Filipino-American Jalen Green, a top high school prospect in next year’s National Basketball Association draft, feels that developing his leadership skills against more experienced players is among that things that he needs to grow on.
Being a leader on the court will prepare Green for bigger challenges when he turns professional.
“I have to be a leader,” said the 18-year-old prospect from Merced, California.
Last week, the 6’5” Green, whose great grandfather is Filipino and traces his roots to Ilocos Sur, signed a contract with the NBA G League for the 2020–21 season, and his decision will have him bypassing a chance to play college basketball in the United States.
He recently talked about his decision following an online interview aired on DZMM.
“I’m preparing myself to be strong, and a be leader,” added Green.
This makes him the first player to take part in the G League’s professional pathway, a one-year development program outside the US basketball’s traditional team structure, which pays elite prospects over $500,000.
In the last three years, Green has visited the Philippines twice (2018 and 2019), playing for US-based teams which saw in action in the SM-National Basketball Training Center of coach Eric Altamirano.
And in those last three years, Green said he had always been working on his game.
“I have been working a lot. I have been in the gym, working on my game,” said Green.
Green’s decision comes at a time when NBA commissioner Adam Silver and G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim have been working to eliminate two big hurdles to convincing players who are not seeking a future in college basketball an alternative.
The league reportedly offers $125,000 contracts to elite players.
Aside from Green, another top prospect Isaiah Todd also signed up to play in the NBA G League for next season.
Both players will join a new team G League team which has no affiliation with any existing NBA G League franchise or NBA team.
They will play a limited schedule of about 20 games instead of being on the regular 50-game G League schedule.
The G League is also said to be pursuing other top high school seniors, including 6-foot-9 Texas forward Greg Brown and 7-1 center Kai Sotto, of the Philippines.
Green is an explosive and charismatic combo guard out of Napa Valley (CA) Prolific Prep.
He represents the United States internationally but has also shown interest in playing for the Philippines in the future due to his Filipino background.
He made his national team debut for the United States at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Formosa, Argentina.
In five games, he averaged 9.8 points, two rebounds and one steal per game, helping his team win the gold medal.
He was named MVP of the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in Argentina after averaging a team-high 15.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game and winning the gold medal.
Green also won another gold medal with the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Heraklion, Greece.
As the youngest member of his team, he averaged 10.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.
When he was in Manila last year, Green played a US high school selection known as Fil-Am Sports.
They made it to the finals. At that time, San Beda-Manila challenged FilAm Sports in the championship round of the 2019 Chooks-to-Go NBTC League National Finals and beat them with a 97-91 upset over at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The key to the win, though, was a defense that turned all its attention to Green, who still poured in 39 points on top of 13 rebounds, three steals, and two assists.