Kansas basketball’s Jalen Wilson impresses at NBA G League Elite Camp

Jalen Wilson ensured these watching observed him Monday, throughout a scrimmage on the 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp in Chicago. 

Wilson, coming off his redshirt sophomore season in school at Kansas, completed with 18 factors and 6 rebounds in slightly greater than 18 minutes of motion as his aspect got here away with the win. As he so usually would for the Jayhawks, a number of occasions throughout this camp scrimmage he took a defensive rebound and pushed the ball up the ground with tempo to create alternatives for his teammates offensively. And on high of that Wilson, who didn’t hit 4 3s in a sport as soon as this previous season in 37 appearances at Kansas, nailed 4 3s throughout the 2 20-minute halves Monday at Wintrust Enviornment.

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It’s a efficiency that after once more shines a lightweight on the potential Wilson, who’s sustaining his collegiate eligibility, might select to embark on his skilled profession after serving to lead the Jayhawks to a nationwide championship. Wilson felt he showcased lots of various things within the scrimmage, together with his means to shoot, rebound, play protection, discuss and easily embody what it means to be an excellent teammate. And talking moments after the scrimmage’s completion, Wilson addressed how pivotal of a job this week is perhaps in whether or not he decides to show professional or return to school.

“Rather a lot can occur,” mentioned Wilson, in a telephone interview with The Topeka Capital-Journal. “This course of, groups see me and see how effectively I’ve developed my shot over the past month or two, so quite a bit can occur on this week and I’m simply step-by-step, day-by-day taking my time with finishing what I’ve to do day-by-day.”

Wilson mentioned he arrived on the NBA G League Elite Camp, which precedes the NBA’s draft mix, with the aim of proving to everybody that he’s a constant and dependable shooter. He wished to indicate that on high of with the ability to knock down photographs, he can rebound, play protection and extra. For somebody who shot 46.1% from the sphere and 26.3% from behind the arc this previous season for the Jayhawks, going 6-for-10 from the sphere and 4-for-6 from behind the arc throughout this Monday scrimmage was actually a constructive begin.

It’s capturing the ball, and capturing the ball quite a bit, that Wilson — one of many Large 12 Convention’s high rebounders throughout the 2021-22 marketing campaign — has been specializing in as he’s been coaching in Dallas. It’s capturing the ball at a excessive stage, along with displaying how excessive of a motor he has, that he mentioned groups have been speaking to him about all through this draft course of. Because the school season concluded, Wilson’s continued to construct confidence in himself as he’s devoted himself to bettering in several areas.

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Wilson mentioned he’s already labored out for the San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks, and that he has a future exercise scheduled with the Milwaukee Bucks. He believes he’s come into this course of with extra information and expertise than he did a yr in the past, when he participated within the 2021 NBA G League Elite Camp. And whereas his choices stay open, Wilson’s focus doesn’t seem like break up by any means.

“Clearly I’ve my eligibility, in order that’s at all times there,” mentioned Wilson, who additionally had three assists and a steal through the scrimmage. “However proper now I’m targeted on the NBA, and reaching my desires.”

If anybody’s questioning whether or not or not an athlete’s means to learn from their title, picture and likeness (NIL) will play a job in Wilson’s determination, he mentioned it gained’t in any respect. He added that he’s going to do what’s finest for him. No matter determination he in the end makes, he feels there shall be cash there for him to earn so long as he handles his enterprise.

Jordan Guskey covers College of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.