NBA Draft: Maryland’s Jalen Smith is a name to watch for the Golden State Warriors

If the Golden State Warriors decide to not use their top pick on Onyeka Okongwu or James Wiseman, Maryland’s Jalen Smith could be an option in the frontcourt.

As the rest of the basketball world turns their attention to the NBA bubble, draft season has arrived early in the Bay Area.

The Golden State Warriors are one of eight teams outside of the league’s restart in Orlando. Although their league-worst 15-50 record didn’t earn them an invite to Disney World, the Warriors will be in line for a top-five pick in the draft for the first time since 2002.

With a bevy of options on the table, the Golden State Warriors will use the start of their extended offseason to decide how to deploy their first-round draft pick. After the NBA Draft Lottery in August, the Warriors will have a better idea of what prospect they can bring to the Bay Area.

If Steve Kerr and Bob Myers opt to bring help to the interior at the top of the draft, USC freshman Onyeka Okongwu and Memphis center James Wiseman have been popular names at the start of mock drafts. Despite Okongwu and Wiseman’s popularity, other members of the frontcourt class are worthy of a look for the Golden State Warriors.

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If the Warriors decide to move down in the draft — or reach for a surprise, Maryland’s Jalen Smith could be a name to watch for the Golden State Warriors.

The Maryland prospect was listed at No. 19 in the Warriors Wire NBA Draft Big Board.

On his way to earning Third-Team All-American honors, the Maryland sophomore tallied 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. On his way to helping Maryland to a No. 12 AP ranking, the 6-foot-9 big recorded four games scoring 20 or more points.

Against Indiana, Smith recorded his college career-high with 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting with 11 rebounds, two blocks, two assists and a steal in the Terrapins’ 77-76 victory. Smith flashed his steady jumper against the Hoosiers, swishing four 3-pointers. Against Northwestern, the former McDonald’s All-American recorded a monster double-double with 22 points and 19 rebounds.

With Kevon Looney and Marquese Chriss currently listed on the Warriors depth chart, Smith could bring a new dynamic to Kerr’s rotation. Shooting 36.8% from 3-point range, Smith has proven he can step out and knock down shots from long distance.

Smith is a fierce athlete, running the floor at a pace that would fit alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. He’s a springy athlete that could threaten in the lob game when on the floor at the NBA level. On the defensive end, Smith uses his 7-foot-1 wingspan as a rim protector. Against Rutgers, Smith swatted a whopping six blocks. Smith recorded 13 games with three or more blocks in his sophomore season in Mark Turgeon’s program.

With their season over, and months on the calendar until October’s draft, the Golden State Warriors will have plenty of time to do their homework on Smith, and the rest of the 2020 draft class.

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