Mt ST Joe Coach Pat Clatchey on Jalen Smith from terrapintimes.com

Maryland secured a commitment from Top 40 four-star power forward Jalen Smith (Mount St. Joseph/Baltimore, Md.) June 26. Afterwards, his head coach, Pat Clatchey, discussed Smith and what he’s bringing to the Terps.

Maryland secured a commitment from Top 40 four-star power forward Jalen Smith (Mount St. Joseph/Baltimore, Md.) June 26. Afterwards, his head coach, Pat Clatchey, discussed Smith and what he’s bringing to the Terps. Check out our interview with Clatchey below:

Jalen Smith

Mount Saint Joseph HSBaltimore, MD
6’9″ / 210 lbs

Terrapin Times: Coach, you obviously just sent Darryl Morsell to Maryland less than a year ago, and now you’re sending a second kid to College Park in Jalen. Your thoughts on having another prospect going to the hometown school?

Pat Clatchey: It’s very exciting for our program, and Jalen obviously, and his parents. I joked around with him and a couple people that he and Morsell could just carpool to the games. But I think Maryland is getting an outstanding young man and a guy who can get the job done at a high level in the classroom and on the court. I think Darryl being there, they’re friends, they’re teammates and had a lot of success together at St. Joe. They have a connection on the floor. I think that was a main factor, besides the fact that his parents could easily see his games. Also, with Bruno Fernando being there, Jalen can play that face-up ‘4’ position, which he likes. But, overall, this is great. The Baltimore area obviously has great basketball fans, and the chance for them to see to local guys play at Maryland is exciting.

TT: When did you have a feeling Jalen was going to pick Maryland? He’s been high on the Terps for a long time, but we know Villanova was lurking…

PC: You know, Maryland was recruiting him at a very early stage. He played varsity as a freshman, and people were starting to recognize what he could do by the end of that year. I think it was around then that Coach [Bino] Ranson noticed him, and then towards the beginning of his sophomore year they offered him. The fact they were on him first, and had been there the longest, and worked hard, I kind of had a feeling he’d [end up at UMD]. The coaches there painted a picture and a vision that Jalen felt was appealing as a person, student and basketball player. So they’ve always been there at the forefront.

TT: Can you give us a scouting report on Jalen and what he brings to the table? Also, what are some things he needs to work on to be ready for Big Ten ball?

PC: He’s very versatile. He’s got a good skill-level, which he can continue to build upon, but he can make plays on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he’s a shot blocker, a rebounder, he keeps guys in front of him, and he’s smart. With his length and athleticism, you can switch him on to people. Offensively, he runs the floor, he can make open shots, he has range out to 3, and he started to display skills this year of putting the ball on the floor; making passes; creating his own shot; and creating shots for others. Jalen can create some matchup problems with the way he can shoot it. I was watching him [June 27] and his stroke is effortless, it’s smooth. He’s a good free-throw shooter too. He’s a high-impact guy that brings a lot to the table that helps you win. He’s a winner, and he has a high ceiling.

To get better, obviously he has to get stronger. I think that could be an issue. Then just the normal adjustment and transition period that most high school players have to make. You’re playing against great players every single night, and not just a couple times a year in high school. But he has a chance to be a really terrific player, for sure.

TT: Does Jalen remind you of another player, Coach, that you’ve seen? The Maryland coaches said he was a cross between Jake Layman and Robert Carter…

PC: Not comparing him exactly to this guy, but I remember when Jalen first got to St. Joe, I told him — and all our guys — try to watch NBA players and pattern yourself after those guys. The one guy I chose for Jalen was Anthony Davis from Kentucky, who is now with the Pelicans. Jalen has the length, versatility and athleticism. But I can see the Layman card in that Jalen has the ‘3’ or ‘4’ ability, the body type and the skills. He’s definitely more Layman than Carter with his body right now (laughs).

TT: Was Jalen someone you identified right away, before he got to St. Joe, that could be special? Or did it take him a bit to hit his stride?

PC: I first met Jalen when he was 10 or 11 years old. He played for a friend of mine, Jarvis Thomas, at Banneker Rec. I always stop in there and see who they’re talking about. I saw Jalen, and he was very thin, but you could tell he was going to be about 6-9, 6-10. But I remember a play he made in the eighth grade at one of our camps. He caught the ball on the right wing, and he ripped through from right to left, took two dribbles, jumped just inside the mid-lane area, and he dunked on someone left-handed. I just stood there and said to my one assistant, ‘Coach, we don’t have any drills for that.’ You could just kind of see he could be really, really good.

TT: Coach, Jalen seems like a very quiet, unassuming guy whenever we see him. Even on the court sometimes he’s quiet. Is that how he is around his teammates at you guys too?

PC: Yeah, I’ve seen his personality transpire for three years now, and, for the most part, he’s quiet by nature. When he gets a little more comfortable with you, he kind of opens up a little bit, but he is quiet. He’s a terrific student and very introspective and bright. But, yes, very quiet.

TT: Yes, we know he’s very cerebral and an academic kid…

PC: Right, he has some other things going for him besides basketball. He’s an honor roll student, he has an interest in the business field, computers, the IT world. He has aspirations to possibly design video games and things like that. Those are some things he enjoys away from basketball.

TT: His parents seemed to play an integral role in his college decision, and I know he confided in them a lot, just like Darryl. It seems like both are products of strong family backgrounds.

PC: Both cases, terrific parents. Very supportive, perceptive, realistic and appreciative of the opportunities their sons have. To be honest, though, their sons have put themselves in that position because of their character, their capabilities in the classroom, and their capabilities on the court. But both the Morsell and Smith families have done a remarkable job raising those two young men.

TT: What do you think Jalen’s potential is at Maryland? 

PC: From Day One, I think he has a chance to be an impact player. He’ll work hard, he’ll get the constant strength and conditioning from [Kyle Tarp], and great coaching. I think he’s a legitimate NBA prospect.

TT: Last question, Coach, how about the job Maryland did with Jalen and how instrumental Coach Bino and Coach Mark Turgeon were in the process?

PC: They got in there with Jalen early, whereas they were in a little later with Darryl. Darryl kind of blew up in a three, four month period, but Jalen, they were there early; they were consistent; and they were persistent. I think it paid off. I think a lot of kids in the Baltimore area grow up watching Maryland basketball, and if they have an opportunity to continue their education and basketball career at a program like that, they find it very attractive.

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