Recruiting Report: Jalen Windham (2019)
One of the best shooters in the state picked up his fourth D1 offer this week as Jalen Windham was offered by Miami (OH). The 6’5 SG is one of the top players in the 2019 class and is starting to gain more interest as the year goes on. Jack Owens, previously an assistant at Purdue, is hitting the Hoosier state hard with commits such as Nike Sibande and Jalen Adaway from the 2017 class and Myja White and Mekhi Lairy from the 2018 class. Windham is the next target on that list to join an Indiana loaded roster. Windham has been on an unofficial visit to Miami (OH) and really enjoys the campus and the philosophy that surrounds the college.
“I love that they’re really high on education and give you all the tools you need to be successful in the classroom,” Windham said. “Coach Owens really seems to be turning the program around with a few of the Indiana talent and I’m honored that he thinks I can be another good talent out of Indiana.”
Windham is running with Indy Heat EYBL 2019 this year so the competition that he sees this year on the circuit will really help him with his development. He’s a guy that can fill it up in a hurry from deep and is starting to incorporate a dribble-drive into his game. He has such a good frame at 6’5 that he has potential that he hasn’t even tapped into yet. Windham gets after it on both ends and is an elite talent. The talent aspect of the EYBL will help him, but the players on the team that he will be able to learn from is even greater. One of the best EYBL teams in the nation include Keion Brooks Jr., Trayce Jackson-Davis, Isaiah Thompson, and many more top players in the state and around the nation.
“It’s definitely different but playing with them and practicing with them isn’t doing anything but getting me better for the next level and for the EYBL,” Windham said. “I’m honored to be joined on a program like theirs and play at a high level like the EYBL also.”
Even though Windham got his first D1 offer from IUPUI in 2016, he has been hard at work over the past year. He feels like he has improved over the past year and molded himself into a more complete player due to his hard work in the gym.
“I feel like I have improved from just knowing the game more as a player,” Windham said. “Coming from a state championship team and having to lead first year varsity players, I had to take more responsibility along with Aaron Henry. My shooting can always get better so I continue to do that and my off the dribble is improving. I still have a lot I am looking to improve especially going into the summer, I’m excited”
Last year, Windham averaged 14 points a game and shot 41 percent from behind the line. He scored a high of 32 points in a game last year making 7-of-8 from deep. It is evident that Windham can shoot the ball and he is striving to improve every day so that he can be a D1 player at the highest level possible.
“I am working on handling the ball definitely,” Windham said. “That’s the obvious thing I need to improve to get more shots , it will be tougher for people to guard me instead of me standing around getting guarded skin tight.”