MM 9.10: Jalen Smith projected as a lottery pick in latest mock draft

Jalen Smith’s draft stock is clearly rising ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft, as Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman had the former Terp forward to the New Orleans Pelicans at pick No. 13 in his latest mock draft.

“The Pelicans should be interested in Smith’s ability to space the floor and protect the rim next to Zion Williamson. He’s drawing rave reviews for his character, work ethic and improvement, both physically and fundamentally,” Wasserman wrote.

Wasserman has been high on Smith for a while now, but 13 is the highest Smith has been mocked since he announced that he was entering the draft on April 7. Only eight Terps have been drafted in the lottery all-time, with Smith potentially being the first since Alex Len went fifth in 2013.

Smith has been projected as a pick in the teens in nearly every other recent mock draft, which is a big rise from original estimate of a late first round pick.

The draft, which usually takes place in late June after the NBA Finals, could possibly take place on November 18 this year, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday.

In other news

Former Terps Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones and Kaila Charles all started for the Connecticut Sun Wednesday night, with Thomas and Jones each recording double-doubles while Charles added three points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal.

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