After a terrific freshman season, Indiana basketball guard Jalen Hood-Schifino begins the next step in his basketball journey with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Hood-Schifino was selected No. 17 overall in this month’s NBA Draft.
He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year this past season as well as All-Big Ten Second-Team. He averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
More: Full Q&A from Jalen Hood-Schifino after being drafted by Los Angeles Lakers
For Hood-Schifino, it’s a life-long dream to play for the Lakers. Growing up a Kobe Bryant fan, being able to sport the purple and gold is a full-circle moment for him.
“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,” Hood-Schifino said post-selection. “For me to get drafted by the Lakers is kind of surreal and kind of crazy.”
“I seen Fino (Jalen Hood-Schifino) go to the Lakers, and I’m pretty excited for him because he’s a Laker guy,” former IU and high school teammate Malik Reneau said of Hood-Schifino. “He loves Kobe. So it’s just a great place for him to just to be around those older guys and help him grow and get better while he’s on the Lakers team.”
The Lakers begin Summer League play in the California Classic on July 3. They will also take part in the Vegas Summer League starting July 7. Their first game is against the Miami Heat on Monday at 6 pm ET on ESPN2.
Below is the first image of Jalen Hood-Schifino in his Lakers jersey and his first workout ahead of the NBA Summer League beginning.
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