Recruiting Report: Jamal West (2020)
Jamal West is a name that has exploded in the Baltimore area since last year. The 6-foot-5 wing/forward had immense impact as a junior transfer at St. Frances, aiding them to a sweep of the MIAA and BCL crowns. West…
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Continue ReadingJamal West is a name that has exploded in the Baltimore area since last year. The 6-foot-5 wing/forward had immense impact as a junior transfer at St. Frances, aiding them to a sweep of the MIAA and BCL crowns. West is no stranger to winning. The year before at Dunbar High School, he was a vital piece of the team that captured the 1A state title.
West is the type of player coaches love simply because you know he will give 100 percent effort at all times. His endless motor speaks for itself in the rebounding department and his brute strength and athleticism are on display as he throws down two-handed dunks that send thunder through gymnasiums. As time goes on though, we are seeing his transformation of becoming more of an option with the ball in his hands.
“I’ve been focusing on my on-ball defense, shooting and my handles,” West said when reflecting on his progress us far in spring. “It’s that time that I have to show schools all I can do. Just have to work.”
I saw West yesterday in the Summer Time Grind Summer League and it although St. Frances was missing many of their key guards, it was evident that the coaching staff wants to see West start taking control of leading the break on some occasions.
“It’s something that I’ve been working on all summer,” West said. “I’ve been working on it with Thrill and working on it with my coaches in workouts so it’s something that becomes part of my game consistently.
West’s style of play doesn’t come as a player who handles the ball often. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands to have an impact. He feasts on the offensive glass, finishes strong as the roll man on ball-screens and benefits from playing with good guards finding him in the dunker’s spot.
With that being said, for his size, he’ll need to be versatile enough to log minutes at the three in college. It’s encouraging to see those around him are making him cognizant of that and are taking the proper steps to adopt those skills in his game.
West told me that his hard work this spring and summer is paying off and it has resulted in him getting attention from programs. West is happy with the list of offers he has compiled thus far.
With one official visit already in the books for West to Mt. St. Mary’s, the remainder of schools on his list include: Coastal Carolina, San Diego, LIU-Brooklyn, Delaware, Marist, UMass and IUPUI.
In terms of when West will make a final college decision, he told Prep Hoops that he will make an announcement sometime during the season.
“Likely in the timetable of November to January,” West claimed.
It wouldn’t be shocking to see West add a couple more schools to that list of offers considering the national schedule that St. Frances will embark on this season.