Recruiting Report: Jalen Suggs (2020)
Jalen Suggs had a fantastic opening weekend in Grassroots play scoring nearly 24 points a game and shooting 64 percent from the field while pushing his team to a 3-1 start. Jalen talked with Prep Hoops in Chicago. Jalen scored…
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Continue ReadingJalen Suggs had a fantastic opening weekend in Grassroots play scoring nearly 24 points a game and shooting 64 percent from the field while pushing his team to a 3-1 start. Jalen talked with Prep Hoops in Chicago.
Jalen scored 23.5 points a game in Chicago last weekend making a ridiculous 64 percent of his field goals in four games including 8 of his 17 threes. Throw in 25 assists against nine turnovers and it was a hell of a weekend.
Over the weekend Suggs led Grassroots Sizzle to a 3-1 start in UAA play impressing all that watched.
“Our team looks strong, nobody cares who plays well as long as we win,” Jalen said to Prep Hoops writers Scott Burgess and Ryan James. “Plus we have talent to shoot, defend, crash the glass, and just play hard we compliment each other really well.
“I am looking forward to having fun. Having fun is the biggest key. Having fun and playing hard. That is when we play well. Getting to know everybody and trying to make a run at these finals. I thought we should have got there last year. We had a tough loss in the qualifying game.”
Jalen scored 23.3 points, 6.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 steals a game this year shooting 52 percent from the floor, 34 percent at the arc, and 79 percent at the foul line. All of Jalen’s percentages are up, his mistakes are down, and his teams win. What was it like winning another title and how did Suggs grow?
“High school went real well,” Suggs said. “We gelled and bonded together. Going into state we had a lot of momentum and played real well. Championship game Chet (Holmgren) played really well. The whole team came together and I can’t say how proud I am of my guys.
“I would say efficiency,” Jalen said in terms of his main area of growth. “The past couple years I would take some bad shots and wasn’t as efficient going through some spurts. This year I have been more well balanced and played a more efficient game.”
Recruiting wise who is showing Jalen the most attention at the moment?
“I would definitely say Gonzaga, Iowa, Marquette, Minnesota, and a lot of the same schools.”
Jalen took an official visit to Gonzaga this winter plus saw a couple football programs in the past several months.
“I went on a couple for football to Notre Dame and Alabama. For basketball I went to Gonzaga for an official. I loved it. The coaching staff was great. I have a great relationship with the coaching staff. We talk almost every day. The Kennel is amazing. Sold out. Students go crazy and they have a lot of fan support. I loved my time in Spokane. I really enjoyed it and couldn’t find any negatives about it.
“I am still in contact with a lot of the same schools. Football recruiting is starting to pick up. Now is the time they are calling a lot and coming through to do visits. I am having a good time with it and enjoying the process. Making new connections and friendship with coaches. It is all fun right now.
“In a little bit here I will start to narrow it down. I want to have a list by the end of USA Basketball whether I make the team or not. I want to narrow it down and focus on the schools that are prioritizing me and I want to prioritize.”
Jalen knows what he is looking for in a school. This is a young man that stays in a gym an hour after a high school game socializing and hanging out with friends and family regardless of who his Redhawks team just beat. He’s looking for a place where athletics isn’t just a sport, but something that he lives as a passion with his team.
“Family feel,” Jalen said. “That is huge for me. I could care less if the teammates and good and coach, but if I don’t feel welcomed like they are showing me real love it doesn’t really appeal to me. Winning too as I am a competitor. Having fun with the game. People are going to embrace me and have fun with me, but at the same time correct me and tell me I am right and wrong.”