An Insider’s Look
Jaylen Alston Commits to Gardner Webb
By Jamie Shaw
6’3” 2018 Wing – Ranked #27 in North Carolina’s 2018 Class
(CLICK HERE TO See NCs Entire 2018 Rankings)
It has been a big year for Alston. First off he led his Eastern Guilford High School Team to the North Carolina 3A State Championship Game. Alston averaged 21.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. He led his team in points, boards and blocks while finishing second on his team in steals.
Then came Alston’s invite to the North Carolina Top 80. This event brings together the best players North Carolina has to offer, and puts them on the court to compete against one another. Alston’s performance at this event put him on many school’s radars.
For the travel ball season, Alston played with the Carolina Wolves. Each game he played, he had numerous coaches sitting baseline watching him. He picked up offers from Gardner Webb, South Carolina State and Fayetteville State. Again, as his incredibly junior year ended, somehow Alston had very little recruitment.
Alston is the type of player who will be a menace from day 1. Getting to known the young many, you better believe he will also remember every coach who did not offer him, which will lead to a world of trouble as he plays at Gardner Webb.
Let’s take a look back at Jaylen Alston’s Phenom Hoops Coverage Through the years:
2016 Fall NC Phenom Exposure Camp
#149 6’3” 2018 Jaylen Alston of Eastern Guilford
Plays with another gear this kid is long and very athletic. Good reflexes quick first step on offense and defense almost impossible to get by. the combination of his lateral movement and his aggressive defensive mindset, combined with his long arm span, he created numerous turnovers for the other team, and netted him about eight steals in the game I watched.
2017 North Carolina Top 80
6’4” Jaylen Alston
Eastern Guilford (Gibsonville)
Alston is a pretty complete player. He has great length and athleticism causing him to be a high level defender. He also has great handle and pace in the half court. Alston finds a way to finish plays as he puts up stats across the board. A winner.
2017 Phenom’s Champion Showcase
The Wolves have a team full of prospects that can help a number of college programs, and 6’4” Jaylen Alston (2018) might be the most underrated of the bunch. It’s truly perplexing how a player lacking any D1 offers can have the following season: (31 games)21.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.4 SPG and 1.4 BPG (bold leads team) for his high school, leading them to 28-3 regular season record and a state championship appearance where he’d go toe to toe with a census top-20 player in the country. He had 21 double-doubles during the season, never dipping below four rebounds with only one game under double-digit scoring. This information is still relevant because Alston continues to do the same exact thing through May, June, and thus far, July. It’s hard to say much else about him; he’s an incredibly tough two-way player that provides all the measurements and intangibles necessary to be a successful wing at the next level. He scores at will inside the arc and has begun showcasing an efficient three-point shot, removing any knock on his game. On the other end, he’s a lockdown defender that plays with relentlessness on the glass and a high motor. Coaches will have to start calling for Alston soon, at least once they realize how much he’d benefit their respective teams.