Jalen Hood-Schifino

Jalen Hood-Schifino, a remarkable talent in the world of professional basketball, was introduced to the world on June 19, 2003. He is known popularly for his successful stint with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team associated with the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before embarking on his journey as a professional, he honed his skills and understanding of the game at the collegiate level, playing for the Indiana Hoosiers. He was a consistent performer and received critical acclaim, marked by his recognition as a five-star and four-star recruit, becoming one of the top players of the 2022 class.

Hood-Schifino’s high school years were marked by a considerable amount of movement as he found himself playing for three different programs. First, he started his basketball career with Northside Christian Academy, situated in Charlotte, North Carolina. Moving ahead, he spent his sophomore year at Combine Academy in Lincolnton, North Carolina. Following this, he shifted his focus to a national powerhouse, the Montverde Academy in Florida, joining the team under the guidance of Coach Kevin Boyle. It’s at Montverde that he tasted considerable success, helping his team secure consecutive GEICO High School Basketball National titles in 2021 and 2022.

Among his many achievements, Hood-Schifino was declared an all-star and was honored with an invitation to play in the coveted Jordan Brand Classic. He showcased his skills potential, scoring 14 points with three three-point shots. Outside the high school playing season, he played under Coach Norton Hurd IV for Team Thad, an AAU program founded by NBA player Thaddeus Young. He also underwent extensive training in California, rubbing shoulders with professional players including Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers.

While discussing his time at Montverde Academy, Hood-Schifino mentioned how it was a stepping stone in preparing him for college basketball. He highlighted the rigorous practice sessions at the academy, which ran for three-plus hours every day, Prepared him for the grind that was to follow at college and then professional playing level.

His journey to college-level basketball began when he committed to play for Jeff Capel and Pittsburgh while still at the Combine Academy. It was considered a significant accomplishment for the Panthers to secure Hood-Schifino, as he hailed from Pittsburgh. However, after his sophomore year, he decided to reconsider his options and opened up his recruitment. The Indiana Hoosiers stepped in at this moment, showing interest in Hood-Schifino’s recruitment in the summer of 2021, shortly after head coach Mike Woodson began at Bloomington. Weighting his options, he decided to commit to the Hoosiers in August of 2021. At the time, he was their highest-rated recruit since Romeo Langford in 2018 and the ninth highest-ranked recruit for the program since 1998.

Before his first year with the Hoosiers, Hood-Schifino’s career was already flourishing, with a mock NBA draft projecting him as a potential first-round pick. Moreover, a panel of Big Ten media designated him the preseason freshman of the year in the league.

In his one and only season at Indiana, Hood-Schifino made a significant impact. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. Throughout the season, he exhibited consistent performances, averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 33.1 minutes per game. He made a startling impression when he scored 33 points in an 84–83 loss against Northwestern, the highest points by a freshman at Indiana since Eric Gordon in 2007. Another major milestone came when he scored an Indiana freshman-record 35 points, leading his team to a 79-71 win against Purdue.

Following this impactful season, Hood-Schifino declared for the NBA draft after forgoing his final three years of college eligibility. The Los Angeles Lakers seized this opportunity by selecting him with the seventeenth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

The NBA rookie made his debut for the Lakers on November 27, 2023, in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Although the Lakers lost by a considerable margin, Hood-Schifino’s commencement in the NBA marked another significant chapter in his basketball career.

Hood-Schifino’s love for basketball seems to have been bred in the bone, with athletic roots running deep throughout his family. His parents, Glenn Hood, a former quarterback at Santa Monica College, and Adrianne “Angel” Hood-Schifino, a former basketball player at Lock Haven University, provided him much inspiration. He spent his early years in Pittsburgh before the family moved to Charlotte, where he spent his middle school years. He grew up playing basketball in his grandparents’ backyard, mostly against his older cousins, Sherron and DeAndre Schifino, collegiate-level athletes in basketball and football, respectively. Being the youngest, Hood-Schifino was frequently put through his paces by his older playmates, an experience he attributes to his competitiveness and skill.

In addition to his commitment to basketball, Hood-Schifino also used his platform to bring awareness to Indiana’s charity partners. He endorsed Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, part of a student-athlete compensation package. His support included in-person appearances such as speaking, participating in skills presentations, and autograph sessions, apart from promoting these initiatives and the charity through social media posts.

Hood-Schifino’s other uncles too etched their mark in professional sports, with Drew playing college basketball for the West Virginia Mountaineers and the California Vulcans before setting off on a professional career. Another uncle, Jake Schifino, played in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans.