Recruiting Report: Jalen “Sticks” Smith (2018)
With all the talk, both good and bad, about the shoe companies involvement in Grassroots basketball, there are plenty of examples of players who have blown up while playing on the circuits. One of those players is 2018 big man Jalen Smith, better known as “Sticks” by his teammates and friends.
The 6’9” big man out of Mount. St. Joseph’s in Baltimore was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Maryland as just a junior, and he’s now being touted by some of the biggest college powerhouses in the country. However, just two years ago Smith was a skinny, skilled post player for MD3D, a good program in their own right, and he was dominating despite playing up with 16U.
We weren’t the only ones who had seen the potential in Smith, as Team Takeover, one of the best Nike programs on the EYBL, brought him down to DC and it was a match made in heaven. Smith joined Takeover’s 16U team as a rising junior last season, and it was a match made in heaven.
“It wasn’t that hard of a transition, because I basically knew everyone on the team, so it was just building bonds with them,” Smith said. “Once I get with them, I got used to their system and how they play. They don’t have a traditional style, because everyone can play different positions, so once I got used to that I was able to work with them.”
Since joining Takeover, Smith’s stock has soared. Not only did he win Player of the Year, an award that typically is given to seniors, he’s currently sitting with double digit high major offers, and says the likes of Maryland, Villanova and UVA are recruiting him the hardest.
With one season of AAU left, Smith says he’s in no rush, setting a timetable of late July-early August to cut his list down and make official visits. He’s one that understands coaches like winning, and believes that if they win in the EYBL coaches will take notice.
“Our goal for the first tournament is just to come and make a statement,” Smith said about the EYBL. “We want to show that we can hang with anybody, show that we can play as a team, no one takes selfish shots and we just compete.”
Some may wonder why a skinny post guy like Smith would be touted by all these big time schools, but it’s easy to see when he plays. He’s long and runs the floor like a gazelle, and while he doesn’t have the brute strength he has great timing when protecting the rim defensively. He can finish with both hands in traffic, has an array of post moves with his back to the basket and he’s worked to be able to shoot the trail three as well.
Still, what most people don’t realize is that he’s an unselfish and hard working kid who doesn’t take the success for granted, and just wants to get better.
“Playing at the four spot, it’s easy for me to be able to find people because they either double team me or they have to let me work one-on-one, so once it gets going I’m able to find guys on cuts or for open shots.”
“Something I need to work on is my strength in the low post and rebounding, going after the ball with two hands. Also need to work on my foot speed.”
As for his choice in schools, it isn’t coming anytime soon, but he says basketball is only a part of what he’s considering when he makes the decision.
“What I’m really looking for is the education, if basketball doesn’t work out I want to be able to get my Bachelors or Masters in business management so I’ll be able to do something if basketball doesn’t pan out.”
It isn’t everyday you meet a kid as humble as Sticks after blowing up just two years ago, but that only makes him more intriguing to college coaches. Be sure to check out Team Takeover in Hampton this weekend at EYBL Session One.