A former five-star recruit from the 2018 cycle that could’ve come out for the 2019 NBA Draft as a possible first round pick is the Maryland Terrapins to-be sophomore big man Jalen Smith. The Memphis Grizzlies also seem like a great landing spot to continue the development of Smith at the next level.
The reigning All-Big Ten Freshman Team honoree posted a player efficiency rating of 22.8 in his first year with the Terps to go along with 11.7 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. He also showed that he could start to draw out his range and become a better shooter, attempting 2.2 three-point looks per game and shooting better than 56 percent from the field.
There needs to be progression from Smith on the defensive end of the floor before he takes his talents to the NBA as a potential lottery pick, but the promise and flashes were certainly there with Maryland last season. He did post a defensive rating well below 100 as a true freshman, though.
The 6-foot-10 and 215 pound big man has physical tools and a skill set that nicely combines that of a traditional center or power forward and what scouts look for now in a pick-and-roll setting. His skill set just fits so naturally with the Grizzlies and the building young core they have with point guard Ja Morant and forward Jaren Jackson Jr.