Not only was Jalyn Stephenson one of the top recruits in the country entering the current college season, he was also one of the youngest freshmen in the country, considering he was reclassified. Just 18 years old, he entered the NCAA Tournament averaging just 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game during the regular season.
Despite having a very limited role throughout the season, he showed how good he could be in the future. Fortunately for Alabama, he put together the best game of his career in the Elite Eight, turning his prospects into reality overnight. In the blowout win over the Clemson Tigers, Stephenson scored 19 points off the bench. This came on a great shooting night where he made 5 of 8 shots from beyond the arc.
Defensively, the 6-foot-11 forward made an impact on both ends, recording two blocks. It's safe to say that without his breakout game, the Crimson Tide would have been much less likely to pull off a close victory.
Stevenson will likely need to spend one more season in college before he's truly ready to make the leap to the NBA. But he should be considered a breakout sophomore entering next season with a chance to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He is the ideal modern-day forward who can space the floor nearly seven feet tall.
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