Jalen Hood-Schifino is a Freshman guard from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A consensus five-star recruit out of high school, the 6’6” guard was part of a dynamic duo for the Indiana Hoosiers. Hood-Schifino had a major impact in his sole season in Bloomington and looks to do the same in the NBA.
Jalen Hood-Schifino 2023 Draft Profile
College Career
After originally committing to Pittsburgh, Hood-Schifino reopened his recruitment in 2021, signing with Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers in 2021. A highly touted recruit out of Montverde Academy, Hood-Schifino was the highest-ranked signing by the program since 2018. The hype was high for him entering the season, as a Big Ten panel named Hood-Schifino the preseason Freshman of the Year.
It didn’t take long for Hood-Schifino to prove the panel right, leading the team in assists in his first three starts. The ACC/Big Ten Challenge kicked off a run of nine straight games where Hood-Schifino scored at least 11 points. This includes a 33-point barrage in a loss against Northwestern. That performance was the best from a Hoosier rookie since Eric Gordon. Hood-Schifino would break that Freshman record in February with a 35-point outing against Purdue.
The two-time GEICO High School National Champion averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in his 32 starts for the Hoosiers while shooting 41.7% from the floor. Hood-Schifino collected quite a few accolades in his short Big-Ten tenure. He was named to the Third-Team All-Big Ten and First-Team All-Big Ten Freshman squads. Hood-Schifino was also given the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year Award.
Strengths
Hood-Schifino is fantastic in the pick-and-roll, both as a scorer and passer. He uses his frame well to get shots off close to the basket and has a deadly mid-range pull-up, especially from the right elbow. His height and court vision allow him to make clever entry passes if the defense over-commits. Drop coverage won’t save the defense either, as the mid-range jumper and ever-improving floater of Hood-Schifino will make teams pay consistently. Remember that record-breaking performance against Purdue?
Additionally, Hood-Schifino’s handle allows him to attack the rim with pace and push fast breaks, where he is also fond of that pull-up jumper. His repertoire also includes an elite hesitation dribble and solid finishing abilities with his right hand. He still needs to improve his three-point shooting but could be an excellent, three-level scorer over time. Hood-Schifino is a skilled passer with the ability to drop slick bounce passes to his rolling bigs. He reads defenses well and has the size to make over-the-top entry passes and cross-court dimes to the corner.
On defense, Hood-Schifino is a solid on-ball defender. His size is again an advantage against smaller guards, and he uses this well. With an ability to stay in front of his man and fight through screens, Hood-Schifino will be far from a one-sided player. He’s solid at the point of attack and moves his feet well while keeping his arms up to contest.
Weaknesses
Going back to the offensive side of the ball, Hood-Schifino will need to work on his three-point shooting over the summer. He shot 33.3% from beyond the arc and only connected on 31.3% of his catch-and-shoot opportunities. When looking at the tape, his set shots seem stiffer than the ones off the dribble. There is a momentary pause as he sets himself before launching into his motion. It’s easy to miss during the game, but his pull-up jumpers are more fluid and seem to come naturally. Hood-Schifino would do well to spend time on that this off-season.
As good as he is in the pick-and-roll, Hood-Schifino needs to improve in his one-on-one game to take it to the next level. He may not be a great creator early in his career without the high pick-and-roll in the half-court and the drag screens in transition. He’ll also want to get the turnovers down and look to attack the rim more in the half-court offense.
NBA Player Comparison
DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan is a mid-range assassin in the NBA that has never extended that range consistently in his career. He has had a great second half of his career, leaning on his smooth shooting but also improving as a playmaker. If given the right situation and a chance to succeed, Hood-Schifino could end up with a similar run in the league.
NBA Draft Projection
Mid to late first round.
