Maryland basketball landed one of its top 2018 targets, after four-star power forward Jalen “Sticks” Smith committed to the Terps on Monday night. He’s ranked as the No. 29 player in his class and is the No. 2 prospect from Maryland.
I've finally committed pic.twitter.com/jkouoEq2zx
— Jalen Smith (@JalenSmith2000) June 27, 2017
The reigning Baltimore Sun Player of the Year will join former Mount Saint Joe’s teammate and incoming Terp freshman Darryl Morsell, and it’s safe to say their bond helped secure his commitment.
The two combined to lead Mount Saint Joe’s to a Baltimore Catholic League title, with Sticks averaging 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocks a contest. Smith visited Maryland over the weekend with Morsell as a host, according to the Baltimore Sun, and the chance to play with the guard again was just too good to pass up.
“He’s like one of my deciding factors, going there to play with him again,” Smith told the Sun after his visit.
He’ll have to wait a year to rejoin his high school teammate, but Smith is now Mark Turgeon’s second commit for the class of 2018. He’ll join four-star shooting guard Aaron Wiggins as the first two members of a recruiting class that is expected to include as many as six players.