Jalen Suggs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jalen Suggs
No. 4 – Orlando Magic
PositionShooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2001-06-03) June 3, 2001 (age 20)
Saint Paul, Minnesota
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolMinnehaha Academy
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
CollegeGonzaga (2020–2021)
NBA draft2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the Orlando Magic
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–presentOrlando Magic
Career highlights and awards
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2019 Greece Team
FIBA Under-17 World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 Argentina Team
FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship
Gold medal – first place 2017 Argentina Team

Jalen Rashon Suggs (born June 3, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs. He was selected by the Magic with the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.

Early life[]

Suggs was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Larry Suggs and Molly Manley.[1] Suggs' father was an accomplished local athlete. Suggs started playing basketball at an early age.[2] In seventh grade, he played three games of junior varsity basketball for Minnehaha Academy, a private Christian school in Minneapolis, before moving to the varsity team. Suggs was a starter at the varsity level as an eighth-grade student, averaging 17.5 points, 4.4 steals, and four assists per game.[3]

High school career[]

As a freshman at Minnehaha Academy, Suggs averaged 21.5 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game. He scored 22 points, including 15 in the second half, to win the Class 2A state championship over Crosby-Ironton High School.[4] Suggs was named to the MaxPreps Freshman All-American first team.[5] In his sophomore season, he averaged 16 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, leading his team to another Class 2A state title.[6] Suggs earned Associated Press (AP) All-State first team and MaxPreps Sophomore All-American second team honors.[7]

As a junior, he averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, winning a third straight Class 2A state championship. Suggs was named to the AP All-State first team and MaxPreps Junior All-American third team.[8] As a senior, he averaged 23.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, five assists and 3.9 steals per game.[9] The school's 2019–20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic one day after it won a section title, and the team was unable to defend its state championship. Suggs left as his school's all-time leading scorer, with 2,945 career points.[10] Suggs earned MaxPreps All-American first team and Minnesota Mr. Basketball honors,[11][12] and was named Minnesota AP Player of the Year.[13] He was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit, but all three games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

In addition to basketball, Suggs played the quarterback position for SMB Wolfpack, a cooperative football team representing Minnehaha Academy and three other private schools.[15] He led his team to a Class 4A state championship as a junior in 2018. In his senior season, Suggs helped SMB finish as Class 4A runners-up and was named Minnesota Mr. Football.[16] In his senior year, he was recognized as MaxPreps Athlete of the Year for his success in basketball and football.[9] He became the first athlete in Minnesota history to win the state's Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football awards in the same season.[17]

Recruiting[]

On January 3, 2020, Suggs committed to play college basketball for Gonzaga University, choosing the Bulldogs over offers from Florida, Florida State, Iowa State and Minnesota. He became the highest ranked player to commit to the program. Suggs was a consensus five-star recruit, with ESPN considering him the fifth-best player in the 2020 class. In football, Suggs was considered a four-star dual-threat quarterback by ESPN.[18]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jalen Suggs
PG / SG 		St. Paul, MN Minnehaha Academy (MN) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jan 3, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 96
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 11  247Sports: 13  ESPN: 6
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Gonzaga 2020 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  • "2020 Gonzaga Bulldogs Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.

College career[]

In his college debut for Gonzaga on November 25, 2020, Suggs recorded 24 points and eight assists in a 102–90 win over Kansas.[19] On December 2, during a game against West Virginia, he suffered an apparent foot injury but returned later in the game.[20] On December 19, Suggs posted a career-high 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists, shooting 7-of-10 from three-point range, in a 99–88 win over third-ranked Iowa.[21]

On March 9, 2021, Suggs recorded 23 points, five rebounds and five assists in an 88–78 win against BYU at the 2021 WCC Tournament title game. He was named tournament most outstanding player.[22] In the Final Four of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Suggs banked in a 30-foot (9.1 m), 3-point, game-winning buzzer beater to defeat No. 11 seed UCLA 93–90 in overtime, advancing Gonzaga to the championship game.[23] As a freshman, he averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game and was a consensus second-team All-American. He earned First Team All-West Coast Conference (WCC), Newcomer of the Year and All-Freshman Team honors. [24]Jalen Suggs has been awarded the WCC Freshman of the Week nine times, has been WCC player of the week,  March Madness Player of the Week, and Named USBWA/CBS Player of the Week. On April 19, 2021, Suggs declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[25]

Professional career[]

Orlando Magic (2021–present)[]

Suggs was projected by many to be drafted fourth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2021 NBA Draft .[26] Suggs was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic.[27] On August 9, he made his summer league debut in a 91–89 win against the Golden State Warriors in which he posted 24 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in 28 minutes.[28] On October 20, Suggs made his NBA debut, putting up 10 points in a 123–97 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[29] On November 29, Suggs fractured his right thumb in a 101–96 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, finishing the game with 17 points before being removed due to the injury.[30]

National team career[]

Suggs won a gold medal with the United States at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Formosa, Argentina. In four games, he averaged 7.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.[31] At the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Argentina, Suggs averaged 8.7 points and 3.3 steals per game and won another gold medal. He joined the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Heraklion, Greece, averaging 9.6 points per game and helping his team win the gold medal. Suggs scored 15 points, his best mark in the tournament, in the final against Mali.[32]

Career statistics[]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College[]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Gonzaga 30 30 28.9 .503 .337 .761 5.3 4.5 1.9 .3 14.4

Personal life[]

Suggs has two younger sisters. Their father, Larry, is the second cousin of NFL player Terrell Suggs, a two-time Super Bowl champion.[33] Jalen is also a cousin of Eddie Jones, a three-time NBA All-Star.[32] He has several other cousins that have played NCAA Division I basketball.[34] Suggs is dating Louisville Cardinals women's basketball guard, Hailey Van Lith.[35]

References[]

  1. ^ Neal III, La Velle E. (2021-03-19). "Jalen Suggs' march to history with Gonzaga is set to begin Saturday". Star Tribune.
  2. ^ Moore, CJ (May 7, 2019). "Jalen Suggs is a top-10 2020 basketball recruit … who is also a four-star QB prospect". The Athletic. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Rule, Heater (January 23, 2016). "Minnehaha Academy eighth-graders anchor winning varsity". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Frederick, Jace (March 25, 2017). "State boys basketball: Minnehaha Academy holds on to win Class 2A title". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  5. ^ "2016-17 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team". MaxPreps. April 18, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  6. ^ Paulsen, Jim (March 24, 2018). "Minnehaha Academy, driven by larger purpose, defends 2A title with victory over Caledonia". MN Basketball Hub. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "2018 Minnesota AP All-State boys basketball team". Associated Press. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "2019 Minnesota AP all-state boys basketball teams". Associated Press. April 1, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Meehan, Jim (May 26, 2020). "Gonzaga commit Jalen Suggs named MaxPreps male athlete of the year". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  10. ^ Klauda, Paul (June 18, 2020). "Without a title in hand this year, Jalen Suggs leaves with plenty to smile about". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  11. ^ Divens, Jordan (March 25, 2020). "MaxPreps 2019-20 High School Boys Basketball All-American Team". MaxPreps. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  12. ^ Paulsen, Jim (March 18, 2020). "Mr. Football winner Jalen Suggs named Minnesota Mr. Basketball, too". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  13. ^ "Minnehaha's Jalen Suggs named Minnesota AP Player of Year". Associated Press. March 26, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Jordan, Jason (March 12, 2019). "McDonald's All American Game Cancelled Amid COVID-19 Concerns". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  15. ^ "I want to play for SMB!". SMB Football Homepage. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  16. ^ Paulsen, Jim (December 8, 2019). "Jalen Suggs wins Mr. Football". MN Football Hub. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  17. ^ Medcalf, Myron (25 March 2021). "A decade in the making: The rising legend of Gonzaga star Jalen Suggs". ESPN. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  18. ^ Borzello, Jeff (January 3, 2020). "Jalen Suggs commits to Gonzaga, says overseas 'very serious' option". ESPN. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  19. ^ "No. 1 Gonzaga defeats No. 6 Kansas 102–90; 3 Zags with 20+". ESPN. Associated Press. November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  20. ^ Borzello, Jeff (December 2, 2020). "Jalen Suggs returns for No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs following injury scare". ESPN. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  21. ^ Jackson, Wilton (December 19, 2020). "Jalen Suggs, No. 1 Gonzaga Cruise Past No. 3 Iowa Despite Hawkeyes' Second-Half Rally". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  22. ^ Lawson, Theo (March 9, 2021). "Jalen Suggs named WCC Tournament MVP; Corey Kispert, Drew Timme named to all-tournament team". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  23. ^ Bolch, Ben (April 3, 2021). "UCLA's title hopes shattered in Final Four loss to Gonzaga in overtime". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  24. ^ "Jalen Suggs - Men's Basketball". Gonzaga University Athletics. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  25. ^ Wojnarowski, Adrian (April 19, 2021). "Gonzaga Bulldogs star freshman guard Jalen Suggs to enter NBA draft". ESPN. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  26. ^ Rose, Aaron. "Jalen Suggs Talks Raptors Development, says Whoever Passes on him will Regret it". Sports Illustrated Toronto Raptors News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  27. ^ Fuller, Marcus (July 30, 2021). "Jalen Suggs goes fifth in NBA draft to Orlando Magic". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  28. ^ "Orlando vs. Golden State - Box Score - August 9, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  29. ^ Cali, Mike (October 20, 2021). "Spurs 123, Magic 97: Mo Bamba shines but Magic routed in season opener". SB Nation. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  30. ^ "Orlando Magic lose Jalen Suggs to fractured thumb". ESPN. November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  31. ^ Daniels, Evan (June 1, 2017). "USA: Jalen Suggs shines on day one". 247Sports. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  32. ^ a b Drumwright, Steve (June 17, 2019). "Two-Sport Star Jalen Suggs Has Eye On Basketball For Now As A U19 World Cup Team Hopeful". USA Basketball. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  33. ^ "SociaLight: The Jalen Suggs-Terrell Suggs Connection Runs Deep". www.baltimoreravens.com. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  34. ^ Paulsen, Jim (February 27, 2017). "For Minnehaha Academy's Jalen Suggs, athletic excellence is all relative". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  35. ^ Lemoncelli, Jenna (2021-07-29). "Jalen Suggs' girlfriend, Hailey Van Lith, is a baller too". New York Post. Retrieved 2021-07-29.

External links[]

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