NCAA Basketball: Early predictions for class of 2022 top uncommitted recruits
By Ian Mumm
Jalen Duren, C – 6’10″/230 – #2 Player in 2020 NCAA Basketball class
The top big man in the class, Jalen Duren, has seen a somewhat delayed start to his recruitment. There is undoubtedly plenty of intrigue and interest from high-major programs, but most have been hesitant to extend offers to this point. Adding to his list of existing offers (Miami, Maryland, Michigan and Penn State), Villanova, Georgetown, Alabama, and UCLA have sent offers out to him since the start of the recruiting period. Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke have also expressed interest in signing him.
Reminiscent of big men in the 90s, Duren’s game is a mix of midrange shooting and post control with his back to the basket. He’s a space eater with a very physical frame and offers a big target for guards to eek out easy buckets in the lane. At the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas Championship last summer, Duren produced 10.2 points and a team-leading 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 18.5 minutes of action per game.
Duren shouldn’t have many issues adjusting to the college game, once he steps foot on a campus, but could set himself up nicely under a coach with experience at his position. His main goal is finding “a program and a coach that is going to push me to be the best that I can be,” in an interview with Eric Bossi of Rivals.com.
While UNC, Kentucky and Duke have not extended offers to Duren, the expectation would be that they plan to in the near future. The blue-bloods are hold to resist, but the hometown Villanova Wildcats have developed an exceptional track record for developing prospects across the board in preparation for the NBA. A year under Jay Wright could help Duren add more weapons to his arsenal, especially in the shooting department.
Prediction: Villanova Wildcats