Jaleen Smith
Smith with Alba Berlin in 2021
No. 0 – Partizan Mozzart Bet
PositionPoint guard / Shooting guard
LeagueBasketball League of Serbia
ABA League
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1994-11-24) November 24, 1994
Freeport, Texas, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Croatian
Listed height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High schoolBrazosport (Freeport, Texas)
CollegeNew Hampshire (2013–2017)
NBA draft2017: undrafted
Playing career2017–present
Career history
2017–2019USC Heidelberg
2019–2021Riesen Ludwigsburg
2021–2023Alba Berlin
2023Virtus Bologna
2023–presentPartizan
Career highlights and awards

Jaleen Devon Smith (born November 24, 1994) is an American-born naturalized Croatian professional basketball player for Partizan of the Basketball League of Serbia (KLS), the Adriatic League and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the New Hampshire Wildcats.

High school and college career

Smith attended Brazosport High School in his hometown of Freeport, where he played basketball. He went on to play four seasons of college basketball at the University of New Hampshire. As a senior, he averaged 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Smith was a two-time second-team All-America East Conference selection in his sophomore and senior seasons. He finished his college career as Wildcats all-time leader in games played (122). He also ranks fifth in points scored (1,397) and assists made (364). Smith became the first player in Wildcats history to record more than 1,000 points, 260 assists and 600 rebounds.

Club career

After graduating in 2017, Smith started his professional career by signing with German second division club USC Heidelberg on July 2, 2017.[1] On July 21, 2019, Smith moved to Riesen Ludwigsburg of the top-tier Basketball Bundesliga, signing a one-year deal.[2][3]

For the 2020–21 Basketball Bundesliga season, Smith was elected as Most Valuable Player.[4] He received the award at the same time as his coach John Patrick became Coach of the year. Smith averaged 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game.[4]

On August 25, 2021, Smith signed a three-year deal with Alba Berlin.[5]

Virtus Bologna (2023)

On July 20, 2023, Smith signed a two-year contract with Virtus Bologna of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague.[6] On 24 September 2023, after having ousted Olimpia Milano in the semifinals, Virtus won its fourth Supercup, and the third in a row, defeating 97–60 Germani Brescia.[7]

Partizan (2023–present)

On December 24, 2023, Smith signed a one year contract with Partizan of the Basketball League of Serbia (KLS), the Adriatic League and the EuroLeague.[8]

National team career

In July 2022, the Croatian Basketball Federation expressed their interest to naturalize Smith, so he could represent the Croatia national team at the EuroBasket 2022. In August 2022, Smith debuted for Croatia in a friendly against Bulgaria.[9] His first official game was a EuroBasket 2025 pre-qualifier against Poland.[10] Smith is the third naturalized American to play for Croatia, after Dontaye Draper and Oliver Lafayette.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Jaleen Smith ist der nächste NeuzugangZukunft". mlp-academics-heidelberg.de (in German). July 2, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Jaleen Smith wird Ludwigsburger". Riesen Ludwigsburg (in German). July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  3. ↑ Jürgen Frey (March 17, 2021). "Der König der Riesen und sein Traum von der NBA". Stuttgarter Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Titel für die Riesen: Jaleen Smith ist MVP der Saison Ludwigsburger Kreiszeitung, May 19, 2021. Accessed May 20, 2021.(in German)
  5. ↑ "Jaleen Smith inks with Alba Berlin". Sportando. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Jaleen Smith heads to Virtus". EuroLeague. July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  7. ↑ Una Virtus esagerata stravince la Supercoppa. la Repubblica
  8. ↑ "Džejlin Smit je novo pojačanje Partizana Mozzart Bet". KK Partizan (in Serbian). December 24, 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Jaleen Smith debitirao za Hrvatsku, upisana pobjeda od 30 razlike". index.hr (in Croatian). August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Hrvatska velikim preokretom do slavlja protiv Poljske, službeni debi Smitha, Hezonja i Zubac odlučili". germanijak.hr (in Croatian). August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Hrvatska dobiva trećeg Amerikanca na poziciji playmakera: To je zanimljivi igrač berlinske Albe". gol.dnevnik.hr. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
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