Jalen “Stix” Smith, Maryland’s sophomore forward who teamed up with Anthony Cowan to lead the Terrapins to a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, declared for the 2020 NBA draft Tuesday and will forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility.
The Baltimore native was a third-team Associated Press All-American, first-team All-Big Ten and All-Defensive Team honoree who averaged 15.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in 2019-20. His 21 double-doubles were tied for third-most in the country and the most of any Big Ten player. He added 2.4 blocks and 0.7 steals per contest and shot 36.8% on 3-pointers.
Smith’s decision was not a surprise, as draft experts see Smith as a potential first-round pick in 2020.
“After consultation with my family and coaches, I am thankful and grateful to announce that the time is right for me to move forward to the next phase in my basketball career and declare for the 2020 NBA Draft,” Smith said in a press release from Maryland Athletics.
“I am thankful to the coaches and staff at the University of Maryland who afforded me the opportunity to stay home to receive an education and play basketball at the college of my dreams. I’m also thankful to my brothers who donned the Terrapin uniform with me at XFINITY Center and to the best fans in all of college sports, Terp Nation.”
Smith’s Maryland career ended abruptly due to the coronavirus pandemic canceling the college basketball postseason. But he and Cowan, a senior, beat Michigan at home in their final game of the season to clinch a share of the conference title and earn the right to cut down the nets.
“Thank you to Terp Nation,” Smith wrote on social media. “We were 16-1 at home due to your support and energy you guys brought every game. I’ll cherish forever celebrating the Big Ten championship with you. Fear The Turtle!”
A 5-star recruit coming out of high school at Mount St. Joseph’s, Smith was a top-five finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award and a top 10 semifinalist for Naismith Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-10 forward is the No. 30 overall prospect on ESPN’s big board; recent mock drafts pin Smith anywhere between No. 19 overall and the early second round.
“I am thrilled for Jalen and his family for making such an important and exciting decision,” Terrapins coach Mark Turgeon said in a statement.
“From the minute we started recruiting Jalen, we knew the kind of quality player and person we would be getting and he lived up to it in every way. As incredible of a player Jalen is on the court, he is that and more as an individual off the court. We will miss him in College Park. I cannot wait to watch Jalen at the next level and I wish him and his family nothing but the best on their journey.”
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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