Prospect Spotlight: Jalal Baydoun (2019)
He doesn’t care what it takes, Jalal Baydoun just wants to win.
That winning mentality led to a monster junior season for him. The 6-foot Edsel Ford point guard averaged 19 points, 5.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game. Baydoun is always in the gym trying to take his game to the next level.
“I am a very competitive player who hates to lose and will do whatever is necessary to win a ball game,” Baydoun said. “I am a very humble and unselfish student of the game who plays for the love of the game.”
Baydoun can score from all three levels and is great at finding the open man. One of the more underrated parts of his game is his rebounding ability. He has that Russell Westbrook tenacity and isn’t afraid to go up and grab a rebound against taller players.
“I have a high basketball IQ and do whatever is necessary to win a basketball game,” Baydoun said. “As a three year captain on varsity, I take great pride in being a leader. I work on all facets of my game in order for me to be the best all around player possible. Since the ball is in my hands the majority of the time, I would like to improve my assist/turnover ratio.”
Defensively, Baydoun is very active, which allows him to come away with a ton of steals. He is great at staying in front of his man, but team defense is what Baydoun is all about. He is rarely out of position and makes opposing guards work for everything.
Baydoun likes to mold his game after Allen Iverson and Chris Paul, and you can see a little bit of each guy in him. He is a crafty playmaker that is great with the ball in his hands, but his ability to drive and find the open man is the biggest similarity that I see.
“I am a great team player who plays with great passion and high intensity whenever I step on the court,” Baydoun said. “I have never backed down from a challenge regardless of who I am playing against. My countless hours in the gym and hard work ethic have prepared me for any challenges that lie ahead.”
Basketball wise, Baydoun would love to play in college and then overseas. His competitive attitude and playmaking ability should get him to the next level. He plays the game the right way and never backs down from a challenge. I believe he fits in at the Division III or NAIA level.
Outside of basketball, Baydoun wants to continue prioritizing what’s most important in his life: education, religion and his family. He credits his family for being supportive and giving him the tools necessary to become successful.
“My parents are my role models because they taught me as a child to prioritize what is important in my life,” Baydoun said. “That advice has helped shape me into the man I am today.