By ADAM ZAGORIA
Jalen Lecque , the 6-foot-4, 185-pound combo guard from Brewster Academy (N.H.), may head straight to the NBA Draft in 2019 instead of enrolling at North Carolina State, according to a report from ESPN.com.
“I could be a freshman on a college campus right now,” Lecque, who grew up in New York City and Teaneck, N.J., told ESPN at an event in the Bahamas. “I am eligible for the [2019] draft. I’m a fifth-year senior, but I’m also eligible for the draft because of my grades.”
Lecque, who chose the Wolfpack over Louisville, Oregon, TCU, Tennessee, Texas Tech, and UCLA, would have to petition the NBA by submitting paperwork before the April 21 deadline, per ESPN.
“I am interested in everything because the NBA is my goal at the end of the day,” he told ESPN. “I want to be a great college player, but my end goal is to help my family. I want to be a concrete Round 1 player if I do make that decision. If I’m guaranteed a Round 1 position, then you never know. I could see myself doing it if I am in a good position at the end of the year. A college education is so important and making that jump is really hard, so I really gotta think about that, but if I’m Round 1, then that’s different.”
Nicknamed “Baby Westbrook” because his game is similar in some ways to Russell Westbrook, Lecque is an explosive, athletic guard who likes to get to the rim. The knock on him has always been his shooting, which he is working on improving.
“Jalen is world class level athlete,” Brewster coach Jason Smith said when he committed. “He’s benefited from tremendous coaches at Monsignor Scanlan, the Christ School and the NY Rens. I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to coach him this year at Brewster. He possesses a tremendous work ethic and desire to improve his overall game. He has as high of a ceiling and potential as any young man we’ve had in our program during my tenure.”
Said NY Rens coach Andy Borman: “He’s the most athletic lead guard in the country. He’s a great teammate. He has a huge motor, is an incredible finisher and is one of the toughest kids I have ever coached. Jalen has a great feel for the game and a very advanced basketball IQ.”
Lecque is currently N.C. State’s lone Class of 2019 commit.
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