Jalen Green
CG | 6-foot-5 | 170 lbs | No. 3 overall
There are very few potential incoming freshmen on the same level as Jalen Green. He is an electrifying 6-foot-5 guard that is a proven three-level scoring threat with tremendous athleticism. Green boasts one of the best first steps in the country, keeps defenses honest with a solid 3-point shot, and can finish around or through traffic at the rim. He is also more than just a scoring threat as he can also create for others, defend multiple positions, and plays with a great motor.
It is obvious that he is one of the best players in the 2020 recruiting class and is the top uncommitted prospect at the moment. As for his potential destination, Green has several options. If he chooses to spend one year in college, Auburn and Memphis are the favored destinations according to recruiting experts (Fresno State, Oregon, and USC are all longshots). There is also the possibility that he elects to spend a year playing professionally overseas or in the G League before taking his talents to the NBA.
Most experts feel that Auburn is the presumed favorite at the moment, where he could form a dynamic freshman backcourt with fellow five-star recruit Sharife Cooper. Head coach Bruce Pearl’s team has put together some strong offensive seasons in the past and a Cooper/Green duo would be electric. Memphis, on the other hand, offers the ability to play for coaches Penny Hardaway and Mike Miller. He would be able to pair with a strong returning Tigers’ group of guards with Boogie Ellis and Lester Quinones.
Green has announced that he will be making his college decision on the afternoon of April 17th. That date is quickly approaching and his destination could be the most important individual decision of this offseason. He is the type of instant star that could seriously propel either Auburn or Memphis up preseason rankings and into the national spotlight. He could also elect to head overseas for a year. Green is a sensational talent that will be a legitimate contender to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
That concludes this look at some of the top remaining recruiting battles in the 2020 class. All of these players should be able to make immediate impacts at their respective destinations next season and their decisions over the coming months could shake up preseason expectations for many programs. These recruitments are all worthy of following closely.