Phenom Hoops continues to shed light on players having a terrific career at the next level and we now turn our focus to a guard that once played in the ACC is now shining in a big way at Northern Arizona. Soph. 5’11 Jalen Cone is a name many will remember from his time at Walkertown high school in North Carolina, where he was a show waiting to happen every time he stepped on the court.
At Walkertown, Cone was one of the top scorers in the state each season where he averaged 25.7ppg, 6.6 assists per game as a senior, and 35.5ppg as a junior. He eventually decided that he would commit to Virginia Tech, where he appeared in 47 games in two seasons. He was one of the premier outside threats in the ACC, shooting 45 percent from three as a freshman and 35 percent from three the following season.
He then announced that he would enter his name into the transfer portal, ultimately selecting Northern Arizona as the place to be. In his first season, Cone is showing why he was such a big target for so many programs. On the season, Cone is posting impressive numbers of 19.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and shooting 42 percent from three.
Phenom Hoops has watched Cone grow up, from when he was in middle school to now being a dominant force at the college level, as he has really put in the work and the best is yet to come for this dynamic guard.
Flashback from Phenom Hoops:
“Jalen was one of the more impressive players in the entire camp. His skill set and athleticism are off the charts for his age/grade. The talented young guard scored from all levels on the court. He was beating his man off the dribble, hitting midrange jumpers and hitting 3-pointers with consistency. Rarely, do you find a young player that combines such an outstanding skill set that is matched with superior athleticism. To put it mildly, the sky’s the limit for Jalen Cone!” – 2014 NC Jr Phenom Camp
“He’s a strong, athletic lead guard with quickness, sharp instincts, and the ability to overwhelm a variety of opponents. Cone is an effective three-level scorer that can generate a clean shot out of little to nothing, both for himself or others. He attacks the basket with regularity and is capable of playing above the rim whenever he desires. Cone defends the point of attack well and forced turnovers at a strong rate throughout the day. He’s slightly undersized, but possesses all the necessary tools to dominate a game and dictate the action on both ends of the floor.” – NC Top 80 in 2019