2023 NBA Draft: Full Q&A from Jalen Hood-Schifino after being drafted by Los Angeles Lakers

Former Indiana basketball guard Jalen Hood-Schifino was selected No. 17 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023 NBA Draft.

He is the 27th former Hoosiers to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft and the first since 2019 (Romeo Langford).

Hood-Schifino was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2022.

Below is everything former Indiana basketball guard Jalen Hood-Schifino said at his post-draft media availability.

Q. Talk about what you’ll bring to your new team.

JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO: Yeah, for one, thank you to the Lakers’ organization for obviously selecting me. But to my teammates and the fans there, they’re getting a big-time player and even better person. Just somebody who is going to bring it every day, push the people around me. Just someone that is going to work hard.

Q. What does it mean to you to be part of such a legendary organization?

JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO: It’s honestly really crazy and kind of hard to say how I feel because growing up I was a big Kobe fan. I was always watching his videos, watching the Lakers. For me to get drafted by the Lakers is kind of surreal and kind of crazy.

Like I said, I’m thankful to the organization and I’m super excited.

Q. What was it like sitting there and you hear your name called and by a team you said you enjoyed, watching Kobe growing up? What was that emotion for you?

JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO: Even going back a little bit, sitting in that chair, I’m not really a person who gets too high or too low. Today, my emotions were like a roller coaster So it was everywhere. To finally get that call and hear my name called, it was kind of like a relief.

But yeah, like I said, I was super happy, super excited. It was just a great moment.

Q. We talked yesterday. You said you had had some contact with the Lakers across the way. Did you expect that you could land at such a historical franchise? You mentioned Kobe. But LeBron James, Anthony Davis, just in the Western Conference Finals. What do you think you can bring to them and how excited are you to be in such a historic place?

JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO: I just got drafted to obviously a historic and great organization. The organization is only getting better and better. Obviously, they’re competing for championships.

For me to get drafted there, I’m going to bring it every day, like I said, try to impact as much as I can and learn from the guys that are there, especially for one of the all-time greats, LeBron James, and AD and the rest of the guys. It’s going to be great.

Q. Not all freshmen are the same. What about your past and your readiness gives you confidence that you can go to the NBA after just one year with the Hoosiers?

JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO: I think really just my approach. I’m a player who I’m going to bring it every day, work hard and I think I check a lot of boxes. Obviously, I’m a big guard, size, can score from all three levels, unselfish, get my teammates involved and then I can also really guard, guard multiple positions. Overall, I think I’m a really good player and an even better person.

(Transcript via ASAP Sports)

SEE ALSO: Indiana basketball looks to 2023 NBA Draft as culmination of past two years

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