SI All-American POY Candidate Jalen Green Sets Decision Date
Eighty-nine days after Jalen Green originally planned to announce his commitment, the SI All-American Player of the Year candidate told Sports Illustrated that he’s again zeroing in on a date for his decision.
“I’m aiming for some time around April 15,” said Green, a combo guard at Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.). “Somewhere around that time. I’ve been holding people off for a while, but it’s about that time.”
Green had originally planned to decide on Christmas but pushed the decision back to give himself more time.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic impacted his recruitment from the obvious standpoint of travel restriction. The NCAA shutdown recruiting travel until at least April 15 due to the pandemic.
“It’s been wild not having sports and not being able to get to campuses and have face-to-face conversations,” Green said. “But it’s a serious situation out here. This isn’t as serious as people staying safe so I’m gonna make the best decision for me.”
Green never made a cut to his list of schools, but most contend that Auburn, Memphis, Oregon, Florida State, USC and Fresno State are strong with Green. Kentucky was once thought to be a strong contender to land Green, but the Cats are on the outside looking in at this point.
Green broke down what he liked about a handful of the schools most closely associated with his recruitment.
Fresno State: “People don’t believe that I’m actually looking at them, but I really am. That’s a possibility for me. That’s the hometown team and I have great relationships with the whole staff and the players. I like the vibe of being home.”
Green also has deep ties to Memphis assistant coach Mike Miller, who he refers to as “uncle Mike,” but with rumors swirling that Miller could leave for another job, Green addressed where that leaves the Tigers.
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“He’s always believed in me from the beginning, before I was ‘Jalen Green’ and that has always meant a lot to me,” Green said of Miller. “That’s why I call him uncle. I did hear about the rumors with him, but I don’t think that would impact my decision. If I decided to go there, of course I would want him to be there, but whatever happens, happens. I have a strong relationship with Coach Penny. We have similar styles and we relate on that level too. I really like my relationship with him.”
Auburn: “Coach Pearl is a great coach and he’s really close to the family. We made a bond pretty early and he’s another one that really believes in me. He always tells me that he has never had a player like me. I know he’d take care of me there.”
Green said he’s not affected by the question marks surrounding which players will be at particular schools next season, information that’s been delayed with the cancellation of March Madness due to the pandemic.
“Whoever is there, is there,” Green said. “I’d like to know who I’d be playing with, but it’s not something that would hold up my decision. I just wanna hoop.”
This season, Green has done that in dominant fashion, breaking Prolific Prep’s single-season scoring record with 1,008 points and averaging 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and five assists a game for the Crew which finished 31-3.
“It’s honestly exciting to me to make my decision,” Green said. “It’s the next chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page.”