennsylvania roots. Duren played up with Team Final (PA) as a middle schooler. He competed with their 15-and-under team &mdash; showing no problem thriving in a league two age groups up, as he is such an overwhelming physical force. During his middle school run with Team Final, Duren blew up on the national radar, sparking a frenzy from high schools looking for the right to have him don their jersey. Duren decided upon Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School, a program that has produced the likes of Rasual Butler, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Stevens. The future Memphis Tiger linked up with a future LSU Tiger, Justice Williams, at Roman Catholic. During his first year with the private school powerhouse, the duo rolled their way to a historic Philadelphia Catholic League title. Duren brought home All-State honors following a strong debut season.
Duren's sophomore effort looked to be much of the same, as Roman Catholic seemed to be rolling their way to a third consecutive title, until the COVID-19 pandemic abbreviated the season. Duren and Williams opted to transfer to Montverde Academy for their junior seasons. Competing in the new National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), the duo joined a team loaded with high-major talent. Montverde recorded a dominant 24-1 record, in which Duren earned All-American honors. Montverde reaffirmed their spot atop the high school basketball ranks with a national championship.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Penny Way
In August of 2021, Duren made the surprising decision to reclassify, in conjunction with fellow top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates. The pair of consensus 5-stars pledged their college careers to the Memphis Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway in the same week. Bates and Duren finished fifth and sixth in the recruiting rankings respectively, and gave Memphis a consensus top-2 recruiting class in the country. The addition of the two 5-star recruits and fellow top-50 player Josh Minott to a veteran-laden Memphis team landed the Tigers at the pre-season No. 12 spot in the country. The Tigers opened the season 6-0, featuring wins against St. Louis, Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Duren averaged a double-double &mdash; 13.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during their run, while also adding 4.2 blocks per game. This impressive stretch included a dominant 22 point, 19 rebound outing against Western Kentucky's 7-5 Jamarion Sharpe. Duren was a physical monster, beasting a talented Hilltoppers squad at every turn.
After peaking at No. 9 in the rankings, Memphis hit quite a bit of turmoil, as a fissure began to form in the locker room following a string of losses. In an interview with The Athletic, Penny said, "We've got so much negativity in our locker room with veterans being jealous. Everybody's trying to get to the NBA off the ranking we had, but nobody is willing to sacrifice minutes, touches, anything. It's been miserable. You can imagine what a 17-year-old is thinking as he's trying to figure it out." Duren has remained positive for the team despite the turmoil, averaging 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I recently saw Duren take on the Central Florida Knights in a game that wasn't highly contested, as Memphis struggled.
Pregame, Duren warmed up and stretched largely individually. He came sporting a very quiet, "I'm about my business" demeanor in which he was locked-in and wasn't particularly jovial. Duren was most impactful defensively during the game, where he registered 3 blocks and was an intimidator in the paint. Offensively he struggled to get into his groove in a game where the Tigers were severely short-handed (only 7 players played, as Jayden Hardaway got injured early).&nbsp;
NBA Bound
Despite a volatile year for the Memphis program as a whole, Duren's draft stock has remained relatively unchanged, as he is still a likely top-10 pick on any reasonable draft board. Additionally, Duren's physical tools have buoyed his draft stock &mdash; he is a top .001% type of athlete.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
I spoke to our Sr. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock on what he has seen out of the 6-foot-10 freshman this season:
"At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds of muscle to go along with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and good athleticism, Jalen Duren possesses impressive physical tools. He's also a capable passer with a higher skill set than what one might initially expect. Also, remember that he's supposed to be a high school senior this year. However, he chose to reclassify to attend Memphis a year early. It is yet to be determined how high he'll be selected exactly &mdash; and I am concerned with his selective motor &mdash; but I feel comfortable with the idea that he will likely be the first true big man to come off the board on draft night."
Duren currently sits at No. 6 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Dwight Howard, Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Jordan. When the chiseled 6-foot-10 Jalen Duren comes crashing down on dunks, these are some of the names that are evoked in scouts' minds. Duren, a former 5-star recruit and current freshman at Memphis, has been a consistently positive force for the Tigers in a season that's been full of ups and downs. His immense physical tools and stand-out athleticism have had him on the prospect radar since he was a freshman in high school. Thus far, Duren has not disappointed, as he's been high on the big boards of scouts, teams and draft analysts alike.&nbsp;
From Delaware to Florida
Duren, a native of Delaware, began both his AAU and high school career with Pennsylvania roots. Duren played up with Team Final (PA) as a middle schooler. He competed with their 15-and-under team &mdash; showing no problem thriving in a league two age groups up, as he is such an overwhelming physical force. During his middle school run with Team Final, Duren blew up on the national radar, sparking a frenzy from high schools looking for the right to have him don their jersey. Duren decided upon Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School, a program that has produced the likes of Rasual Butler, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Stevens. The future Memphis Tiger linked up with a future LSU Tiger, Justice Williams, at Roman Catholic. During his first year with the private school powerhouse, the duo rolled their way to a historic Philadelphia Catholic League title. Duren brought home All-State honors following a strong debut season.
Duren's sophomore effort looked to be much of the same, as Roman Catholic seemed to be rolling their way to a third consecutive title, until the COVID-19 pandemic abbreviated the season. Duren and Williams opted to transfer to Montverde Academy for their junior seasons. Competing in the new National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), the duo joined a team loaded with high-major talent. Montverde recorded a dominant 24-1 record, in which Duren earned All-American honors. Montverde reaffirmed their spot atop the high school basketball ranks with a national championship.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Penny Way
In August of 2021, Duren made the surprising decision to reclassify, in conjunction with fellow top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates. The pair of consensus 5-stars pledged their college careers to the Memphis Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway in the same week. Bates and Duren finished fifth and sixth in the recruiting rankings respectively, and gave Memphis a consensus top-2 recruiting class in the country. The addition of the two 5-star recruits and fellow top-50 player Josh Minott to a veteran-laden Memphis team landed the Tigers at the pre-season No. 12 spot in the country. The Tigers opened the season 6-0, featuring wins against St. Louis, Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Duren averaged a double-double &mdash; 13.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during their run, while also adding 4.2 blocks per game. This impressive stretch included a dominant 22 point, 19 rebound outing against Western Kentucky's 7-5 Jamarion Sharpe. Duren was a physical monster, beasting a talented Hilltoppers squad at every turn.
After peaking at No. 9 in the rankings, Memphis hit quite a bit of turmoil, as a fissure began to form in the locker room following a string of losses. In an interview with The Athletic, Penny said, "We've got so much negativity in our locker room with veterans being jealous. Everybody's trying to get to the NBA off the ranking we had, but nobody is willing to sacrifice minutes, touches, anything. It's been miserable. You can imagine what a 17-year-old is thinking as he's trying to figure it out." Duren has remained positive for the team despite the turmoil, averaging 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I recently saw Duren take on the Central Florida Knights in a game that wasn't highly contested, as Memphis struggled.
Pregame, Duren warmed up and stretched largely individually. He came sporting a very quiet, "I'm about my business" demeanor in which he was locked-in and wasn't particularly jovial. Duren was most impactful defensively during the game, where he registered 3 blocks and was an intimidator in the paint. Offensively he struggled to get into his groove in a game where the Tigers were severely short-handed (only 7 players played, as Jayden Hardaway got injured early).&nbsp;
NBA Bound
Despite a volatile year for the Memphis program as a whole, Duren's draft stock has remained relatively unchanged, as he is still a likely top-10 pick on any reasonable draft board. Additionally, Duren's physical tools have buoyed his draft stock &mdash; he is a top .001% type of athlete.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Our Sr. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock shared what he has seen out of the 6-foot-10 freshman this season:
"At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds of muscle to go along with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and good athleticism, Jalen Duren possesses impressive physical tools. He's also a capable passer with a higher skill set than what one might initially expect. Also, remember that he's supposed to be a high school senior this year. However, he chose to reclassify to attend Memphis a year early. It is yet to be determined how high he'll be selected exactly &mdash; and I am concerned with his selective motor &mdash; but I feel comfortable with the idea that he will likely be the first true big man to come off the board on draft night."
Duren currently sits at No. 6 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Dwight Howard, Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Jordan. When the chiseled 6-foot-10 Jalen Duren comes crashing down on dunks, these are some of the names that are evoked in scouts' minds. Duren, a former 5-star recruit and current freshman at Memphis, has been a consistently positive force for the Tigers in a season that's been full of ups and downs. His immense physical tools and stand-out athleticism have had him on the prospect radar since he was a freshman in high school. Thus far, Duren has not disappointed, as he's been high on the big boards of scouts, teams and draft analysts alike.&nbsp;
From Delaware to Florida
Duren, a native of Delaware, began both his AAU and high school career with Pennsylvania roots. Duren played up with Team Final (PA) as a middle schooler. He competed with their 15-and-under team &mdash; showing no problem thriving in a league two age groups up, as he is such an overwhelming physical force. During his middle school run with Team Final, Duren blew up on the national radar, sparking a frenzy from high schools looking for the right to have him don their jersey. Duren decided upon Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School, a program that has produced the likes of Rasual Butler, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Stevens. The future Memphis Tiger linked up with a future LSU Tiger, Justice Williams, at Roman Catholic. During his first year with the private school powerhouse, the duo rolled their way to a historic Philadelphia Catholic League title. Duren brought home All-State honors following a strong debut season.
Duren's sophomore effort looked to be much of the same, as Roman Catholic seemed to be rolling their way to a third consecutive title, until the COVID-19 pandemic abbreviated the season. Duren and Williams opted to transfer to Montverde Academy for their junior seasons. Competing in the new National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), the duo joined a team loaded with high-major talent. Montverde recorded a dominant 24-1 record, in which Duren earned All-American honors. Montverde reaffirmed their spot atop the high school basketball ranks with a national championship.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Penny Way
In August of 2021, Duren made the surprising decision to reclassify, in conjunction with fellow top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates. The pair of consensus 5-stars pledged their college careers to the Memphis Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway in the same week. Bates and Duren finished fifth and sixth in the recruiting rankings respectively, and gave Memphis a consensus top-2 recruiting class in the country. The addition of the two 5-star recruits and fellow top-50 player Josh Minott to a veteran-laden Memphis team landed the Tigers at the pre-season No. 12 spot in the country. The Tigers opened the season 6-0, featuring wins against St. Louis, Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Duren averaged a double-double &mdash; 13.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during their run, while also adding 4.2 blocks per game. This impressive stretch included a dominant 22 point, 19 rebound outing against Western Kentucky's 7-5 Jamarion Sharpe. Duren was a physical monster, beasting a talented Hilltoppers squad at every turn.
After peaking at No. 9 in the rankings, Memphis hit quite a bit of turmoil, as a fissure began to form in the locker room following a string of losses. In an interview with The Athletic, Penny said, "We've got so much negativity in our locker room with veterans being jealous. Everybody's trying to get to the NBA off the ranking we had, but nobody is willing to sacrifice minutes, touches, anything. It's been miserable. You can imagine what a 17-year-old is thinking as he's trying to figure it out." Duren has remained positive for the team despite the turmoil, averaging 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I recently saw Duren take on the Central Florida Knights in a game that wasn't highly contested, as Memphis struggled.
Pregame, Duren warmed up and stretched largely individually. He came sporting a very quiet, "I'm about my business" demeanor in which he was locked-in and wasn't particularly jovial. Duren was most impactful defensively during the game, where he registered 3 blocks and was an intimidator in the paint. Offensively he struggled to get into his groove in a game where the Tigers were severely short-handed (only 7 players played, as Jayden Hardaway got injured early).&nbsp;
NBA Bound
Despite a volatile year for the Memphis program as a whole, Duren's draft stock has remained relatively unchanged, as he is still a likely top-10 pick on any reasonable draft board. Additionally, Duren's physical tools have buoyed his draft stock &mdash; he is a top .001% type of athlete.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Our Sr. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock shared what he has seen out of the 6-foot-10 freshman this season:
"At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds of muscle to go along with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and good athleticism, Jalen Duren possesses impressive physical tools. He's also a capable passer with a higher skill set than what one might initially expect. Also, remember that he's supposed to be a high school senior this year. However, he chose to reclassify to attend Memphis a year early. It is yet to be determined how high he'll be selected exactly &mdash; and I am concerned with his selective motor &mdash; but I feel comfortable with the idea that he will likely be the first true big man to come off the board on draft night."
Duren currently sits at No. 6 on the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

Dwight Howard, Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Jordan. When the chiseled 6-foot-10 Jalen Duren comes crashing down on dunks, these are some of the names that are evoked in scouts' minds. Duren, a former 5-star recruit and current freshman at Memphis, has been a consistently positive force for the Tigers in a season that's been full of ups and downs. His immense physical tools and stand-out athleticism have had him on the prospect radar since he was a freshman in high school. Thus far, Duren has not disappointed, as he's been high on the big boards of scouts, teams and draft analysts alike.&nbsp;
From Delaware to Florida
Duren, a native of Delaware, began both his AAU and high school career with Pennsylvania roots. Duren played up with Team Final (PA) as a middle schooler. He competed with their 15-and-under team &mdash; showing no problem thriving in a league two age groups up, as he is such an overwhelming physical force. During his middle school run with Team Final, Duren blew up on the national radar, sparking a frenzy from high schools looking for the right to have him don their jersey. Duren decided upon Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School, a program that has produced the likes of Rasual Butler, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Stevens. The future Memphis Tiger linked up with a future LSU Tiger, Justice Williams, at Roman Catholic. During his first year with the private school powerhouse, the duo rolled their way to a historic Philadelphia Catholic League title. Duren brought home All-State honors following a strong debut season.
Duren's sophomore effort looked to be much of the same, as Roman Catholic seemed to be rolling their way to a third consecutive title, until the COVID-19 pandemic abbreviated the season. Duren and Williams opted to transfer to Montverde Academy for their junior seasons. Competing in the new National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), the duo joined a team loaded with high-major talent. Montverde recorded a dominant 24-1 record, in which Duren earned All-American honors. Montverde reaffirmed their spot atop the high school basketball ranks with a national championship.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Penny Way
In August of 2021, Duren made the surprising decision to reclassify, in conjunction with fellow top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates. The pair of consensus 5-stars pledged their college careers to the Memphis Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway in the same week. Bates and Duren finished fifth and sixth in the recruiting rankings respectively, and gave Memphis a consensus top-2 recruiting class in the country. The addition of the two 5-star recruits and fellow top-50 player Josh Minott to a veteran-laden Memphis team landed the Tigers at the pre-season No. 12 spot in the country. The Tigers opened the season 6-0, featuring wins against St. Louis, Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Duren averaged a double-double &mdash; 13.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during their run, while also adding 4.2 blocks per game. This impressive stretch included a dominant 22 point, 19 rebound outing against Western Kentucky's 7-5 Jamarion Sharpe. Duren was a physical monster, beasting a talented Hilltoppers squad at every turn.
After peaking at No. 9 in the rankings, Memphis hit quite a bit of turmoil, as a fissure began to form in the locker room following a string of losses. In an interview with The Athletic, Penny said, "We've got so much negativity in our locker room with veterans being jealous. Everybody's trying to get to the NBA off the ranking we had, but nobody is willing to sacrifice minutes, touches, anything. It's been miserable. You can imagine what a 17-year-old is thinking as he's trying to figure it out." Duren has remained positive for the team despite the turmoil, averaging 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I recently saw Duren take on the Central Florida Knights in a game that wasn't highly contested, as Memphis struggled.
Pregame, Duren warmed up and stretched largely individually. He came sporting a very quiet, "I'm about my business" demeanor in which he was locked-in and wasn't particularly jovial. Duren was most impactful defensively during the game, where he registered 3 blocks and was an intimidator in the paint. Offensively he struggled to get into his groove in a game where the Tigers were severely short-handed (only 7 players played, as Jayden Hardaway got injured early).&nbsp;
NBA Bound
Despite a volatile year for the Memphis program as a whole, Duren's draft stock has remained relatively unchanged, as he is still a likely top-10 pick on any reasonable draft board. Additionally, Duren's physical tools have buoyed his draft stock &mdash; he is a top .001% type of athlete.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Our Sr. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock shared what he has seen out of the 6-foot-10 freshman this season:
"At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds of muscle to go along with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and good athleticism, Jalen Duren possesses impressive physical tools. He's also a capable passer with a higher skill set than what one might initially expect. Also, remember that he's supposed to be a high school senior this year. However, he chose to reclassify to attend Memphis a year early. It is yet to be determined how high he'll be selected exactly &mdash; and I am concerned with his selective motor &mdash; but I feel comfortable with the idea that he will likely be the first true big man to come off the board on draft night."
Duren currently sits at No. 6 on the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.
Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket provider of BasketballNews.com. <a href="https://www.ticketsmarter.com/?utm_source=basketballnewscom&amp;utm_medium=tsaff&amp;utm_campaign=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order online now</a>!

Dwight Howard, Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Jordan. When the chiseled 6-foot-10 Jalen Duren comes crashing down on dunks, these are some of the names that are evoked in scouts' minds. Duren, a former 5-star recruit and current freshman at Memphis, has been a consistently positive force for the Tigers in a season that's been full of ups and downs. His immense physical tools and stand-out athleticism have had him on the prospect radar since he was a freshman in high school. Thus far, Duren has not disappointed, as he's been high on the big boards of scouts, teams and draft analysts alike.&nbsp;
From Delaware to Florida
Duren, a native of Delaware, began both his AAU and high school career with Pennsylvania roots. Duren played up with Team Final (PA) as a middle schooler. He competed with their 15-and-under team &mdash; showing no problem thriving in a league two age groups up, as he is such an overwhelming physical force. During his middle school run with Team Final, Duren blew up on the national radar, sparking a frenzy from high schools looking for the right to have him don their jersey. Duren decided upon Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School, a program that has produced the likes of Rasual Butler, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Stevens. The future Memphis Tiger linked up with a future LSU Tiger, Justice Williams, at Roman Catholic. During his first year with the private school powerhouse, the duo rolled their way to a historic Philadelphia Catholic League title. Duren brought home All-State honors following a strong debut season.
Duren's sophomore effort looked to be much of the same, as Roman Catholic seemed to be rolling their way to a third consecutive title, until the COVID-19 pandemic abbreviated the season. Duren and Williams opted to transfer to Montverde Academy for their junior seasons. Competing in the new National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), the duo joined a team loaded with high-major talent. Montverde recorded a dominant 24-1 record, in which Duren earned All-American honors. Montverde reaffirmed their spot atop the high school basketball ranks with a national championship.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Penny Way
In August of 2021, Duren made the surprising decision to reclassify, in conjunction with fellow top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates. The pair of consensus 5-stars pledged their college careers to the Memphis Tigers and head coach Penny Hardaway in the same week. Bates and Duren finished fifth and sixth in the recruiting rankings respectively, and gave Memphis a consensus top-2 recruiting class in the country. The addition of the two 5-star recruits and fellow top-50 player Josh Minott to a veteran-laden Memphis team landed the Tigers at the pre-season No. 12 spot in the country. The Tigers opened the season 6-0, featuring wins against St. Louis, Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech. Duren averaged a double-double &mdash; 13.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game during their run, while also adding 4.2 blocks per game. This impressive stretch included a dominant 22 point, 19 rebound outing against Western Kentucky's 7-5 Jamarion Sharpe. Duren was a physical monster, beasting a talented Hilltoppers squad at every turn.
After peaking at No. 9 in the rankings, Memphis hit quite a bit of turmoil, as a fissure began to form in the locker room following a string of losses. In an interview with The Athletic, Penny said, "We've got so much negativity in our locker room with veterans being jealous. Everybody's trying to get to the NBA off the ranking we had, but nobody is willing to sacrifice minutes, touches, anything. It's been miserable. You can imagine what a 17-year-old is thinking as he's trying to figure it out." Duren has remained positive for the team despite the turmoil, averaging 9.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. I recently saw Duren take on the Central Florida Knights in a game that wasn't highly contested, as Memphis struggled.
Pregame, Duren warmed up and stretched largely individually. He came sporting a very quiet, "I'm about my business" demeanor in which he was locked-in and wasn't particularly jovial. Duren was most impactful defensively during the game, where he registered 3 blocks and was an intimidator in the paint. Offensively he struggled to get into his groove in a game where the Tigers were severely short-handed (only 7 players played, as Jayden Hardaway got injured early).&nbsp;
NBA Bound
Despite a volatile year for the Memphis program as a whole, Duren's draft stock has remained relatively unchanged, as he is still a likely top-10 pick on any reasonable draft board. Additionally, Duren's physical tools have buoyed his draft stock &mdash; he is a top .001% type of athlete.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Our Sr. Draft Analyst Matt Babcock shared what he has seen out of the 6-foot-10 freshman this season:
"At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds of muscle to go along with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and good athleticism, Jalen Duren possesses impressive physical tools. He's also a capable passer with a higher skill set than what one might initially expect. Also, remember that he's supposed to be a high school senior this year. However, he chose to reclassify to attend Memphis a year early. It is yet to be determined how high he'll be selected exactly &mdash; and I am concerned with his selective motor &mdash; but I feel comfortable with the idea that he will likely be the first true big man to come off the board on draft night."
Duren currently sits at No. 6 on the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.
Looking to go to the hottest concerts, sports, theater &amp; family shows near you? Get 100% guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of BasketballNews.com. <a href="https://www.ticketsmarter.com/?utm_source=basketballnewscom&amp;utm_medium=tsaff&amp;utm_campaign=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Order online now</a>!

Grant Aqui talks likely top-10 2022 draftee Jalen Duren, a talented freshman big man playing in a tough situation for the Memphis Tigers

2022 NBA Draft: Jalen Duren showcasing immense potential

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEadxi0hZzY" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging seven minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level. 
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there were nothing but positive reviews for Moussa Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked #22 on the BasketballNews.com Big Board

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEadxi0hZzY" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging seven minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level. 
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there was nothing but positive reviews for Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked #22 on the BasketballNews.com Big Board

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEadxi0hZzY" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging seven minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level. 
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there was nothing but positive reviews for Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked #22 on the BasketballNews.com Big Board.

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEadxi0hZzY" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging seven minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level. 
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there was nothing but positive reviews for Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked #22 on the BasketballNews.com Big Board.

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEadxi0hZzY" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging seven minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level. 
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there was nothing but positive reviews for Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked #22 on BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEadxi0hZzY" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging seven minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level. 
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there was nothing but positive reviews for Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked #22 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEadxi0hZzY" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging seven minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level. 
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there was nothing but positive reviews for Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked No. 22 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEadxi0hZzY" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging 7 minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level. 
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there was nothing but positive reviews for Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked No. 22 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man with a 7-3 wingspan who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vEadxi0hZzY" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging 7 minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level.
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there was nothing but positive reviews for Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked No. 22 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

When Michigan had Hunter Dickinson, a center, earn All-American honors as a freshman last season, finding another young big to pair with him was likely not in the mind of Wolverine fans. However, head coach Juwan Howard has brought in the most talented players irrespective of position.
That is seemingly the case with a consensus five-star recruit from IMG Academy, Moussa Diabate, who has become one of the biggest risers in scouting circles and is consistently climbing up analysts' draft boards this season.
So if you had your hopes up that your favorite NBA team could snag the 6-foot-11 center in the second round, you might want to begin tempering those expectations. Diabate is a long, surprisingly skilled big man with a 7-3 wingspan who has been on the radar of NBA scouts dating back to his time in France.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Of Malian and Guinean descent, Diabate was born in Paris, where he began his youth basketball career at 12. He quickly opted to come to the United States at 14, and he joined perhaps the most vaunted high school basketball program in the country, Montverde Academy. After one year at Montverde, Diabate spent time bouncing around prep schools before eventually landing in Bradenton, Florida with the prestigious IMG Academy.
The move to join the Ascenders came on the heels of a successful FIBA stint with France. As an underaged player at the 2019 European U18 championship tournament, Diabate averaged 13.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks over seven games against the best players from Europe in his age group en route to a fifth-place finish.
Diabate's move to Bradenton helped reload a squad fresh off a championship at GEICO Nationals. During his junior season, Diabate found plenty of room to operate to the tune of over 14 points and 7 rebounds per game. This was in spite of playing with prominent big men Mark Williams (Duke), Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Tennessee) and Zach Edey (Purdue). The Ascenders ran their way to a 19-7 record, and it looked like another GEICO national championship was on the horizon. That, however, would not come to fruition, as COVID-19 wiped out the season.&nbsp;
Headed into his senior season at IMG, Diabate penned his National Letter of Intent to head to Michigan, headlining the No.1 recruiting class in the country alongside fellow five-star recruit Caleb Houstan. Diabate chose the Wolverines over Kentucky, Arizona, Florida State and more. The Ascenders enjoyed another wildly successful season last year (21-3 overall) before falling to Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) in the semifinals of the GEICO Nationals. For his efforts, Diabate was named both a McDonald's All-American and Jordan Brand All-American, despite neither game being played due to COVID.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oFh2Rz6nPSI" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Along with perhaps the most heralded Michigan recruiting class since the "Fab Five," Diabate arrived in Ann Arbor to an NCAA preseason top-10 team that returned Dickinson, an All-American. With such an accomplished team staple entrenched in Diabate's natural position, playing time was hard to come by early in the season.
In his first five games, Diabate only crossed the 20-minute threshold once. Over his last seven games, however, Diabate has averaged 24.0 minutes per game despite only logging 7 minutes against San Diego State before getting injured. Diabate has shown just what makes him so intriguing during those six healthy games.&nbsp;
I spoke with our Sr. NBA Draft Analyst, Matt Babcock, to get his thoughts on what the French big man could bring to the next level.
&ldquo;I watched Diabate last season when he was in high school at IMG Academy. I was most impressed by his physical profile, mobility and motor. This season, I&rsquo;ve watched a lot of film, and had the opportunity to see Diabate in person when Michigan played at North Carolina. I still like everything about him that I did before. However, I&rsquo;ve been pleasantly surprised, as he&rsquo;s shown me that he has more upside on the offensive end of the floor than I had initially thought. I think he has a chance to be a good NBA player.&rdquo;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Rim-running, shot-blocking prowess and overall defensive versatility make Diabate a compelling prospect. I was able to see Diabate up close in Michigan's loss to the UCF Knights, and he flashed more skill than I had expected. He hit a three-pointer and a mid-range fadeaway in the post, and defensively, he switched onto guards often.
Watching Diabate during warmups was also very insightful, as I was able to get a better idea of who he is as a person. Diabate seems highly outgoing just by watching him do his post-up routine. Speaking with some folks around the team, there was nothing but positive reviews for Diabate.&nbsp;
It has been a meteoric rise up draft boards thus far for the 19-year-old from Paris. Diabate is certainly a prospect for the scouting community to watch. We look forward to continuing to track his progress here at BasketballNews.com.&nbsp;
Moussa Diabate is currently ranked No. 22 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

Grant Aqui outlines Moussa Diabate's recent success with the Wolverines and his journey to this point.

2022 NBA Draft: Michigan's Moussa Diabate is on the rise

With his explosiveness, elite level athleticism, charismatic personality and trademark blonde-dyed hair, it is impossible to not take notice of JD Davison the moment you walk into a gym. The freshman sensation from the small town of Letohatchee, Alabama (population of just over 1,000) has been putting the basketball world on notice. Davison&rsquo;s vicious open floor dunks, preternatural sense in the passing lanes and laser-beam passes that require a third eye to see coming have been the source material for SportsCenter&rsquo;s Top-10 during this fledgling college season.
These highlight-reel plays are nothing new for Davison, who lit up the state of Alabama his entire career while playing for Calhoun High School. His production in high school was nothing new for the Davison namesake either, as JD followed in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Jerome, Jermarques and Ja&rsquo;Keem, all of whom were extremely talented players for the Calhoun program. JD, the youngest in the family, just took it to a new level.&nbsp;
As a junior, JD led Calhoun to the Class 2A state title, hitting the game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Davison became only the fifth high school junior to win Alabama&rsquo;s Mr. Basketball award. Between his junior and senior campaigns, JD began to be approached by all of the major prep schools in the country. From Hillcrest Prep (AZ) to Oak Hill Academy (VA), everyone came knocking on the door of the Davison&rsquo;s. But each sales pitch was rebuffed by JD, as his loyalty to Calhoun was unwavering.&nbsp;
After reaffirming his commitment to his hometown school, his senior year did not disappoint; the sequel led to another 2A state championship heading home with Calhoun. Davison also reeled in another Alabama Mr. Basketball award to complement his Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The result of his illustrious Calhoun career made him a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most sought after talents in the country.&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17359226_lg.jpg" alt="" width="502" height="492" />
Davison arrived to Alabama this season to much fanfare and excitement as the No. 9 RSCI recruit, making him the highest-ranked Crimson Tide commit since Collin Sexton. Davison thus far has made good on that ranking, playing a key role off the bench and electrifying in his 24.5 minutes per game. JD has come on strong as of late, averaging 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
I had a chance to see Davison up close during the Crimson Tide&rsquo;s trip to Orlando during the Thanksgiving ESPN Events Invitational, and despite the loss to Iona, the game was very insightful. Getting to watch Alabama&rsquo;s shootaround session illuminated JD&rsquo;s outgoing and contagious personality. He was talking and dancing with nearly every teammate on the floor, and seemed to know every lyric to the warm-up songs playing over the loudspeaker. Throughout the entirety of the pre-game a smile never left his face.&nbsp;
As the game came down the stretch, JD&rsquo;s intensity and concentration reached new heights, and he was locked-in the whole way. He got to the free-throw line multiple times throughout the game, dealing with hecklers leftover from the Kansas game that took place beforehand. Despite the out-of-line jeers from the fans in the compact gym. JD never broke focus and paid them no mind.&nbsp;
I asked BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock for his thoughts on JD, here is what he had to say:
&ldquo;There is a lot to like about JD Davison. First of all, his physical gifts are very impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has a naturally strong build and is incredibly athletic. From a skill set standpoint, he has terrific court vision, is a high level passer, and has the potential to be a big scorer. Alabama currently brings Davison off of the bench as they have several veteran guards with more seniority. However, don&rsquo;t let that fool you, Davison is a top notch prospect with significant upside. I expect for him to be one of the first guards selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.&rdquo;
The talent of JD Davison has been undeniable, as his abundance of awe-striking moments has put even the casual basketball fan on notice. The future for the native son of Alabama is as bright as anyone&rsquo;s in this draft class.
JD Davison is currently ranked No. 9 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board

With his explosiveness, elite level athleticism, charismatic personality and trademark blonde-dyed hair, it is impossible to not take notice of JD Davison the moment you walk into a gym. The freshman sensation from the small town of Letohatchee, Alabama (population of just over 1,000) has been putting the basketball world on notice. Davison&rsquo;s vicious open floor dunks, preternatural sense in the passing lanes and laser-beam passes that require a third eye to see coming have been the source material for SportsCenter&rsquo;s Top-10 during this fledgling college season.
These highlight-reel plays are nothing new for Davison, who lit up the state of Alabama his entire career while playing for Calhoun High School. His production in high school was nothing new for the Davison namesake either, as JD followed in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Jerome, Jermarques and Ja&rsquo;Keem, all of whom were extremely talented players for the Calhoun program. JD, the youngest in the family, just took it to a new level.&nbsp;
As a junior, JD led Calhoun to the Class 2A state title, hitting the game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Davison became only the fifth high school junior to win Alabama&rsquo;s Mr. Basketball award. Between his junior and senior campaigns, JD began to be approached by all of the major prep schools in the country. From Hillcrest Prep (AZ) to Oak Hill Academy (VA), everyone came knocking on the door of the Davison&rsquo;s. But each sales pitch was rebuffed by JD, as his loyalty to Calhoun was unwavering.&nbsp;
After reaffirming his commitment to his hometown school, his senior year did not disappoint; the sequel led to another 2A state championship heading home with Calhoun. Davison also reeled in another Alabama Mr. Basketball award to complement his Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The result of his illustrious Calhoun career made him a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most sought after talents in the country.&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17359226_lg.jpg" alt="" width="502" height="492" />
Davison arrived to Alabama this season to much fanfare and excitement as the No. 9 RSCI recruit, making him the highest-ranked Crimson Tide commit since Collin Sexton. Davison thus far has made good on that ranking, playing a key role off the bench and electrifying in his 24.5 minutes per game. JD has come on strong as of late, averaging 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
I had a chance to see Davison up close during the Crimson Tide&rsquo;s trip to Orlando during the Thanksgiving ESPN Events Invitational, and despite the loss to Iona, the game was very insightful. Getting to watch Alabama&rsquo;s shootaround session illuminated JD&rsquo;s outgoing and contagious personality. He was talking and dancing with nearly every teammate on the floor, and seemed to know every lyric to the warm-up songs playing over the loudspeaker. Throughout the entirety of the pre-game a smile never left his face.&nbsp;
As the game came down the stretch, JD&rsquo;s intensity and concentration reached new heights, and he was locked-in the whole way. He got to the free-throw line multiple times throughout the game, dealing with hecklers leftover from the Kansas game that took place beforehand. Despite the out-of-line jeers from the fans in the compact gym. JD never broke focus and paid them no mind.&nbsp;
I asked BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock for his thoughts on JD, here is what he had to say:
&ldquo;There is a lot to like about JD Davison. First of all, his physical gifts are very impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has a naturally strong build and is incredibly athletic. From a skill set standpoint, he has terrific court vision, is a high level passer, and has the potential to be a big scorer. Alabama currently brings Davison off of the bench as they have several veteran guards with more seniority. However, don&rsquo;t let that fool you, Davison is a top notch prospect with significant upside. I expect for him to be one of the first guards selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.&rdquo;
The talent of JD Davison has been undeniable, as his abundance of awe-striking moments has put even the casual basketball fan on notice. The future for the native son of Alabama is as bright as anyone&rsquo;s in this draft class.
JD Davison is currently ranked No. 9 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

With his explosiveness, elite level athleticism, charismatic personality and trademark blonde-dyed hair, it is impossible to not take notice of JD Davison the moment you walk into a gym. The freshman sensation from the small town of Letohatchee, Alabama (population of just over 1,000) has been putting the basketball world on notice. Davison&rsquo;s vicious open floor dunks, preternatural sense in the passing lanes and laser-beam passes that require a third eye to see coming have been the source material for SportsCenter&rsquo;s Top-10 during this fledgling college season.
These highlight-reel plays are nothing new for Davison, who lit up the state of Alabama his entire career while playing for Calhoun High School. His production in high school was nothing new for the Davison namesake either, as JD followed in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Jerome, Jermarques and Ja&rsquo;Keem, all of whom were extremely talented players for the Calhoun program. JD, the youngest in the family, just took it to a new level.&nbsp;
As a junior, JD led Calhoun to the Class 2A state title, hitting the game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Davison became only the fifth high school junior to win Alabama&rsquo;s Mr. Basketball award. Between his junior and senior campaigns, JD began to be approached by all of the major prep schools in the country. From Hillcrest Prep (AZ) to Oak Hill Academy (VA), everyone came knocking on the door of the Davison&rsquo;s. But each sales pitch was rebuffed by JD, as his loyalty to Calhoun was unwavering.&nbsp;
After reaffirming his commitment to his hometown school, his senior year did not disappoint; the sequel led to another 2A state championship heading home with Calhoun. Davison also reeled in another Alabama Mr. Basketball award to complement his Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The result of his illustrious Calhoun career made him a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most sought after talents in the country.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17359226_lg.jpg" alt="" width="502" height="492" />
Davison arrived to Alabama this season to much fanfare and excitement as the No. 9 RSCI recruit, making him the highest-ranked Crimson Tide commit since Collin Sexton. Davison thus far has made good on that ranking, playing a key role off the bench and electrifying in his 24.5 minutes per game. JD has come on strong as of late, averaging 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
I had a chance to see Davison up close during the Crimson Tide&rsquo;s trip to Orlando during the Thanksgiving ESPN Events Invitational, and despite the loss to Iona, the game was very insightful. Getting to watch Alabama&rsquo;s shootaround session illuminated JD&rsquo;s outgoing and contagious personality. He was talking and dancing with nearly every teammate on the floor, and seemed to know every lyric to the warm-up songs playing over the loudspeaker. Throughout the entirety of the pre-game a smile never left his face.&nbsp;
As the game came down the stretch, JD&rsquo;s intensity and concentration reached new heights, and he was locked-in the whole way. He got to the free-throw line multiple times throughout the game, dealing with hecklers leftover from the Kansas game that took place beforehand. Despite the out-of-line jeers from the fans in the compact gym. JD never broke focus and paid them no mind.&nbsp;
I asked BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock for his thoughts on JD, here is what he had to say:
&ldquo;There is a lot to like about JD Davison. First of all, his physical gifts are very impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has a naturally strong build and is incredibly athletic. From a skill set standpoint, he has terrific court vision, is a high level passer, and has the potential to be a big scorer. Alabama currently brings Davison off of the bench as they have several veteran guards with more seniority. However, don&rsquo;t let that fool you, Davison is a top notch prospect with significant upside. I expect for him to be one of the first guards selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.&rdquo;
The talent of JD Davison has been undeniable, as his abundance of awe-striking moments has put even the casual basketball fan on notice. The future for the native son of Alabama is as bright as anyone&rsquo;s in this draft class.
JD Davison is currently ranked No. 9 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

With his explosiveness, elite level athleticism, charismatic personality and trademark blonde-dyed hair, it is impossible to not take notice of JD Davison the moment you walk into a gym. The freshman sensation from the small town of Letohatchee, Alabama (population of just over 1,000) has been putting the basketball world on notice. Davison&rsquo;s vicious open floor dunks, preternatural sense in the passing lanes and laser-beam passes that require a third eye to see coming have been the source material for SportsCenter&rsquo;s Top-10 during this fledgling college season.
&nbsp;
These highlight-reel plays are nothing new for Davison, who lit up the state of Alabama his entire career while playing for Calhoun High School. His production in high school was nothing new for the Davison namesake either, as JD followed in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Jerome, Jermarques and Ja&rsquo;Keem, all of whom were extremely talented players for the Calhoun program. JD, the youngest in the family, just took it to a new level.&nbsp;
As a junior, JD led Calhoun to the Class 2A state title, hitting the game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Davison became only the fifth high school junior to win Alabama&rsquo;s Mr. Basketball award. Between his junior and senior campaigns, JD began to be approached by all of the major prep schools in the country. From Hillcrest Prep (AZ) to Oak Hill Academy (VA), everyone came knocking on the door of the Davison&rsquo;s. But each sales pitch was rebuffed by JD, as his loyalty to Calhoun was unwavering.&nbsp;
After reaffirming his commitment to his hometown school, his senior year did not disappoint; the sequel led to another 2A state championship heading home with Calhoun. Davison also reeled in another Alabama Mr. Basketball award to complement his Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The result of his illustrious Calhoun career made him a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most sought after talents in the country.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17359226_lg.jpg" alt="" width="502" height="492" />
Davison arrived to Alabama this season to much fanfare and excitement as the No. 9 RSCI recruit, making him the highest-ranked Crimson Tide commit since Collin Sexton. Davison thus far has made good on that ranking, playing a key role off the bench and electrifying in his 24.5 minutes per game. JD has come on strong as of late, averaging 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
I had a chance to see Davison up close during the Crimson Tide&rsquo;s trip to Orlando during the Thanksgiving ESPN Events Invitational, and despite the loss to Iona, the game was very insightful. Getting to watch Alabama&rsquo;s shootaround session illuminated JD&rsquo;s outgoing and contagious personality. He was talking and dancing with nearly every teammate on the floor, and seemed to know every lyric to the warm-up songs playing over the loudspeaker. Throughout the entirety of the pre-game a smile never left his face.&nbsp;
As the game came down the stretch, JD&rsquo;s intensity and concentration reached new heights, and he was locked-in the whole way. He got to the free-throw line multiple times throughout the game, dealing with hecklers leftover from the Kansas game that took place beforehand. Despite the out-of-line jeers from the fans in the compact gym. JD never broke focus and paid them no mind.&nbsp;
I asked BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock for his thoughts on JD, here is what he had to say:
&ldquo;There is a lot to like about JD Davison. First of all, his physical gifts are very impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has a naturally strong build and is incredibly athletic. From a skill set standpoint, he has terrific court vision, is a high level passer, and has the potential to be a big scorer. Alabama currently brings Davison off of the bench as they have several veteran guards with more seniority. However, don&rsquo;t let that fool you, Davison is a top notch prospect with significant upside. I expect for him to be one of the first guards selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.&rdquo;
The talent of JD Davison has been undeniable, as his abundance of awe-striking moments has put even the casual basketball fan on notice. The future for the native son of Alabama is as bright as anyone&rsquo;s in this draft class.
JD Davison is currently ranked No. 9 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

With his explosiveness, elite level athleticism, charismatic personality and trademark blonde-dyed hair, it is impossible to not take notice of JD Davison the moment you walk into a gym. The freshman sensation from the small town of Letohatchee, Alabama (population of just over 1,000) has been putting the basketball world on notice. Davison&rsquo;s vicious open floor dunks, preternatural sense in the passing lanes and laser-beam passes that require a third eye to see coming have been the source material for SportsCenter&rsquo;s Top-10 during this fledgling college season.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmqKbyWZHqE" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
These highlight-reel plays are nothing new for Davison, who lit up the state of Alabama his entire career while playing for Calhoun High School. His production in high school was nothing new for the Davison namesake either, as JD followed in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Jerome, Jermarques and Ja&rsquo;Keem, all of whom were extremely talented players for the Calhoun program. JD, the youngest in the family, just took it to a new level.&nbsp;
As a junior, JD led Calhoun to the Class 2A state title, hitting the game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Davison became only the fifth high school junior to win Alabama&rsquo;s Mr. Basketball award. Between his junior and senior campaigns, JD began to be approached by all of the major prep schools in the country. From Hillcrest Prep (AZ) to Oak Hill Academy (VA), everyone came knocking on the door of the Davison&rsquo;s. But each sales pitch was rebuffed by JD, as his loyalty to Calhoun was unwavering.&nbsp;
After reaffirming his commitment to his hometown school, his senior year did not disappoint; the sequel led to another 2A state championship heading home with Calhoun. Davison also reeled in another Alabama Mr. Basketball award to complement his Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The result of his illustrious Calhoun career made him a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most sought after talents in the country.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17359226_lg.jpg" alt="" width="502" height="492" />
Davison arrived to Alabama this season to much fanfare and excitement as the No. 9 RSCI recruit, making him the highest-ranked Crimson Tide commit since Collin Sexton. Davison thus far has made good on that ranking, playing a key role off the bench and electrifying in his 24.5 minutes per game. JD has come on strong as of late, averaging 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
I had a chance to see Davison up close during the Crimson Tide&rsquo;s trip to Orlando during the Thanksgiving ESPN Events Invitational, and despite the loss to Iona, the game was very insightful. Getting to watch Alabama&rsquo;s shootaround session illuminated JD&rsquo;s outgoing and contagious personality. He was talking and dancing with nearly every teammate on the floor, and seemed to know every lyric to the warm-up songs playing over the loudspeaker. Throughout the entirety of the pre-game a smile never left his face.&nbsp;
As the game came down the stretch, JD&rsquo;s intensity and concentration reached new heights, and he was locked-in the whole way. He got to the free-throw line multiple times throughout the game, dealing with hecklers leftover from the Kansas game that took place beforehand. Despite the out-of-line jeers from the fans in the compact gym. JD never broke focus and paid them no mind.&nbsp;
I asked BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock for his thoughts on JD, here is what he had to say:
&ldquo;There is a lot to like about JD Davison. First of all, his physical gifts are very impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has a naturally strong build and is incredibly athletic. From a skill set standpoint, he has terrific court vision, is a high level passer, and has the potential to be a big scorer. Alabama currently brings Davison off of the bench as they have several veteran guards with more seniority. However, don&rsquo;t let that fool you, Davison is a top notch prospect with significant upside. I expect for him to be one of the first guards selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.&rdquo;
The talent of JD Davison has been undeniable, as his abundance of awe-striking moments has put even the casual basketball fan on notice. The future for the native son of Alabama is as bright as anyone&rsquo;s in this draft class.
JD Davison is currently ranked No. 9 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

With his explosiveness, elite level athleticism, charismatic personality and trademark blonde-dyed hair, it is impossible to not take notice of JD Davison the moment you walk into a gym. The freshman sensation from the small town of Letohatchee, Alabama (population of just over 1,000) has been putting the basketball world on notice. Davison&rsquo;s vicious open floor dunks, preternatural sense in the passing lanes and laser-beam passes that require a third eye to see coming have been the source material for SportsCenter&rsquo;s Top-10 during this fledgling college season.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmqKbyWZHqE" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
These highlight-reel plays are nothing new for Davison, who lit up the state of Alabama his entire career while playing for Calhoun High School. His production in high school was nothing new for the Davison namesake either, as JD followed in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Jerome, Jermarques and Ja&rsquo;Keem, all of whom were extremely talented players for the Calhoun program. JD, the youngest in the family, just took it to a new level.&nbsp;
As a junior, JD led Calhoun to the Class 2A state title, hitting the game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Davison became only the fifth high school junior to win Alabama&rsquo;s Mr. Basketball award. Between his junior and senior campaigns, JD began to be approached by all of the major prep schools in the country. From Hillcrest Prep (AZ) to Oak Hill Academy (VA), everyone came knocking on the door of the Davison&rsquo;s. But each sales pitch was rebuffed by JD, as his loyalty to Calhoun was unwavering.&nbsp;
After reaffirming his commitment to his hometown school, his senior year did not disappoint; the sequel led to another 2A state championship heading home with Calhoun. Davison also reeled in another Alabama Mr. Basketball award to complement his Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The result of his illustrious Calhoun career made him a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most sought after talents in the country.&nbsp;
Davison arrived to Alabama this season to much fanfare and excitement as the No. 9 RSCI recruit, making him the highest-ranked Crimson Tide commit since Collin Sexton. Davison thus far has made good on that ranking, playing a key role off the bench and electrifying in his 24.5 minutes per game. JD has come on strong as of late, averaging 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17359226_lg.jpg" alt="" width="502" height="492" />
I had a chance to see Davison up close during the Crimson Tide&rsquo;s trip to Orlando during the Thanksgiving ESPN Events Invitational, and despite the loss to Iona, the game was very insightful. Getting to watch Alabama&rsquo;s shootaround session illuminated JD&rsquo;s outgoing and contagious personality. He was talking and dancing with nearly every teammate on the floor, and seemed to know every lyric to the warm-up songs playing over the loudspeaker. Throughout the entirety of the pre-game a smile never left his face.&nbsp;
As the game came down the stretch, JD&rsquo;s intensity and concentration reached new heights, and he was locked-in the whole way. He got to the free-throw line multiple times throughout the game, dealing with hecklers leftover from the Kansas game that took place beforehand. Despite the out-of-line jeers from the fans in the compact gym. JD never broke focus and paid them no mind.&nbsp;
I asked BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock for his thoughts on JD, here is what he had to say:
&ldquo;There is a lot to like about JD Davison. First of all, his physical gifts are very impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has a naturally strong build and is incredibly athletic. From a skill set standpoint, he has terrific court vision, is a high level passer, and has the potential to be a big scorer. Alabama currently brings Davison off of the bench as they have several veteran guards with more seniority. However, don&rsquo;t let that fool you, Davison is a top notch prospect with significant upside. I expect for him to be one of the first guards selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.&rdquo;
The talent of JD Davison has been undeniable, as his abundance of awe-striking moments has put even the casual basketball fan on notice. The future for the native son of Alabama is as bright as anyone&rsquo;s in this draft class.
JD Davison is currently ranked No. 9 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

With his explosiveness, elite level athleticism, charismatic personality and trademark blonde-dyed hair, it is impossible to not take notice of JD Davison the moment you walk into a gym. The freshman sensation from the small town of Letohatchee, Alabama (population of just over 1,000) has been putting the basketball world on notice. Davison&rsquo;s vicious open floor dunks, preternatural sense in the passing lanes and laser-beam passes that require a third eye to see coming have been the source material for SportsCenter&rsquo;s Top-10 during this fledgling college season.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmqKbyWZHqE" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
These highlight-reel plays are nothing new for Davison, who lit up the state of Alabama his entire career while playing for Calhoun High School. His production in high school was nothing new for the Davison namesake either, as JD followed in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Jerome, Jermarques and Ja&rsquo;Keem, all of whom were extremely talented players for the Calhoun program. JD, the youngest in the family, just took it to a new level.&nbsp;
As a junior, JD led Calhoun to the Class 2A state title, hitting the game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Davison became only the fifth high school junior to win Alabama&rsquo;s Mr. Basketball award. Between his junior and senior campaigns, JD began to be approached by all of the major prep schools in the country. From Hillcrest Prep (AZ) to Oak Hill Academy (VA), everyone came knocking on the door of the Davison&rsquo;s. But each sales pitch was rebuffed by JD, as his loyalty to Calhoun was unwavering.&nbsp;
After reaffirming his commitment to his hometown school, his senior year did not disappoint; the sequel led to another 2A state championship heading home with Calhoun. Davison also reeled in another Alabama Mr. Basketball award to complement his Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The result of his illustrious Calhoun career made him a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most sought after talents in the country.&nbsp;
Davison arrived to Alabama this season to much fanfare and excitement as the No. 9 RSCI recruit, making him the highest-ranked Crimson Tide commit since Collin Sexton. Davison thus far has made good on that ranking, playing a key role off the bench and electrifying in his 24.5 minutes per game. JD has come on strong as of late, averaging 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17359226_lg.jpg" alt="" width="502" height="492" />
I had a chance to see Davison up close during the Crimson Tide&rsquo;s trip to Orlando during the Thanksgiving ESPN Events Invitational, and despite the loss to Iona, the game was very insightful. Getting to watch Alabama&rsquo;s shootaround session illuminated JD&rsquo;s outgoing and contagious personality. He was talking and dancing with nearly every teammate on the floor, and seemed to know every lyric to the warm-up songs playing over the loudspeaker. Throughout the entirety of the pre-game a smile never left his face.&nbsp;
As the game came down the stretch, JD&rsquo;s intensity and concentration reached new heights, and he was locked-in the whole way. He got to the free-throw line multiple times throughout the game, dealing with hecklers leftover from the Kansas game that took place beforehand. Despite the out-of-line jeers from the fans in the compact gym. JD never broke focus and paid them no mind.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
I asked BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock for his thoughts on JD, here is what he had to say:
&ldquo;There is a lot to like about JD Davison. First of all, his physical gifts are very impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has a naturally strong build and is incredibly athletic. From a skill set standpoint, he has terrific court vision, is a high level passer, and has the potential to be a big scorer. Alabama currently brings Davison off of the bench as they have several veteran guards with more seniority. However, don&rsquo;t let that fool you, Davison is a top notch prospect with significant upside. I expect for him to be one of the first guards selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.&rdquo;
The talent of JD Davison has been undeniable, as his abundance of awe-striking moments has put even the casual basketball fan on notice. The future for the native son of Alabama is as bright as anyone&rsquo;s in this draft class.
JD Davison is currently ranked No. 9 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

With his explosiveness, elite level athleticism, charismatic personality and trademark blonde-dyed hair, it is impossible to not take notice of JD Davison the moment you walk into a gym. The freshman sensation from the small town of Letohatchee, Alabama (population of just over 1,000) has been putting the basketball world on notice. Davison&rsquo;s vicious open floor dunks, preternatural sense in the passing lanes and laser-beam passes that require a third eye to see coming have been the source material for SportsCenter&rsquo;s Top-10 during this fledgling college season.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmqKbyWZHqE" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
These highlight-reel plays are nothing new for Davison, who lit up the state of Alabama his entire career while playing for Calhoun High School. His production in high school was nothing new for the Davison namesake either, as JD followed in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Jerome, Jermarques and Ja&rsquo;Keem, all of whom were extremely talented players for the Calhoun program. JD, the youngest in the family, just took it to a new level.&nbsp;
As a junior, JD led Calhoun to the Class 2A state title, hitting the game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Davison became only the fifth high school junior to win Alabama&rsquo;s Mr. Basketball award. Between his junior and senior campaigns, JD began to be approached by all of the major prep schools in the country. From Hillcrest Prep (AZ) to Oak Hill Academy (VA), everyone came knocking on Davison's front door. But each sales pitch was rebuffed by JD, as his loyalty to Calhoun was unwavering.&nbsp;
After reaffirming his commitment to his hometown school, his senior year did not disappoint; the sequel led to another 2A state championship heading home with Calhoun. Davison also reeled in another Alabama Mr. Basketball award to complement his Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The result of his illustrious Calhoun career made him a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most sought after talents in the country.&nbsp;
Davison arrived to Alabama this season to much fanfare and excitement as the No. 9 RSCI recruit, making him the highest-ranked Crimson Tide commit since Collin Sexton. Davison thus far has made good on that ranking, playing a key role off the bench and electrifying in his 24.5 minutes per game. JD has come on strong as of late, averaging 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17359226_lg.jpg" alt="" width="502" height="492" />
I had a chance to see Davison up close during the Crimson Tide&rsquo;s trip to Orlando during the Thanksgiving ESPN Events Invitational, and despite the loss to Iona, the game was very insightful. Getting to watch Alabama&rsquo;s shootaround session illuminated JD&rsquo;s outgoing and contagious personality. He was talking and dancing with nearly every teammate on the floor, and seemed to know every lyric to the warm-up songs playing over the loudspeaker. Throughout the entirety of the pre-game a smile never left his face.&nbsp;
As the game came down the stretch, JD&rsquo;s intensity and concentration reached new heights, and he was locked-in the whole way. He got to the free-throw line multiple times throughout the game, dealing with hecklers leftover from the Kansas game that took place beforehand. Despite the out-of-line jeers from the fans in the compact gym. JD never broke focus and paid them no mind.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
I asked BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock for his thoughts on JD, here is what he had to say:
&ldquo;There is a lot to like about JD Davison. First of all, his physical gifts are very impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has a naturally strong build and is incredibly athletic. From a skill set standpoint, he has terrific court vision, is a high level passer, and has the potential to be a big scorer. Alabama currently brings Davison off of the bench as they have several veteran guards with more seniority. However, don&rsquo;t let that fool you, Davison is a top notch prospect with significant upside. I expect for him to be one of the first guards selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.&rdquo;
The talent of JD Davison has been undeniable, as his abundance of awe-striking moments has put even the casual basketball fan on notice. The future for the native son of Alabama is as bright as anyone&rsquo;s in this draft class.
JD Davison is currently ranked No. 9 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

With his explosiveness, elite level athleticism, charismatic personality and trademark blonde-dyed hair, it is impossible to not take notice of JD Davison the moment you walk into a gym. The freshman sensation from the small town of Letohatchee, Alabama (population of just over 1,000) has been putting the basketball world on notice. Davison&rsquo;s vicious open floor dunks, preternatural sense in the passing lanes and laser-beam passes that require a third eye to see coming have been the source material for SportsCenter&rsquo;s Top-10 during this fledgling college season.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmqKbyWZHqE" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
These highlight-reel plays are nothing new for Davison, who lit up the state of Alabama his entire career while playing for Calhoun High School. His production in high school was nothing new for the Davison namesake either, as JD followed in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Jerome, Jermarques and Ja&rsquo;Keem, all of whom were extremely talented players for the Calhoun program. JD, the youngest in the family, just took it to a new level.&nbsp;
As a junior, JD led Calhoun to the Class 2A state title, hitting the game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Davison became only the fifth high school junior to win Alabama&rsquo;s Mr. Basketball award. Between his junior and senior campaigns, JD began to be approached by all of the major prep schools in the country. From Hillcrest Prep (AZ) to Oak Hill Academy (VA), everyone came knocking on Davison's front door, but each sales pitch was rebuffed by JD, as his loyalty to Calhoun was unwavering.&nbsp;
After reaffirming his commitment to his hometown school, his senior year did not disappoint; the sequel led to another 2A state championship heading home with Calhoun. Davison also reeled in another Alabama Mr. Basketball award to complement his Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The result of his illustrious Calhoun career made him a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most sought after talents in the country.&nbsp;
Davison arrived to Alabama this season to much fanfare and excitement as the No. 9 RSCI recruit, making him the highest-ranked Crimson Tide commit since Collin Sexton. Davison thus far has made good on that ranking, playing a key role off the bench and electrifying in his 24.5 minutes per game. JD has come on strong as of late, averaging 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17359226_lg.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="441" />
I had a chance to see Davison up close during the Crimson Tide&rsquo;s trip to Orlando during the Thanksgiving ESPN Events Invitational, and despite the loss to Iona, the game was very insightful. Getting to watch Alabama&rsquo;s shootaround session illuminated JD&rsquo;s outgoing and contagious personality. He was talking and dancing with nearly every teammate on the floor, and seemed to know every lyric to the warm-up songs playing over the loudspeaker. Throughout the entirety of the pre-game a smile never left his face.&nbsp;
As the game came down the stretch, JD&rsquo;s intensity and concentration reached new heights, and he was locked-in the whole way. He got to the free-throw line multiple times throughout the game, dealing with hecklers leftover from the Kansas game that took place beforehand. Despite the out-of-line jeers from the fans in the compact gym. JD never broke focus and paid them no mind.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
I asked BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock for his thoughts on JD, here is what he had to say:
&ldquo;There is a lot to like about JD Davison. First of all, his physical gifts are very impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has a naturally strong build and is incredibly athletic. From a skill set standpoint, he has terrific court vision, is a high level passer, and has the potential to be a big scorer. Alabama currently brings Davison off of the bench as they have several veteran guards with more seniority. However, don&rsquo;t let that fool you, Davison is a top notch prospect with significant upside. I expect for him to be one of the first guards selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.&rdquo;
The talent of JD Davison has been undeniable, as his abundance of awe-striking moments has put even the casual basketball fan on notice. The future for the native son of Alabama is as bright as anyone&rsquo;s in this draft class.
JD Davison is currently ranked No. 9 on the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

With his explosiveness, elite level athleticism, charismatic personality and trademark blonde-dyed hair, it is impossible to not take notice of JD Davison the moment you walk into a gym. The freshman sensation from the small town of Letohatchee, Alabama (population of just over 1,000) has been putting the basketball world on notice.
Davison&rsquo;s vicious open floor dunks, preternatural sense in the passing lanes and laser-beam passes that require a third eye to see coming have been the source material for SportsCenter&rsquo;s Top-10 during this fledgling college season.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmqKbyWZHqE" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
These highlight-reel plays are nothing new for Davison, who lit up the state of Alabama his entire career while playing for Calhoun High School. His production in high school was nothing new for the Davison namesake either, as JD followed in the footsteps of his three older brothers, Jerome, Jermarques and Ja&rsquo;Keem, all of whom were extremely talented players for the Calhoun program. JD, the youngest in the family, just took it to a new level.&nbsp;
As a junior, JD led Calhoun to the Class 2A state title, hitting the game-winning shot with 1.1 seconds left. Averaging 30 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists per game, Davison became only the fifth high school junior to win Alabama&rsquo;s Mr. Basketball award. Between his junior and senior campaigns, JD began to be approached by all of the major prep schools in the country. From Hillcrest Prep (AZ) to Oak Hill Academy (VA), everyone came knocking on Davison's front door, but each sales pitch was rebuffed by JD, as his loyalty to Calhoun was unwavering.&nbsp;
After reaffirming his commitment to his hometown school, his senior year did not disappoint; the sequel led to another 2A state championship heading home with Calhoun. Davison also reeled in another Alabama Mr. Basketball award to complement his Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The result of his illustrious Calhoun career made him a consensus five-star prospect and one of the most sought after talents in the country.&nbsp;
Davison arrived to Alabama this season to much fanfare and excitement as the No. 9 RSCI recruit, making him the highest-ranked Crimson Tide commit since Collin Sexton. Davison thus far has made good on that ranking, playing a key role off the bench and electrifying in his 24.5 minutes per game. JD has come on strong as of late, averaging 9.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17359226_lg.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="441" />
I had a chance to see Davison up close during the Crimson Tide&rsquo;s trip to Orlando during the Thanksgiving ESPN Events Invitational, and despite the loss to Iona, the game was very insightful. Getting to watch Alabama&rsquo;s shootaround session illuminated JD&rsquo;s outgoing and contagious personality. He was talking and dancing with nearly every teammate on the floor, and seemed to know every lyric to the warm-up songs playing over the loudspeaker. Throughout the entirety of the pre-game a smile never left his face.&nbsp;
As the game came down the stretch, JD&rsquo;s intensity and concentration reached new heights, and he was locked-in the whole way. He got to the free-throw line multiple times throughout the game, dealing with hecklers leftover from the Kansas game that took place beforehand. Despite the out-of-line jeers from the fans in the compact gym. JD never broke focus and paid them no mind.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
I asked BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock for his thoughts on JD, here is what he had to say:
&ldquo;There is a lot to like about JD Davison. First of all, his physical gifts are very impressive. At 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, he has a naturally strong build and is incredibly athletic. From a skill set standpoint, he has terrific court vision, is a high level passer, and has the potential to be a big scorer. Alabama currently brings Davison off of the bench as they have several veteran guards with more seniority. However, don&rsquo;t let that fool you, Davison is a top notch prospect with significant upside. I expect for him to be one of the first guards selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.&rdquo;
The talent of Davison has been undeniable, as his abundance of awe-striking moments has put even the casual basketball fan on notice. The future for the native son of Alabama is as bright as anyone&rsquo;s in this draft class.
JD Davison is currently ranked No. 9 on the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

Grant Aqui digs into JD Davison's local background in Alabama and how he's stepped up for the Crimson Tide.

2022 NBA Draft: Getting to know JD Davison, Alabama's native son

Lincoln, Nebraska has not been the traditional home of one-and-done&rsquo;s or high profile recruits in years past, but Bryce McGowens is looking to change that.&nbsp;
As the No. 28 recruit in the RSCI rankings, McGowens headlines a consensus top-20 recruiting class for head coach Fred Hoiberg&rsquo;s Nebraska Cornhuskers. McGowens selected the program after decommitting from Florida State in October 2020. He opted instead to join his older brother, Trey McGowens, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Nebraska after two seasons. &nbsp; Bryce&rsquo;s arrival to the Nebraska program has made Lincoln a must-see stop on the scouting trail this season, and the early returns have been extremely promising. Through eight games, McGowens has averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 46% from the field. He has shouldered a massive workload to start the season, frequently taking turns running the offense alongside Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge Jr. With Trey suffering a foot injury that&rsquo;s expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks, we have seen Bryce take on an even bigger responsibility. His ability to carry a large offensive workload is what makes the younger McGowens so special.
BasketballNews.com Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock detailed his thoughts on McGowens: &nbsp; &ldquo;The most noticeable aspects that pop out about Bryce McGowens as a prospect are his terrific positional size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and his potential to score at three levels, while also being able to create off of the dribble. He seems to have a bit of a quick trigger, so improving his shot selection is something that I&rsquo;d like to see him address. However, with proper coaching from former NBA player Fred Hoiberg and his staff, I expect him to continue to improve throughout the season. McGowens&rsquo; potential to develop into a versatile NBA-level scorer is very intriguing. He is a prospect that I am excited about, and I certainly look forward to monitoring his development.&rdquo;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17226392_lg.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="365" /> &nbsp; Athletic success was seemingly in the cards from the word &ldquo;Go&rdquo; in the McGowens family, as athletic prowess runs throughout the family tree. Bryce and Trey&rsquo;s mother, Pam, was a basketball player at Western Carolina, and now is the women&rsquo;s varsity head coach at her alma mater, Wren High School. Their father, Bobby, played football at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina State as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball, and he now works as a principal and basketball coach. The family ties extend all the way to the youngest McGowens sibling, Raina, who is a Class of 2024 guard at Wren.
In an interview with the Greenville News, Pam stated: &ldquo;Bobby and I never said, &lsquo;This is what you&rsquo;re going to do because mom and dad did it,&rsquo; I think just us being coaches, they were those gym rats and became interested in the sport. They fell in love with it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &nbsp; Bryce began his high school career at Wren, too, before eventually transferring to Legacy Early College (SC) to finish his prep career. During his senior year, McGowens was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, joining Josiah-Jordan James, Aaron Nesmith and P.J. Dozier as one of the recent recipients of the award. He was also named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, but the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;
If the beginning of this season has been any indication, there will be more accolades and recognitions on the horizon for Bryce McGowens. The Nebraska freshman will continue to be a player to track as we progress towards the 2022 NBA Draft. &nbsp; Bryce McGowens is currently ranked No. 25 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Lincoln, Nebraska has not been the traditional home of one-and-done&rsquo;s or high profile recruits in years past, but Bryce McGowens is looking to change that.&nbsp;
As the No. 28 recruit in the RSCI rankings, McGowens headlines a consensus top-20 recruiting class for head coach Fred Hoiberg&rsquo;s Nebraska Cornhuskers. McGowens selected the program after decommitting from Florida State in October 2020. He opted instead to join his older brother, Trey McGowens, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Nebraska after two seasons. &nbsp; Bryce&rsquo;s arrival to the Nebraska program has made Lincoln a must-see stop on the scouting trail this season, and the early returns have been extremely promising. Through eight games, McGowens has averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 46% from the field. He has shouldered a massive workload to start the season, frequently taking turns running the offense alongside Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge Jr. With Trey suffering a foot injury that&rsquo;s expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks, we have seen Bryce take on an even bigger responsibility. His ability to carry a large offensive workload is what makes the younger McGowens so special.
BasketballNews.com Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock detailed his thoughts on McGowens: &nbsp; &ldquo;The most noticeable aspects that pop out about Bryce McGowens as a prospect are his terrific positional size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and his potential to score at three levels, while also being able to create off of the dribble. He seems to have a bit of a quick trigger, so improving his shot selection is something that I&rsquo;d like to see him address. However, with proper coaching from former NBA player Fred Hoiberg and his staff, I expect him to continue to improve throughout the season. McGowens&rsquo; potential to develop into a versatile NBA-level scorer is very intriguing. He is a prospect that I am excited about, and I certainly look forward to monitoring his development.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17226392_lg.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="365" /> &nbsp; Athletic success was seemingly in the cards from the word &ldquo;Go&rdquo; in the McGowens family, as athletic prowess runs throughout the family tree. Bryce and Trey&rsquo;s mother, Pam, was a basketball player at Western Carolina, and now is the women&rsquo;s varsity head coach at her alma mater, Wren High School. Their father, Bobby, played football at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina State as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball, and he now works as a principal and basketball coach. The family ties extend all the way to the youngest McGowens sibling, Raina, who is a Class of 2024 guard at Wren.
In an interview with the Greenville News, Pam stated: &ldquo;Bobby and I never said, &lsquo;This is what you&rsquo;re going to do because mom and dad did it,&rsquo; I think just us being coaches, they were those gym rats and became interested in the sport. They fell in love with it.&rdquo;&nbsp; &nbsp; Bryce began his high school career at Wren, too, before eventually transferring to Legacy Early College (SC) to finish his prep career. During his senior year, McGowens was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, joining Josiah-Jordan James, Aaron Nesmith and P.J. Dozier as one of the recent recipients of the award. He was also named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, but the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;
If the beginning of this season has been any indication, there will be more accolades and recognitions on the horizon for Bryce McGowens. The Nebraska freshman will continue to be a player to track as we progress towards the 2022 NBA Draft. &nbsp; Bryce McGowens is currently ranked No. 25 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Lincoln, Nebraska has not been the traditional home of one-and-done&rsquo;s or high profile recruits in years past, but Bryce McGowens is looking to change that.&nbsp;
As the No. 28 recruit in the RSCI rankings, McGowens headlines a consensus top-20 recruiting class for head coach Fred Hoiberg&rsquo;s Nebraska Cornhuskers. McGowens selected the program after decommitting from Florida State in October 2020. He opted instead to join his older brother, Trey McGowens, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Nebraska after two seasons. &nbsp; Bryce&rsquo;s arrival to the Nebraska program has made Lincoln a must-see stop on the scouting trail this season, and the early returns have been extremely promising. Through eight games, McGowens has averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 46% from the field. He has shouldered a massive workload to start the season, frequently taking turns running the offense alongside Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge Jr. With Trey suffering a foot injury that&rsquo;s expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks, we have seen Bryce take on an even bigger responsibility. His ability to carry a large offensive workload is what makes the younger McGowens so special.
BasketballNews.com Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock detailed his thoughts on McGowens: &nbsp; &ldquo;The most noticeable aspects that pop out about Bryce McGowens as a prospect are his terrific positional size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and his potential to score at three levels, while also being able to create off of the dribble. He seems to have a bit of a quick trigger, so improving his shot selection is something that I&rsquo;d like to see him address. However, with proper coaching from former NBA player Fred Hoiberg and his staff, I expect him to continue to improve throughout the season. McGowens&rsquo; potential to develop into a versatile NBA-level scorer is very intriguing. He is a prospect that I am excited about, and I certainly look forward to monitoring his development.&rdquo;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17226392_lg.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="365" /> Athletic success was seemingly in the cards from the word &ldquo;Go&rdquo; in the McGowens family, as athletic prowess runs throughout the family tree. Bryce and Trey&rsquo;s mother, Pam, was a basketball player at Western Carolina, and now is the women&rsquo;s varsity head coach at her alma mater, Wren High School. Their father, Bobby, played football at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina State as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball, and he now works as a principal and basketball coach. The family ties extend all the way to the youngest McGowens sibling, Raina, who is a Class of 2024 guard at Wren.
In an interview with the Greenville News, Pam stated: &ldquo;Bobby and I never said, &lsquo;This is what you&rsquo;re going to do because mom and dad did it,&rsquo; I think just us being coaches, they were those gym rats and became interested in the sport. They fell in love with it.&rdquo;
Bryce began his high school career at Wren, too, before eventually transferring to Legacy Early College (SC) to finish his prep career. During his senior year, McGowens was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, joining Josiah-Jordan James, Aaron Nesmith and P.J. Dozier as one of the recent recipients of the award. He was also named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, but the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the beginning of this season has been any indication, there will be more accolades and recognitions on the horizon for Bryce McGowens. The Nebraska freshman will continue to be a player to track as we progress towards the 2022 NBA Draft.
Bryce McGowens is currently ranked No. 25 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Lincoln, Nebraska has not been the traditional home of one-and-done&rsquo;s or high profile recruits in years past, but Bryce McGowens is looking to change that.&nbsp;
As the No. 28 recruit in the RSCI rankings, McGowens headlines a consensus top-20 recruiting class for head coach Fred Hoiberg&rsquo;s Nebraska Cornhuskers. McGowens selected the program after decommitting from Florida State in October 2020. He opted instead to join his older brother, Trey McGowens, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Nebraska after two seasons. &nbsp; Bryce&rsquo;s arrival to the Nebraska program has made Lincoln a must-see stop on the scouting trail this season, and the early returns have been extremely promising. Through eight games, McGowens has averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 46% from the field. He has shouldered a massive workload to start the season, frequently taking turns running the offense alongside Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge Jr. With Trey suffering a foot injury that&rsquo;s expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks, we have seen Bryce take on an even bigger responsibility. His ability to carry a large offensive workload is what makes the younger McGowens so special.
BasketballNews.com Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock detailed his thoughts on McGowens:
&ldquo;The most noticeable aspects that pop out about Bryce McGowens as a prospect are his terrific positional size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and his potential to score at three levels, while also being able to create off of the dribble. He seems to have a bit of a quick trigger, so improving his shot selection is something that I&rsquo;d like to see him address. However, with proper coaching from former NBA player Fred Hoiberg and his staff, I expect him to continue to improve throughout the season. McGowens&rsquo; potential to develop into a versatile NBA-level scorer is very intriguing. He is a prospect that I am excited about, and I certainly look forward to monitoring his development.&rdquo;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17226392_lg.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="365" /> Athletic success was seemingly in the cards from the word &ldquo;Go&rdquo; in the McGowens family, as athletic prowess runs throughout the family tree. Bryce and Trey&rsquo;s mother, Pam, was a basketball player at Western Carolina, and now is the women&rsquo;s varsity head coach at her alma mater, Wren High School. Their father, Bobby, played football at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina State as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball, and he now works as a principal and basketball coach. The family ties extend all the way to the youngest McGowens sibling, Raina, who is a Class of 2024 guard at Wren.
In an interview with the Greenville News, Pam stated: &ldquo;Bobby and I never said, &lsquo;This is what you&rsquo;re going to do because mom and dad did it,&rsquo; I think just us being coaches, they were those gym rats and became interested in the sport. They fell in love with it.&rdquo;
Bryce began his high school career at Wren, too, before eventually transferring to Legacy Early College (SC) to finish his prep career. During his senior year, McGowens was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, joining Josiah-Jordan James, Aaron Nesmith and P.J. Dozier as one of the recent recipients of the award. He was also named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, but the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the beginning of this season has been any indication, there will be more accolades and recognitions on the horizon for Bryce McGowens. The Nebraska freshman will continue to be a player to track as we progress towards the 2022 NBA Draft.
Bryce McGowens is currently ranked No. 25 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Lincoln, Nebraska has not been the traditional home of one-and-done&rsquo;s or high profile recruits in years past, but Bryce McGowens is looking to change that.&nbsp;
As the No. 28 recruit in the RSCI rankings, McGowens headlines a consensus top-20 recruiting class for head coach Fred Hoiberg&rsquo;s Nebraska Cornhuskers. McGowens selected the program after decommitting from Florida State in October 2020. He opted instead to join his older brother, Trey McGowens, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Nebraska after two seasons.
Bryce&rsquo;s arrival to the Nebraska program has made Lincoln a must-see stop on the scouting trail this season, and the early returns have been extremely promising. Through eight games, McGowens has averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 46% from the field. He has shouldered a massive workload to start the season, frequently taking turns running the offense alongside Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge Jr. With Trey suffering a foot injury that&rsquo;s expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks, we have seen Bryce take on an even bigger responsibility. His ability to carry a large offensive workload is what makes the younger McGowens so special.
BasketballNews.com Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock detailed his thoughts on McGowens:
&ldquo;The most noticeable aspects that pop out about Bryce McGowens as a prospect are his terrific positional size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and his potential to score at three levels, while also being able to create off of the dribble. He seems to have a bit of a quick trigger, so improving his shot selection is something that I&rsquo;d like to see him address. However, with proper coaching from former NBA player Fred Hoiberg and his staff, I expect him to continue to improve throughout the season. McGowens&rsquo; potential to develop into a versatile NBA-level scorer is very intriguing. He is a prospect that I am excited about, and I certainly look forward to monitoring his development.&rdquo;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17226392_lg.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="365" /> Athletic success was seemingly in the cards from the word &ldquo;Go&rdquo; in the McGowens family, as athletic prowess runs throughout the family tree. Bryce and Trey&rsquo;s mother, Pam, was a basketball player at Western Carolina, and now is the women&rsquo;s varsity head coach at her alma mater, Wren High School. Their father, Bobby, played football at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina State as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball, and he now works as a principal and basketball coach. The family ties extend all the way to the youngest McGowens sibling, Raina, who is a Class of 2024 guard at Wren.
In an interview with the Greenville News, Pam stated: &ldquo;Bobby and I never said, &lsquo;This is what you&rsquo;re going to do because mom and dad did it,&rsquo; I think just us being coaches, they were those gym rats and became interested in the sport. They fell in love with it.&rdquo;
Bryce began his high school career at Wren, too, before eventually transferring to Legacy Early College (SC) to finish his prep career. During his senior year, McGowens was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, joining Josiah-Jordan James, Aaron Nesmith and P.J. Dozier as one of the recent recipients of the award. He was also named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, but the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the beginning of this season has been any indication, there will be more accolades and recognitions on the horizon for Bryce McGowens. The Nebraska freshman will continue to be a player to track as we progress towards the 2022 NBA Draft.
Bryce McGowens is currently ranked No. 25 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Lincoln, Nebraska has not been the traditional home of one-and-done&rsquo;s or high profile recruits in years past, but Bryce McGowens is looking to change that.&nbsp;
As the No. 28 recruit in the RSCI rankings, McGowens headlines a consensus top-20 recruiting class for head coach Fred Hoiberg&rsquo;s Nebraska Cornhuskers. McGowens selected the program after decommitting from Florida State in October 2020. He opted instead to join his older brother, Trey McGowens, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Nebraska after two seasons.
Bryce&rsquo;s arrival to the Nebraska program has made Lincoln a must-see stop on the scouting trail this season, and the early returns have been extremely promising. Through eight games, McGowens has averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 46% from the field. He has shouldered a massive workload to start the season, frequently taking turns running the offense alongside Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge Jr. With Trey suffering a foot injury that&rsquo;s expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks, we have seen Bryce take on an even bigger responsibility. His ability to carry a large offensive workload is what makes the younger McGowens so special.
BasketballNews.com Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock detailed his thoughts on McGowens:
&ldquo;The most noticeable aspects that pop out about Bryce McGowens as a prospect are his terrific positional size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and his potential to score at three levels, while also being able to create off of the dribble. He seems to have a bit of a quick trigger, so improving his shot selection is something that I&rsquo;d like to see him address. However, with proper coaching from former NBA player Fred Hoiberg and his staff, I expect him to continue to improve throughout the season. McGowens&rsquo; potential to develop into a versatile NBA-level scorer is very intriguing. He is a prospect that I am excited about, and I certainly look forward to monitoring his development.&rdquo;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17226392_lg.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="365" /> Athletic success was seemingly in the cards from the word &ldquo;Go&rdquo; in the McGowens family, as athletic prowess runs throughout the family tree. Bryce and Trey&rsquo;s mother, Pam, was a basketball player at Western Carolina, and now is the women&rsquo;s varsity head coach at her alma mater, Wren High School in Piedmont, South Carolina. Their father, Bobby, played football at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina State as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball, and he now works as a principal and basketball coach. The family ties extend all the way to the youngest McGowens sibling, Raina, who is a Class of 2024 guard at Wren.
In an interview with the Greenville News, Pam stated: &ldquo;Bobby and I never said, &lsquo;This is what you&rsquo;re going to do because mom and dad did it,&rsquo; I think just us being coaches, they were those gym rats and became interested in the sport. They fell in love with it.&rdquo;
Bryce began his high school career at Wren, too, before eventually transferring to Legacy Early College (SC) to finish his prep career. During his senior year, McGowens was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, joining Josiah-Jordan James, Aaron Nesmith and P.J. Dozier as one of the recent recipients of the award. He was also named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, but the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the beginning of this season has been any indication, there will be more accolades and recognitions on the horizon for Bryce McGowens. The Nebraska freshman will continue to be a player to track as we progress towards the 2022 NBA Draft.
Bryce McGowens is currently ranked No. 25 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Lincoln, Nebraska has not been the traditional home of one-and-done&rsquo;s or high profile recruits in years past, but Bryce McGowens is looking to change that.&nbsp;
As the No. 28 recruit in the RSCI rankings, McGowens headlines a consensus top-20 recruiting class for head coach Fred Hoiberg&rsquo;s Nebraska Cornhuskers. McGowens selected the program after decommitting from Florida State in October 2020. He opted instead to join his older brother, Trey McGowens, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Nebraska after two seasons.
Bryce&rsquo;s arrival to the Nebraska program has made Lincoln a must-see stop on the scouting trail this season, and the early returns have been extremely promising. Through eight games, McGowens has averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 46% from the field. He has shouldered a massive workload to start the season, frequently taking turns running the offense alongside Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge Jr. With Trey suffering a foot injury that&rsquo;s expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks, we have seen Bryce take on an even bigger responsibility. His ability to carry a large offensive workload is what makes the younger McGowens so special.
BasketballNews.com Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock detailed his thoughts on McGowens:
&ldquo;The most noticeable aspects that pop out about Bryce McGowens as a prospect are his terrific positional size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and his potential to score at three levels, while also being able to create off of the dribble. He seems to have a bit of a quick trigger, so improving his shot selection is something that I&rsquo;d like to see him address. However, with proper coaching from former NBA player Fred Hoiberg and his staff, I expect him to continue to improve throughout the season. McGowens&rsquo; potential to develop into a versatile NBA-level scorer is very intriguing. He is a prospect that I am excited about, and I certainly look forward to monitoring his development.&rdquo;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17226392_lg.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="365" /> Athletic success was seemingly in the cards from the word &ldquo;Go&rdquo; in the McGowens family, as athletic prowess runs throughout the family tree. Bryce and Trey&rsquo;s mother, Pam, was a basketball player at Western Carolina, and now is the women&rsquo;s varsity head coach at her alma mater Wren High School in Piedmont, South Carolina. Their father, Bobby, played football at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina State as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball, and he now works as a principal and basketball coach. The family ties extend all the way to the youngest McGowens sibling, Raina, who is a Class of 2024 guard at Wren.
In an interview with the Greenville News, Pam stated: &ldquo;Bobby and I never said, &lsquo;This is what you&rsquo;re going to do because mom and dad did it,&rsquo; I think just us being coaches, they were those gym rats and became interested in the sport. They fell in love with it.&rdquo;
Bryce began his high school career at Wren, too, before eventually transferring to Legacy Early College (SC) to finish his prep career. During his senior year, McGowens was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, joining Josiah-Jordan James, Aaron Nesmith and P.J. Dozier as one of the recent recipients of the award. He was also named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, but the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the beginning of this season has been any indication, there will be more accolades and recognitions on the horizon for Bryce McGowens. The Nebraska freshman will continue to be a player to track as we progress towards the 2022 NBA Draft.
Bryce McGowens is currently ranked No. 25 on the BasketballNews.com 2022 NBA Draft Big Board.

Lincoln, Nebraska has not been the traditional home of one-and-done&rsquo;s or high profile recruits in years past, but Bryce McGowens is looking to change that.&nbsp;
As the No. 28 recruit in the RSCI rankings, McGowens headlines a consensus top-20 recruiting class for head coach Fred Hoiberg&rsquo;s Nebraska Cornhuskers. McGowens selected the program after decommitting from Florida State in October 2020. He opted instead to join his older brother, Trey McGowens, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Nebraska after two seasons.
Bryce&rsquo;s arrival to the Nebraska program has made Lincoln a must-see stop on the scouting trail this season, and the early returns have been extremely promising. Through eight games, McGowens has averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 46% from the field. He has shouldered a massive workload to start the season, frequently taking turns running the offense alongside Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge Jr. With Trey suffering a foot injury that&rsquo;s expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks, we have seen Bryce take on an even bigger responsibility. His ability to carry a large offensive workload is what makes the younger McGowens so special.
BasketballNews.com Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock detailed his thoughts on McGowens:
&ldquo;The most noticeable aspects that pop out about Bryce McGowens as a prospect are his terrific positional size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and his potential to score at three levels, while also being able to create off of the dribble. He seems to have a bit of a quick trigger, so improving his shot selection is something that I&rsquo;d like to see him address. However, with proper coaching from former NBA player Fred Hoiberg and his staff, I expect him to continue to improve throughout the season. McGowens&rsquo; potential to develop into a versatile NBA-level scorer is very intriguing. He is a prospect that I am excited about, and I certainly look forward to monitoring his development.&rdquo;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17226392_lg.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="365" /> Athletic success was seemingly in the cards from the word &ldquo;Go&rdquo; in the McGowens family, as athletic prowess runs throughout the family tree. Bryce and Trey&rsquo;s mother, Pam, was a basketball player at Western Carolina, and now is the women&rsquo;s varsity head coach at her alma mater Wren High School in Piedmont, South Carolina. Their father, Bobby, played football at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina State as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball, and he now works as a principal and basketball coach. The family ties extend all the way to the youngest McGowens sibling, Raina, who is a Class of 2024 guard at Wren.
In an interview with the Greenville News, Pam stated: &ldquo;Bobby and I never said, &lsquo;This is what you&rsquo;re going to do because mom and dad did it,&rsquo; I think just us being coaches, they were those gym rats and became interested in the sport. They fell in love with it.&rdquo;
Bryce began his high school career at Wren, too, before eventually transferring to Legacy Early College (SC) to finish his prep career. During his senior year, McGowens was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, joining Josiah-Jordan James, Aaron Nesmith and P.J. Dozier as one of the recent recipients of the award. He was also named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, but the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the beginning of this season has been any indication, there will be more accolades and recognitions on the horizon for Bryce McGowens. The Nebraska freshman will continue to be a player to track as we progress towards the 2022 NBA Draft.
Bryce McGowens is currently ranked No. 25 on the BasketballNews.com <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

Lincoln, Nebraska has not been the traditional home of one-and-done&rsquo;s or high profile recruits in years past, but Bryce McGowens is looking to change that.&nbsp;
As the No. 28 recruit in the RSCI rankings, McGowens headlines a consensus top-20 recruiting class for head coach Fred Hoiberg&rsquo;s Nebraska Cornhuskers. McGowens selected the program after decommitting from Florida State in October 2020. He opted instead to join his older brother, Trey McGowens, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Nebraska after two seasons.
Bryce&rsquo;s arrival to the Nebraska program has made Lincoln a must-see stop on the scouting trail this season, and the early returns have been extremely promising. Through eight games, McGowens has averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 46% from the field. He has shouldered a massive workload to start the season, frequently taking turns running the offense alongside Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge Jr. With Trey suffering a foot injury that&rsquo;s expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks, we have seen Bryce take on an even bigger responsibility. His ability to carry a large offensive workload is what makes the younger McGowens so special.
BasketballNews.com Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock detailed his thoughts on McGowens:
&ldquo;The most noticeable aspects that pop out about Bryce McGowens as a prospect are his terrific positional size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and his potential to score at three levels, while also being able to create off of the dribble. He seems to have a bit of a quick trigger, so improving his shot selection is something that I&rsquo;d like to see him address. However, with proper coaching from former NBA player Fred Hoiberg and his staff, I expect him to continue to improve throughout the season. McGowens&rsquo; potential to develop into a versatile NBA-level scorer is very intriguing. He is a prospect that I am excited about, and I certainly look forward to monitoring his development.&rdquo;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17226392_lg.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="365" /> Athletic success was seemingly in the cards from the word &ldquo;Go&rdquo; in the McGowens family, as athletic prowess runs throughout the family tree. Bryce and Trey&rsquo;s mother, Pam, was a basketball player at Western Carolina, and now is the women&rsquo;s varsity head coach at her alma mater Wren High School in Piedmont, South Carolina. Their father, Bobby, played football at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina State as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball, and he now works as a principal and basketball coach. The family ties extend all the way to the youngest McGowens sibling, Raina, who is a Class of 2024 guard at Wren.
In an interview with the Greenville News, Pam stated: &ldquo;Bobby and I never said, &lsquo;This is what you&rsquo;re going to do because mom and dad did it,&rsquo; I think just us being coaches, they were those gym rats and became interested in the sport. They fell in love with it.&rdquo;
Bryce began his high school career at Wren, too, before eventually transferring to Legacy Early College (SC) to finish his prep career. During his senior year, McGowens was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, joining Josiah-Jordan James, Aaron Nesmith and P.J. Dozier as one of the recent recipients of the award. He was also named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, but the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the beginning of this season has been any indication, there will be more accolades and recognitions on the horizon for Bryce McGowens. The Nebraska freshman will continue to be a player to track as we progress towards the 2022 NBA Draft.
Bryce McGowens is currently ranked No. 25 on the BasketballNews.com <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

Lincoln, Nebraska has not been the traditional home of one-and-dones or high-profile recruits in years past, but Bryce McGowens is looking to change that.&nbsp;
As the No. 28 recruit in the RSCI rankings, McGowens headlines a consensus top-20 recruiting class for head coach Fred Hoiberg&rsquo;s Nebraska Cornhuskers. McGowens selected the program after decommitting from Florida State in October 2020. He opted instead to join his older brother, Trey McGowens, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Nebraska after two seasons.
Bryce&rsquo;s arrival to the Nebraska program has made Lincoln a must-see stop on the scouting trail this season, and the early returns have been extremely promising. Through eight games, McGowens has averaged 18.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 46% from the field. He has shouldered a massive workload to start the season, frequently taking turns running the offense alongside Arizona State transfer Alonzo Verge Jr. With Trey suffering a foot injury that&rsquo;s expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks, we have seen Bryce take on an even bigger responsibility. His ability to carry a large offensive workload is what makes the younger McGowens so special.
BasketballNews.com Sr. NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock detailed his thoughts on McGowens:
&ldquo;The most noticeable aspects that pop out about Bryce McGowens as a prospect are his terrific positional size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and his potential to score at three levels, while also being able to create off of the dribble. He seems to have a bit of a quick trigger, so improving his shot selection is something that I&rsquo;d like to see him address. However, with proper coaching from former NBA player Fred Hoiberg and his staff, I expect him to continue to improve throughout the season. McGowens&rsquo; potential to develop into a versatile NBA-level scorer is very intriguing. He is a prospect that I am excited about, and I certainly look forward to monitoring his development.&rdquo;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17226392_lg.jpg" alt="" width="549" height="365" /> Athletic success was seemingly in the cards from the word &ldquo;Go&rdquo; in the McGowens family, as athletic prowess runs throughout the family tree. Bryce and Trey&rsquo;s mother, Pam, was a basketball player at Western Carolina, and now is the women&rsquo;s varsity head coach at her alma mater Wren High School in Piedmont, South Carolina. Their father, Bobby, played football at Clemson before transferring to South Carolina State as a dual-sport athlete in football and basketball, and he now works as a principal and basketball coach. The family ties extend all the way to the youngest McGowens sibling, Raina, who is a Class of 2024 guard at Wren.
In an interview with the Greenville News, Pam stated: &ldquo;Bobby and I never said, &lsquo;This is what you&rsquo;re going to do because mom and dad did it,&rsquo; I think just us being coaches, they were those gym rats and became interested in the sport. They fell in love with it.&rdquo;
Bryce began his high school career at Wren, too, before eventually transferring to Legacy Early College (SC) to finish his prep career. During his senior year, McGowens was named the 2020-2021 Gatorade Player of the Year in South Carolina, joining Josiah-Jordan James, Aaron Nesmith and P.J. Dozier as one of the recent recipients of the award. He was also named to the Jordan Brand Classic roster, but the event was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the beginning of this season has been any indication, there will be more accolades and recognitions on the horizon for Bryce McGowens. The Nebraska freshman will continue to be a player to track as we progress towards the 2022 NBA Draft.
Bryce McGowens is currently ranked No. 25 on the BasketballNews.com <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>.

Grant Aqui shares his takeaways on Nebraska freshman standout Bryce McGowens and details his family history in basketball.

2022 NBA Draft: A look at Bryce McGowens, Nebraska’s star freshman

The rapid rise of Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey was seemingly inevitable. 
Ivey is a great athlete and relentless defender who has flashed elite potential on that end of the floor, while also displaying the ability to create space for himself and score on multiple levels. Entering this season, he was a popular pick to break out with the Boilermakers and, five games in, he's doing just that.
As a freshman last season, Ivey made his presence felt quickly as a spark plug off the bench. Then, slowly but surely, he forced his way into the starting lineup. As a starter, Ivey averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He recorded a season-high 26 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 13th-seeded North Texas still managed to pull off the upset over Purdue. Ivey was inefficient as a freshman, shooting just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Still, his two-way contributions earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.&nbsp;
Ivey carried this momentum into the offseason, where he joined USA Basketball for junior basketball's premier event: the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Ivey spent time as both a sixth man and starter for Team USA throughout the tournament, frequently logging minutes alongside LSU guard Adam Miller to form a hyper-athletic backcourt that relentlessly pressured the rim. 
In the highly anticipated gold-medal game against top international prospect Victor Wembanyama and the French national team, Ivey recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 23 crucial minutes. For his efforts, Ivey was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren (who was also named the tournament's MVP).
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YzoZBdLzU8Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Coming into the 2021-22 NCAA season, many viewed Ivey as a potential lottery pick. He debuted at No. 10 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>. The 19-year-old has impressed BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock.
&ldquo;Jaden Ivey is a terrific athlete who plays with a great pace. He is hard to guard, as he is very assertive attacking the rim, especially in transition," Babcock said. "He also uses his athleticism to be a hawk on the ball defensively. He still has plenty of room for improvement with his outside shooting, but I am excited about him as a prospect nonetheless. We already have him ranked highly, but after his recent stellar play, I&rsquo;m leaning toward moving him up. He is a dynamic player with star potential.&rdquo;
To start this season, even more is being asked of Ivey and he has been up to the task thus far. Purdue is now 5-0 (including wins over No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina), with an average margin of victory of 22.6 points. Ivey has been pivotal to the Boilermakers' success, averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 threes on 46.6/31.8/77.3 shooting splits. In Purdue's 93-84 win over No. 18 UNC, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes and just 1 turnover.
Ivey has been putting pressure on the rim often, resulting in nearly 4.4 free-throw attempts per game (up from 3.2 last season). He also has six and-one conversions and he displayed tremendous body control on all of them.&nbsp;
He remains a two-way threat, as he's averaging 1.4 steals per game &mdash; many of which have been pick sixes that resulted in high-flying, acrobatic dunks on the other end. And with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and big-bodied Trevion Williams behind him and averaging a combined 3.7 blocks per game, Ivey has been empowered to be more aggressive as a ball hawk away from the ball, utilizing his 6-foot-9.5 wingspan. 
It is clear that Ivey is a burgeoning talent who has shown consistent growth over the past year. He is undoubtedly a high-priority prospect for our scouting staff to track closely as we inch closer to the 2022 NBA Draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board, which features scouting breakdowns, video highlights, projected roles and more for all of the top prospects.</a>

The rapid rise of Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey was seemingly inevitable. 
Ivey is a great athlete and relentless defender who has flashed elite potential on that end of the floor, while also displaying the ability to create space for himself and score on multiple levels. Entering this season, he was a popular pick to break out with the Boilermakers and, five games in, he's doing just that.
As a freshman last season, Ivey made his presence felt quickly as a spark plug off the bench. Then, slowly but surely, he forced his way into the starting lineup. As a starter, Ivey averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He recorded a season-high 26 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 13th-seeded North Texas still managed to pull off the upset over Purdue. Ivey was inefficient as a freshman, shooting just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Still, his two-way contributions earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.&nbsp;
Ivey carried this momentum into the offseason, where he joined USA Basketball for junior basketball's premier event: the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Ivey spent time as both a sixth man and starter for Team USA throughout the tournament, frequently logging minutes alongside LSU guard Adam Miller to form a hyper-athletic backcourt that relentlessly pressured the rim. 
In the highly anticipated gold-medal game against top international prospect Victor Wembanyama and the French national team, Ivey recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 23 crucial minutes. For his efforts, Ivey was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren (who was also named the tournament's MVP).
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YzoZBdLzU8Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Coming into the 2021-22 NCAA season, many viewed Ivey as a potential lottery pick. He debuted at No. 10 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>. The 19-year-old has impressed BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock.
&ldquo;Jaden Ivey is a terrific athlete who plays with a great pace. He is hard to guard, as he is very assertive attacking the rim, especially in transition," Babcock said. "He also uses his athleticism to be a hawk on the ball defensively. He still has plenty of room for improvement with his outside shooting, but I am excited about him as a prospect nonetheless. We already have him ranked highly, but after his recent stellar play, I&rsquo;m leaning toward moving him up. He is a dynamic player with star potential.&rdquo;
To start this season, even more is being asked of Ivey and he has been up to the task thus far. Purdue is now 5-0 (including wins over No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina), with an average margin of victory of 22.6 points. Ivey has been pivotal to the Boilermakers' success, averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 threes on 46.6/31.8/77.3 shooting splits. In Purdue's 93-84 win over No. 18 UNC, Ivey contributed 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes and just 1 turnover.
Ivey has been putting pressure on the rim often, resulting in nearly 4.4 free-throw attempts per game (up from 3.2 last season). He also has six and-one conversions and he displayed tremendous body control on all of them.&nbsp;
He remains a two-way threat, as he's averaging 1.4 steals per game &mdash; many of which have been pick sixes that resulted in high-flying, acrobatic dunks on the other end. And with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and big-bodied Trevion Williams behind him and averaging a combined 3.7 blocks per game, Ivey has been empowered to be more aggressive as a ball hawk away from the ball, utilizing his 6-foot-9.5 wingspan. 
It is clear that Ivey is a burgeoning talent who has shown consistent growth over the past year. He is undoubtedly a high-priority prospect for our scouting staff to track closely as we inch closer to the 2022 NBA Draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board, which features scouting breakdowns, video highlights, projected roles and more for all of the top prospects.</a>

The rapid rise of Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey was seemingly inevitable. 
Ivey is a great athlete and relentless defender who has flashed elite potential on that end of the floor, while also displaying the ability to create space for himself and score on multiple levels. Entering this season, he was a popular pick to break out with the Boilermakers and, five games in, he's doing just that.
As a freshman last season, Ivey made his presence felt quickly as a spark plug off the bench. Then, slowly but surely, he forced his way into the starting lineup. As a starter, Ivey averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He recorded a season-high 26 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 13th-seeded North Texas still managed to pull off the upset over Purdue. Ivey was inefficient as a freshman, shooting just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Still, his two-way contributions earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.&nbsp;
Ivey carried this momentum into the offseason, where he joined USA Basketball for junior basketball's premier event: the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Ivey spent time as both a sixth man and starter for Team USA throughout the tournament, frequently logging minutes alongside LSU guard Adam Miller to form a hyper-athletic backcourt that relentlessly pressured the rim. 
In the highly anticipated gold-medal game against top international prospect Victor Wembanyama and the French national team, Ivey recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 23 crucial minutes. For his efforts, Ivey was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren (who was also named the tournament's MVP).
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YzoZBdLzU8Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Coming into the 2021-22 NCAA season, many viewed Ivey as a potential lottery pick. He debuted at No. 10 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>. The 19-year-old has impressed BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock.
&ldquo;Jaden Ivey is a terrific athlete who plays with a great pace. He is hard to guard, as he is very assertive attacking the rim, especially in transition," Babcock said. "He also uses his athleticism to be a hawk on the ball defensively. He still has plenty of room for improvement with his outside shooting, but I am excited about him as a prospect nonetheless. We already have him ranked highly, but after his recent stellar play, I&rsquo;m leaning toward moving him up. He is a dynamic player with star potential.&rdquo;
To start this season, even more is being asked of Ivey and he has been up to the task thus far. Purdue is now 5-0 (including wins over No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina), with an average margin of victory of 22.6 points. Ivey has been pivotal to the Boilermakers' success, averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 threes on 46.6/31.8/77.3 shooting splits. In Purdue's 93-84 win over No. 18 UNC, Ivey had 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes and just 1 turnover.
Ivey has been putting pressure on the rim often, resulting in nearly 4.4 free-throw attempts per game (up from 3.2 last season). He also has six and-one conversions and he displayed tremendous body control on all of them.&nbsp;
He remains a two-way threat, as he's averaging 1.4 steals per game &mdash; many of which have been pick sixes that resulted in high-flying, acrobatic dunks on the other end. And with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and big-bodied Trevion Williams behind him and averaging a combined 3.7 blocks per game, Ivey has been empowered to be more aggressive as a ball hawk away from the ball, utilizing his 6-foot-9.5 wingspan. 
It is clear that Ivey is a burgeoning talent who has shown consistent growth over the past year. He is undoubtedly a high-priority prospect for our scouting staff to track closely as we inch closer to the 2022 NBA Draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board, which features scouting breakdowns, video highlights, projected roles and more for all of the top prospects.</a>

The rapid rise of Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey was seemingly inevitable. 
Ivey is a great athlete and relentless defender who has flashed elite potential on that end of the floor, while also displaying the ability to create space for himself and score on multiple levels. Entering this season, he was a popular pick to break out with the Boilermakers and, five games in, he's doing just that.
As a freshman last season, Ivey made his presence felt quickly as a spark plug off the bench. Then, slowly but surely, he forced his way into the starting lineup. As a starter, Ivey averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He recorded a season-high 26 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 13th-seeded North Texas still managed to pull off the upset over Purdue. Ivey was inefficient as a freshman, shooting just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Still, his two-way contributions earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.&nbsp;
Ivey carried this momentum into the offseason, where he joined USA Basketball for junior basketball's premier event: the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Ivey spent time as both a sixth man and starter for Team USA throughout the tournament, frequently logging minutes alongside LSU guard Adam Miller to form a hyper-athletic backcourt that relentlessly pressured the rim. 
In the highly anticipated gold-medal game against top international prospect Victor Wembanyama and the French national team, Ivey recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 23 crucial minutes. For his efforts, Ivey was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren (who was also named the tournament's MVP).
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YzoZBdLzU8Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Coming into the 2021-22 NCAA season, many viewed Ivey as a potential lottery pick. He debuted at No. 10 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>. The 19-year-old has impressed BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock.
&ldquo;Jaden Ivey is a terrific athlete who plays with a great pace. He is hard to guard, as he is very assertive attacking the rim, especially in transition," Babcock said. "He also uses his athleticism to be a hawk on the ball defensively. He still has plenty of room for improvement with his outside shooting, but I am excited about him as a prospect nonetheless. We already have him ranked highly, but after his recent stellar play, I&rsquo;m leaning toward moving him up. He is a dynamic player with star potential.&rdquo;
To start this season, even more is being asked of Ivey and he has been up to the task thus far. Purdue is now 5-0 (including wins over No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina), with an average margin of victory of 22.6 points. Ivey has been pivotal to the Boilermakers' success, averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 threes on 46.6/31.8/77.3 shooting splits. In Purdue's 93-84 win over No. 18 UNC, Ivey had 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes and just 1 turnover.
Ivey has been putting pressure on the rim often, resulting in nearly 4.4 free-throw attempts per game (up from 3.2 last season). He also has six and-one conversions and he displayed tremendous body control on all of them.&nbsp;He remains a two-way threat, as he's averaging 1.4 steals per game &mdash; many of which have been pick sixes that resulted in high-flying, acrobatic dunks on the other end. And with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and big-bodied Trevion Williams behind him and averaging a combined 3.7 blocks per game, Ivey has been empowered to be more aggressive as a ball hawk away from the ball, utilizing his 6-foot-9.5 wingspan. 
It is clear that Ivey is a burgeoning talent who has shown consistent growth over the past year. He is undoubtedly a high-priority prospect for our scouting staff to track closely as we inch closer to the 2022 NBA Draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board, which features scouting breakdowns, video highlights, projected roles and more for all of the top prospects.</a>

The rapid rise of Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey was seemingly inevitable. 
Ivey is a great athlete and relentless defender who has flashed elite potential on that end of the floor, while also displaying the ability to create space for himself and score on multiple levels. Entering this season, he was a popular pick to break out with the Boilermakers and, five games in, he's doing just that.
As a freshman last season, Ivey made his presence felt quickly as a spark plug off the bench. Then, slowly but surely, he forced his way into the starting lineup. As a starter, Ivey averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He recorded a season-high 26 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 13th-seeded North Texas still managed to pull off the upset over Purdue. Ivey was inefficient as a freshman, shooting just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Still, his two-way contributions earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.&nbsp;
Ivey carried this momentum into the offseason, where he joined USA Basketball for junior basketball's premier event: the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Ivey spent time as both a sixth man and starter for Team USA throughout the tournament, frequently logging minutes alongside LSU guard Adam Miller to form a hyper-athletic backcourt that relentlessly pressured the rim. 
In the highly anticipated gold-medal game against top international prospect Victor Wembanyama and the French national team, Ivey recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 23 crucial minutes. For his efforts, Ivey was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren (who was also named the tournament's MVP).
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YzoZBdLzU8Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Coming into the 2021-22 NCAA season, many viewed Ivey as a potential lottery pick. He debuted at No. 10 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>. The 19-year-old has impressed BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock.
&ldquo;Jaden Ivey is a terrific athlete who plays with a great pace. He is hard to guard, as he is very assertive attacking the rim, especially in transition," Babcock said. "He also uses his athleticism to be a hawk on the ball defensively. He still has plenty of room for improvement with his outside shooting, but I am excited about him as a prospect nonetheless. We already have him ranked highly, but after his recent stellar play, I&rsquo;m leaning toward moving him up. He is a dynamic player with star potential.&rdquo;
To start this season, even more is being asked of Ivey and he has been up to the task thus far. Purdue is now 5-0 (including wins over No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina), with an average margin of victory of 22.6 points. Ivey has been pivotal to the Boilermakers' success, averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 threes on 46.6/31.8/77.3 shooting splits. In Purdue's 93-84 win over No. 18 UNC, Ivey had 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes and just 1 turnover.
Ivey has been putting pressure on the rim often, resulting in nearly 4.4 free-throw attempts per game (up from 3.2 last season). He also has six and-one conversions and he displayed tremendous body control on all of them.&nbsp;However, he remains a two-way threat, as he's averaging 1.4 steals per game &mdash; many of which have been pick sixes that resulted in high-flying, acrobatic dunks on the other end. And with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and big-bodied Trevion Williams behind him and averaging a combined 3.7 blocks per game, Ivey has been empowered to be more aggressive as a ball hawk away from the ball, utilizing his 6-foot-9.5 wingspan. 
It is clear that Ivey is a burgeoning talent who has shown consistent growth over the past year. He is undoubtedly a high-priority prospect for our scouting staff to track closely as we inch closer to the 2022 NBA Draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board, which features scouting breakdowns, video highlights, projected roles and more for all of the top prospects.</a>

The rapid rise of Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey was seemingly inevitable. 
Ivey is a great athlete and relentless defender who has flashed elite potential on that end of the floor, while also displaying the ability to create space for himself and score on multiple levels. Entering this season, he was a popular pick to break out with the Boilermakers and, five games in, he's doing just that.
As a freshman last season, Ivey made his presence felt quickly as a spark plug off the bench. Then, slowly but surely, he forced his way into the starting lineup. As a starter, Ivey averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He recorded a season-high 26 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 13th-seeded North Texas still managed to pull off the upset over Purdue. Ivey was inefficient as a freshman, shooting just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Still, his two-way contributions earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.&nbsp;
Ivey carried this momentum into the offseason, where he joined USA Basketball for junior basketball's premier event: the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Ivey spent time as both a sixth man and starter for Team USA throughout the tournament, frequently logging minutes alongside LSU guard Adam Miller to form a hyper-athletic backcourt that relentlessly pressured the rim. 
In the highly anticipated gold-medal game against top international prospect Victor Wembanyama and the French national team, Ivey recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 23 crucial minutes. For his efforts, Ivey was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren (who was also named the tournament's MVP).
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YzoZBdLzU8Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Coming into the 2021-22 NCAA season, many viewed Ivey as a potential lottery pick. He debuted at No. 10 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>. The 19-year-old has impressed BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock.
&ldquo;Jaden Ivey is a terrific athlete who plays with a great pace. He is hard to guard, as he is very assertive attacking the rim, especially in transition," Babcock said. "He also uses his athleticism to be a hawk on the ball defensively. He still has plenty of room for improvement with his outside shooting, but I am excited about him as a prospect nonetheless. We already have him ranked highly, but after his recent stellar play, I&rsquo;m leaning toward moving him up. He is a dynamic player with star potential.&rdquo;
To start this season, even more is being asked of Ivey and he has been up to the task thus far. Purdue is now 5-0 (including wins over No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina), with an average margin of victory of 22.6 points. Ivey has been pivotal to the Boilermakers' success, averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 threes on 46.6/31.8/77.3 shooting splits. In Purdue's 93-84 win over No. 18 UNC, Ivey had 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes and just 1 turnover.
Ivey has been putting pressure on the rim often, resulting in nearly 4.4 free-throw attempts per game (up from 3.2 last season). He also has six and-one conversions and he displayed tremendous body control on all of them.&nbsp;However, he remains a two-way threat, averaging 1.4 steals per game &mdash; many of which have been pick sixes that resulted in high-flying, acrobatic dunks on the other end. And with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and big-bodied Trevion Williams behind him and averaging a combined 3.7 blocks per game, Ivey has been empowered to be more aggressive as a ball hawk away from the ball, utilizing his 6-foot-9.5 wingspan. 
It is clear that Ivey is a burgeoning talent who has shown consistent growth over the past year. He is undoubtedly a high-priority prospect for our scouting staff to track closely as we inch closer to the 2022 NBA Draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board, which features scouting breakdowns, video highlights, projected roles and more for all of the top prospects.</a>

The rapid rise of Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey was seemingly inevitable. 
Ivey is a great athlete and relentless defender who has flashed elite potential on that end of the floor, while also displaying the ability to create space for himself and score on multiple levels. Entering this season, he was a popular pick to break out with the Boilermakers and, five games in, he's doing just that.
As a freshman last season, Ivey made his presence felt quickly as a spark plug off the bench. Then, slowly but surely, he forced his way into the starting lineup. As a starter, Ivey averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He recorded a season-high 26 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 13th-seeded North Texas still managed to pull off the upset over Purdue. Ivey was inefficient as a freshman, shooting just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Still, his two-way contributions earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.&nbsp;
Ivey carried this momentum into the offseason, where he joined USA Basketball for junior basketball's premier event: the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Ivey spent time as both a sixth man and starter for Team USA throughout the tournament, frequently logging minutes alongside LSU guard Adam Miller to form a hyper-athletic backcourt that relentlessly pressured the rim. 
In the highly anticipated gold-medal game against top international prospect Victor Wembanyama and the French national team, Ivey recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 23 crucial minutes. For his efforts, Ivey was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren (who was also named the tournament's MVP).
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YzoZBdLzU8Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Coming into the 2021-22 NCAA season, many viewed Ivey as a potential lottery pick. He debuted at No. 10 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>. The 19-year-old has impressed BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock.
&ldquo;Jaden Ivey is a terrific athlete who plays with a great pace. He is hard to guard, as he is very assertive attacking the rim, especially in transition," Babcock said. "He also uses his athleticism to be a hawk on the ball defensively. He still has plenty of room for improvement with his outside shooting, but I am excited about him as a prospect nonetheless. We already have him ranked highly, but after his recent stellar play, I&rsquo;m leaning toward moving him up. He is a dynamic player with star potential.&rdquo;
To start this season, even more is being asked of Ivey and he has been up to the task thus far. Purdue is now 5-0 (including wins over No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina), with an average margin of victory of 22.6 points. Ivey has been pivotal to the Boilermakers' success, averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 threes on 46.6/31.8/77.3 shooting splits. In Purdue's 93-84 win over No. 18 UNC, Ivey had 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes and just 1 turnover.
Ivey has been putting pressure on the rim often, resulting in nearly 4.4 free-throw attempts per game (up from 3.2 last season). He also has six and-one conversions and he displayed tremendous body control on all of them.&nbsp;However, he remains a two-way threat, averaging 1.4 steals per game &mdash; many of which have been pick-sixes that resulted in high-flying, acrobatic dunks on the other end. And with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and big-bodied Trevion Williams behind him averaging a combined 3.7 blocks per game, Ivey has been empowered to be more aggressive as a ball hawk away from the ball, utilizing his 6-foot-9.5 wingspan. 
It is clear that Ivey is a burgeoning talent who has shown consistent growth over the past year. He is undoubtedly a high-priority prospect for our scouting staff to track closely as we inch closer to the 2022 NBA Draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board, which features scouting breakdowns, video highlights, projected roles and more for all of the top prospects.</a>

The rapid rise of Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey was seemingly inevitable. 
Ivey is a great athlete and relentless defender who has flashed elite potential on that end of the floor, while also displaying the ability to create space for himself and score on multiple levels. Entering this season, he was a popular pick to break out with the Boilermakers and, five games in, he's doing just that.
As a freshman last season, Ivey made his presence felt quickly as a spark plug off the bench. Then, slowly but surely, he forced his way into the starting lineup. As a starter, Ivey averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He recorded a season-high 26 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 13th-seeded North Texas still managed to pull off the upset over Purdue. Ivey was inefficient as a freshman, shooting just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Still, his two-way contributions earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.&nbsp;
Ivey carried this momentum into the offseason, where he joined USA Basketball for junior basketball's premier event: the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Ivey spent time as both a sixth man and starter for Team USA throughout the tournament, frequently logging minutes alongside LSU guard Adam Miller to form a hyper-athletic backcourt that relentlessly pressured the rim. 
In the highly anticipated gold-medal game against top international prospect Victor Wembanyama and the French national team, Ivey recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 23 crucial minutes. For his efforts, Ivey was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren (who was also named the tournament's MVP).
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YzoZBdLzU8Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Coming into the 2021-22 NCAA season, many viewed Ivey as a potential lottery pick. He debuted at No. 10 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>. The 19-year-old has impressed BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock.
&ldquo;Jaden Ivey is a terrific athlete who plays with a great pace. He is hard to guard, as he is very assertive attacking the rim, especially in transition," Babcock said. "He also uses his athleticism to be a hawk on the ball defensively. He still has plenty of room for improvement with his outside shooting, but I am excited about him as a prospect nonetheless. We already have him ranked highly, but after his recent stellar play, I&rsquo;m leaning toward moving him up. He is a dynamic player with star potential.&rdquo;
To start this season, even more is being asked of Ivey and he has been up to the task thus far. Purdue is now 5-0 (including wins over No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina), with an average margin of victory of 22.6 points. Ivey has been pivotal to the Boilermakers' success, averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 threes on 46.6/31.8/77.3 shooting splits. In Purdue's 93-84 win over No. 18 UNC, Ivey had 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes and just 1 turnover.
Ivey has been putting pressure on the rim often, resulting in nearly 4.4 free-throw attempts per game (up from 3.2 last season). He also has six and-one conversions and he displayed tremendous body control on all of them.&nbsp;However, he remains a two-way threat, averaging 1.4 steals per game &mdash; many of which have been pick-sixes that resulted in high-flying, acrobatic dunks on the other end. And with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and big-bodied Trevion Williams behind him and averaging a combined 3.7 blocks per game, Ivey has been empowered to be more aggressive as a ball hawk away from the ball, utilizing his 6-foot-9.5 wingspan. 
It is clear that Ivey is a burgeoning talent who has shown consistent growth over the past year. He is undoubtedly a high-priority prospect for our scouting staff to track closely as we inch closer to the 2022 NBA Draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board, which features scouting breakdowns, video highlights, projected roles and more for all of the top prospects.</a>

The rapid rise of Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey was seemingly inevitable. 
Ivey is a great athlete and relentless defender who has flashed elite potential on that end of the floor, while also displaying the ability to create space for himself and score on multiple levels. Entering this season, he was a popular pick to break out with the Boilermakers and, five games in, he's doing just that.
As a freshman last season, Ivey made his presence felt quickly as a spark plug off the bench. Then, slowly but surely, he forced his way into the starting lineup. As a starter, Ivey averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He recorded a season-high 26 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 13th-seeded North Texas still managed to pull off the upset over Purdue. Ivey was inefficient as a freshman, shooting just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Still, his two-way contributions earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.&nbsp;
Ivey carried this momentum into the offseason, where he joined USA Basketball for junior basketball's premier event: the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Ivey spent time as both a sixth man and starter for Team USA throughout the tournament, frequently logging minutes alongside LSU guard Adam Miller to form a hyper-athletic backcourt that relentlessly pressured the rim. 
In the highly anticipated gold-medal game against top international prospect Victor Wembanyama and the French national team, Ivey recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 23 crucial minutes. For his efforts, Ivey was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren (who was also named the tournament's MVP).
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YzoZBdLzU8Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Coming into the 2021-22 NCAA season, many viewed Ivey as a potential lottery pick. He debuted at No. 10 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>. The 19-year-old has impressed BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock.
&ldquo;Jaden Ivey is a terrific athlete who plays with a great pace. He is hard to guard, as he is very assertive attacking the rim, especially in transition," Babcock said. "He also uses his athleticism to be a hawk on the ball defensively. He still has plenty of room for improvement with his outside shooting, but I am excited about him as a prospect nonetheless. We already have him ranked highly, but after his recent stellar play, I&rsquo;m leaning toward moving him up. He is a dynamic player with star potential.&rdquo;
To start this season, even more is being asked of Ivey and he has been up to the task thus far. Purdue is now 5-0 (including wins over No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina), with an average margin of victory of 22.6 points. Ivey has been pivotal to the Boilermakers' success, averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 threes on 46.6/31.8/77.3 shooting splits. In Purdue's 93-84 win over No. 18 UNC, Ivey had 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes and just 1 turnover.
Ivey has been putting pressure on the rim often, resulting in nearly 4.4 free-throw attempts per game (up from 3.2 last season). He also has six and-one conversions and he displayed tremendous body control on all of them.&nbsp;However, he remains a two-way threat, averaging 1.4 steals per game &mdash; many of which have been pick-sixes that resulted in high-flying, acrobatic dunks on the other end. And with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and big-bodied Trevion Williams behind him and averaging a combined 3.7 blocks per game, Ivey is empowered to be more aggressive as a ball hawk away from the ball, utilizing his 6-foot-9.5 wingspan. 
It is clear that Ivey is a burgeoning talent who has shown consistent growth over the past year. He is undoubtedly a high-priority prospect for our scouting staff to track closely as we inch closer to the 2022 NBA Draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board, which features scouting breakdowns, video highlights, projected roles and more for all of the top prospects.</a>

The rapid rise of Purdue sophomore Jaden Ivey was seemingly inevitable. 
Ivey is a great athlete and relentless defender who has flashed elite potential on that end of the floor, while also displaying the ability to create space for himself and score on multiple levels. Entering this season, he was a popular pick to break out with the Boilermakers and, five games in, he's doing just that.
As a freshman last season, Ivey made his presence felt quickly as a spark plug off the bench. Then, slowly but surely, he forced his way into the starting lineup. As a starter, Ivey averaged 14.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He recorded a season-high 26 points in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but 13th-seeded North Texas still managed to pull off the upset over Purdue. Ivey was inefficient as a freshman, shooting just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Still, his two-way contributions earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.&nbsp;
Ivey carried this momentum into the offseason, where he joined USA Basketball for junior basketball's premier event: the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Ivey spent time as both a sixth man and starter for Team USA throughout the tournament, frequently logging minutes alongside LSU guard Adam Miller to form a hyper-athletic backcourt that relentlessly pressured the rim. 
In the highly anticipated gold-medal game against top international prospect Victor Wembanyama and the French national team, Ivey recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in 23 crucial minutes. For his efforts, Ivey was named to the All-Tournament team alongside Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren (who was also named the tournament's MVP).
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YzoZBdLzU8Y" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Coming into the 2021-22 NCAA season, many viewed Ivey as a potential lottery pick. He debuted at No. 10 on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board</a>. The 19-year-old has impressed BasketballNews.com's Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock.
&ldquo;Jaden Ivey is a terrific athlete who plays with a great pace. He is hard to guard, as he is very assertive attacking the rim, especially in transition," Babcock said. "He also uses his athleticism to be a hawk on the ball defensively. He still has plenty of room for improvement with his outside shooting, but I am excited about him as a prospect nonetheless. We already have him ranked highly, but after his recent stellar play, I&rsquo;m leaning toward moving him up. He is a dynamic player with star potential.&rdquo;
To start this season, even more is being asked of Ivey and he has been up to the task thus far. Purdue is now 5-0 (including wins over No. 5 Villanova and No. 18 North Carolina), with an average margin of victory of 22.6 points. Ivey has been pivotal to the Boilermakers' success, averaging 15.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 threes on 46.6/31.8/77.3 shooting splits. In Purdue's 93-84 win over No. 18 UNC, Ivey had 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 threes and just 1 turnover.
Ivey has been putting pressure on the rim often, resulting in nearly 4.4 free-throw attempts per game (up from 3.2 last season). He also has six and-one conversions and he displayed tremendous body control on all of them.&nbsp;However, he remains a two-way threat, averaging 1.4 steals per game &mdash; many of which have been pick-sixes that resulted in high-flying, acrobatic dunks on the other end. And with 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and big-bodied Trevion Williams averaging a combined 3.7 blocks per game behind him, Ivey is empowered to be more aggressive as a ball hawk away from the ball, utilizing his 6-foot-9.5 wingspan. 
It is clear that Ivey is a burgeoning talent who has shown consistent growth over the past year. He is undoubtedly a high-priority prospect for our scouting staff to track closely as we inch closer to the 2022 NBA Draft.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out BasketballNews.com's 2022 NBA Draft Big Board, which features scouting breakdowns, video highlights, projected roles and more for all of the top prospects.</a>

Entering this season, Jaden Ivey was a popular pick to break out with the Purdue Boilermakers. Five games in, he's doing just that.

Purdue's Jaden Ivey looks like possible top-10 pick in 2022 NBA Draft

Grant Aqui looks back on BJ Boston's journey from Norcross High School in Georgia to Sierra Canyon and Lexington, Kentucky.

Brandon Boston Jr. maintains solid draft stock despite tough year at Kentucky

Grant Aqui details Corey Kispert's ascent with the Gonzaga Bulldogs and how it's led to his first-round projection in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Corey Kispert's steady progression has led to first-round draft status

Grant Aqui shares how Marcus Zegarowski's family has influenced his basketball career and details his impressive years at Creighton.

Basketball runs in Marcus Zegarowski's blood

Grant Aqui details the unique journey of Chris Duarte to college basketball's biggest stage and blossoming into an NBA Draft prospect.

From the Dominican Republic to The Big Dance, Chris Duarte continues to climb

Grant Aqui dives into the unique rise of Texas big man Kai Jones, a prospect ascending the 2021 NBA Draft board.

The unique rise of Kai Jones

Grant Aqui joins BasketballNews.com as a video coordinator after serving as a prospect research associate at Babcock Hoops and as a senior scout for Sports Information Solutions. He has also spent time with the Phoenix Suns as a draft consultant and with the Lakeland Magic doing ancillary video work in an unofficial capacity. He worked for the Advocare Classic (now the Orlando Invitational) as a media coordinator for two seasons. During the 2019-2020 season, he worked for the Washington Wizards as a basketball operations intern.&nbsp;