Exactly a year ago, top high school prospect Jalen Green was putting on a show at the SM Mall of Asia Arena during the 2019 Chooks-to-Go NBTC National Finals.
A year later, the 18-year-old is just practicing in his backyard.
The next two months should have been the final showcase for the top-ranked prospect in high school hoops today. But due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, events like the McDonald’s All-American, the Jordan Brand Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit have all been canceled.
It was heartbreaking for Green, as he’d had to sacrifice taking part in this year’s NBTC tournament to be in these events. The NBTC has been postponed to a later date as well.
“I was hurt. I am not going to lie. Those are all games you dream about as a senior,” Green told The Undefeated’s Marc Spears.
“When I found it was canceled, it was heartbreaking, low-key. But I’m good. Everything happens for a reason. They’re not going to bring it back, but just to be announced as a player selected for that is cool. So, I have that honor.”
Green has made official visits to topflight schools like Oregon, Auburn, Memphis, and Kentucky. The showcases, meanwhile, were the final pitch he could make for other schools to try and recruit him.
The 6-foot-5 swingman remains confident that he has done everything he could to impress those coaches.
“I have been in contact with the coaches that are recruiting me already. It really doesn’t change anything.
“I took all my visits already and I got a pretty good look at the schools that I went to,” shared Green, who has been a mainstay for Fil-Am Sports in the NBTC for the last two years.
Green has now set his sights on making his decision for college on April 15, 2020.
But for now, he has his sights set on accomplishing one more thing before moving on to the next chapter of his life.
“There will be schoolwork as soon as we get back [from spring break]. I got some online classes.”
