Player profile: Jalen Smith
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
Jalen Smith is a player of few words. He works and moves in silence.
The 2021 combo guard is one of the purest shooters in the Southeast and possibly the country. However, he is never content for being just labeled a shooter.
Smith has worked on his game every year.
He went from just being a perimeter threat overshadowed by some phenomenal athletes at Oak Ridge High in Florida. He watched CJ Walker and Niven Glover (now Hart) push teammates to reach their potential. Smith was one of those guys being pushed.
This past season, Smith was expected to make noise and lead. He didn’t disappoint.
Smith averaged 11.6 points and just under three assists per game. He also shot nearly 42 percent from the three-point line. These numbers piqued the interest of college programs on the 6-foot-3 guard.
Smith currently holds offers from Cleveland State, UNC Wilmington, Siena, Elon, College of Charleston, Illinois-Chicago, Florida Atlantic, SMU, Florida Gulf Coast, Texas State, Hofstra, South Florida, and Stetson.
“They all talked about being a combo and being able to run the team,” said Smith of the conversations had with the coaches.
Smith being recruited as a combo guard goes to the work being done quietly in the offseason.
Since the eighth grade, Smith was labeled. He wasn’t strong enough. Can he get into the lane and absorb contact? Is he willing to be a vocal?
In the summer of his freshman year, Smith got into the weight room with his father, Dwayne, on a mission to shed the labels.
He spent the summer grinding in the weight room getting stronger, which paid off on the EYBL circuit as a member of E1T1. Smith got into the lane and was knocked to the floor.
“It felt really good,” he said. “I used to be pushed around. Now I have that strength.”
The next approach was shedding the soft-spoken approach on the court. Smith was guided by Walker and Glover on how to push teammates.
Smith just watched how the duo would get on guys in a way to fire them up. Breaking out of his introverted shell took some time.
“I was very quiet,” he said. “I was just listening to CJ and Niven. If someone did something wrong they were on them.”
Smith was observant as a sophomore before calling out teammates. He called out teammates this past season if they did not perform to the level of expectations suited to wear an Oak Ridge uniform.
Heading into his final season of travel ball and high school, Smith is not content with his success. He continues to put in the work, just not in Florida.
Just as the country was beginning to shut down because of the global pandemic, Smith headed to Georgia. He went to visit family but has been in the gym daily working on his game with trainer Rob Allen.
They have had access to a small gym where Smith’s shot and athleticism have improved.
“I used to have a really bad dip in the eighth grade,” said Smith of his shot. “He fixed that for me. We have been working out together ever since.”
Smith is eager to start the summer basketball season. He, like many in his class, is not in a real rush to make a college decision. All of the college coaches have checked in on Smith.
There is no clear cut favorite. He is looking for a good business program and some teammates willing to put in some work.
“I want to be around the kind of guys who want to always be in the gym,” Smith said.
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.