6’4” 2018 Jaylen Alston of Eastern Guilford
Sometimes kids hide in plain sight. Put up major numbers and still go under the radar. That is the great thing about the Phenom Hoops platform, everyone comes in on a equal playing field, if you can play you will immediately be noticed.
Jaylen Alston had an eye opening day during Session 2 of the NC Phenom 150. Coming in to the event, outside of our staff he had heard very little about him. He didn’t play on any major AAU programs, he wasn’t a high profile name. But the odd part of it is, looking at how he plays and the numbers from last year – he should have been.
Alston has a clear skill set, after a game in Session 2 of the NC Phenom 150, we wrote, “Jaylen Alston is a long slashing wing that’s at his best in transition attacking the basket. He’s a willing defender with excellent length and lateral quickness. He rebounded the ball very well from the wing position and finishes above the rim with ease.”
Eastern Guilford High School is in Gibsonville, North Carolina (just outside of Greensboro). They are a 3A program in the Mid-State Athletic Conference and have a 9-12 enrollment of 1,200 students. They are by no means small or hidden.
Last season Eastern Guilford 20-9 (12-4 in conference), making it to the state playoffs. Here is where things get bizarre, Alston put up major numbers as a sophomore, finishing in his team’s top 2 in point, rebounds, and assists.
Alston has always been a very productive player to watch, after his participating in Phenom’s Summer Jam we wrote, “We absolutely loved his “full throttle” approach and plays with the proverbial chip on his shoulder. He’s a “do it all” type player that does all the intangibles that are necessary to win, but doesn’t always show up in the box sheets. Big time competitor!’
During his sophomore season, Jaylen Alston averaged 16.2 points on 50% shooting from the field and 35% from behind the arc. He also added 8.6 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, and 1.1 steals per game. Alston is a solidly built 6’4” wing, with great strength and skill. He made All-Conference as a sophomore.
Alston is a strong and lengthy wing. He plays with a great pace and a non-stop motor. He is a very talented, multi-positional defender, and he rebounds very well for his position.
With the incredibly production mixed with his strong and athletic body and skill set, you can expect an immediate bump for him, in our 2018 rankings. As the Krossover video breakdown makes it into college coaches hands, expect a bump in his recruitment as well.