COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. — The USA U17 coaches trimmed their roster down from 39 players to 18 on Sunday morning. Jalen “Sticks” Smith, ESPN’s No. 18 ranked prospect in the class of 2018, made the initial cut.
The 6-foot-8, 199-pound junior from Baltimore, Md., impressed the coaching staff enough in his first four practices to make it as one of six big men to the trimmed down roster.
“I think I’ve been doing well,” said Smith. “Getting a feeling for the practice and seeing what the coaches like. If you play as a team, you’ll win the gold medal, but if play by yourself then it won’t work out.”
Despite his lanky frame, Smith made a name for himself by finishing explosively in the paint, while also showing the ability to step outside of the paint and hit 10-12 foot jump shots.
“Even though I’m skinny, I can bang with the big men and I can guard guards if I need to,” said Smith. “I would say I’m a versatile player. I mainly play in the post, but I can step out and shoot it as well.”
With a high upside a variety of high major programs have shown interest in Smith.
“Villanova, Syracuse, Maryland, Temple, UNC, Duke, Providence, Marquette, Miami, Wake Forest, UCLA, and Georgia Tech,” Smith said.
“I’m not really focused on the basketball part, I’m really focused on the education,” said Smith. “I really want to get my degree in Business Management in case basketball doesn’t pan out.”
Smith plays his high school basketball for Baltimore powerhouse, Mount St. Joseph’s, who lost in the Baltimore Catholic League final to a familiar face in Immanuel Quickley and his John Carroll squad. Quickley also made it through the first set of U17 cuts and the two Baltimore products teamed up nicely during practices on Saturday.
“When I’m with the people I know, I’m more comfortable and I’m not locked up and can look for my shot a little more,” said Smith.
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