NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of Maryland of last decade
By Joey Loose
10. Jalen Smith – Maryland
A five-star recruit from Baltimore, Smith was the rare elite prospect from Maryland who chose to stay home and play for the Terrapins. A 6’10 forward with athleticism, Smith spent two seasons as a full-time starter at Maryland and was a very important piece in the Terrapins’ frontcourt.
His freshman season was solid, averaging 11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, with a 19-point, 13-rebound effort in his first career game. He helped lead the Terrapins to the second round of his only NCAA Tournament, but it’s his sophomore season that really stood out. During that year, Smith averaged 15.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, becoming a walking double-double. He helped lead the Terrapins to a Big Ten regular season title with numerous performances, like his 29-point, 11-rebound effort at Indiana.
After being named All-Freshman by the Big Ten, Smith was on the All-Big Ten First Team and All-Defense team as a sophomore. He was a candidate for numerous major awards and was a Third Team All-American. He was one of the nation’s best bigs, leading the conference in effective field goal percentage and standing out on both sides of the ball. Smith was taken with the 10th pick of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns and continues his NBA career with the Indiana Pacers.