Jalen Slawson commits to Furman
By Rick Lewis
6’8 senior Jalen Slawson (Pinewood Prep) committed to Furman on his official visit to Furman. This is huge news for first year head coach Bob Richey and rightfully so! We’re talking about a versatile basketball player that has a great frame with good length and athleticism. At the 2016 SC Top 80 camp, we were fascinated with his vocal leadership on the court. While he has strong physical attributes, we were equally impressed with his numerous intangibles.
Last season as a junior for Pinewood Prep, Slawson averaged 16.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 3 APG. In addition, he shot 35% from the 3-point line. Phenom’s Jamie Shaw stated the following, “Walking onto the court you immediately take note of Slawson. He is built like a basketball player and carries himself like a player. He has a tantalizing skill set on the floor. With his length, he is very athletic in transition and has deep range extending well beyond the 3-point arc.” Every season, he has continues to get better and the scary part is he has not come close to reaching his upside and potential. He’s the type of player that may just be better in college than in high school and that is saying a lot.
While Slawson does possess excellent athleticism, his versatility may be his calling card. At our Phenom Summer Havoc, he showed off his ability to play inside/out. He can post up on the interior, but also step out and knock down the midrange and 3-point shot. He’s a player that can be used as a mismatch at the college level.
In speaking with Jalen, he was impressed with the closeness of the team and the overall hospitality. He stated, “I really like the idea of the young coaching staff which has a promising future. In addition, I think their style of play dovetails with my skill set.”
Jalen Slawson joins 6’3 Andrew Taylor of Corbin, Kentucky as Furman’s two early commitments for 2017 which is shaping up nicely as a solid recruiting class.
Offers: Georgia State, Furman, New Orleans, Winthrop, Appalachian State, Coppin State, Stetson, West Point, East Tennessee State, and Jacksonville