Recruiting Report: Jalen Dearring (2019)
Nobody is in the gym more than Minnetonka guard Jalen Dearring. This young guard improves daily which is why he is one of the top 25 players in the upcoming senior class.
Dearring scored 17 points a game as a junior against the always tough schedule that the Skippers face. Jalen led the team in assists and returns to Tonka along with Cameron Steele, a talented 2020.
“Cam Steele, Gavin Patton, and Aaron Syverson who played major minutes for us last year will be back,” Jalen said about next season. “Marvin Lee who was previously at Shadow Mountain high school in AZ the past three years has came back to the Minnetonka school district. Marvin’s a big 6-foot-5 body that will help the team make strides.
“Jackson Owens who is a wide receiver for the football team is coming out for the team, he played his sophomore year and played a lot of minutes. He is a great defender, very strong rebounder. Gram Ims will come in and help us he’s a guy who gives 150 percent effort all day everyday. Riley O Conner is a in coming junior who is gonna step up for us hitting shots, he’s a good three point shooter.
“Also with a couple other younger guys who will have a chance to help our squad. The expectations is to maintain a top ten spot through the season and get to that Target Center. Leading these guys to that is my main focus. Having the most experience comes with this responsibility. Well prepared to get these guys ready coming November.
“Cam Steele and Gavin Patton who will now be in there second year of varsity, they will play there games with way more confidence. Aaron Syverson and Jackson Owens who are leaders on the very successful football squad we’ll expect/hope them to carry that to the basketball team.”
The winter will be here before we know it but before we talk about the 18-19 season we still have to finish the final stretch of the 17u year which has four weekends left. Dearring plays with 44 Elite who is 16-13 on the season.
“We played well in Atlanta and Dallas this year,” Jalen said. “And played great in the Howard Pulley Invitational. And that’s with only about six or seven guys we have never really had our full squad coming into a tournament. We hope to have our full squad in July knowing it’s the most important month off AAU. And I hope to receive an scholarship offer by the end of the summer. That’s me and my teammates ultimate goal.”
Schools are in contact with Jalen as we enter the all-important month of July.
“Kansas State, Iowa State, LaSalle, Xavier, Winona State, Ball State, and one other MAC conference school has shown some interest and has contacted my AAU coach.
“After July I hope to visit schools. I am currently not healthy and have been out the whole month of June, and unfortunately had to miss a couple camps. I hope to be back before first July tournament. And the Larry Hughes Elite camp is an possibility for me in July.”
When Jalen gets back to 100 percent there are certain things he wants to work on to continue to improve his all around ability.
“Improving my rebounding and free throw percentage from last year will be my main focus,” Jalen said. “Also, a goal will be to average 7 or higher assists a game, and improving my three-point percentage from 40 percent to higher. Adding those things to my scoring and steal ability will make us a lot better.”