Jalen Duren facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jalen Duren

No. 0 – Detroit Pistons
Center
Personal information
Born	(2003-11-18) November 18, 2003 (age 21) Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
High school	Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Montverde Academy (Montverde, Florida)
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
College	Memphis (2021–2022)
NBA Draft	2022 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets
Pro career	2022–present
League	NBA
Career history
2022–present	Detroit Pistons
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2023) AAC Freshman of the Year (2022) First-team All-AAC (2022) AAC All-Freshman Team (2022)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States FIBA Americas U16 Championship Gold 2019 Brazil Team

Jalen Montez Duren (DURR-ən; born November 18, 2003) is an American professional basketball player. He plays as a center for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Jalen is very tall, standing 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) and weighing 250 pounds (113 kg). Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers. He was considered one of the best young players in his age group.

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

Jalen Duren was born in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. His family later moved to New Castle, Delaware. When he was younger, Jalen played football and baseball. But he soon chose to focus on basketball as he got better at it.

He played basketball at Gunning Bedford Middle School in New Castle. By seventh grade in 2017, he was already 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall and started to get noticed. A coach from Team Final, a basketball club in Philadelphia, saw his talent and asked him to join their team.

By eighth grade, Jalen had grown to about 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m). He helped his 15U Team Final squad win a championship. His strong performances at other camps made him one of the top young players in his class.

High School Basketball Journey

Jalen Duren decided to play high school basketball at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. He joined his AAU teammate, Justice Williams, there. As a freshman, Jalen averaged 12.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. He also shot 71 percent from the field.

He helped his team win their second straight Philadelphia Catholic League title. Jalen was named a Freshman All-American by MaxPreps. In his second year, he averaged 18.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks. He even hit a game-winning shot on Valentine's Day!

For his junior year, Jalen moved to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. This school was joining a new league with other top basketball programs. Jalen was one of only five younger players named to the Sports Illustrated Preseason All-American team. He continued to play well against other top talents. Montverde won the first NIBC championship, and Jalen was named the MaxPreps Florida High School Basketball Player of the Year.

Becoming a Top Recruit

During his junior year, Jalen Duren became the top player in the 2022 recruiting class. This meant experts like ESPN and Rivals thought he was the best young player. On August 6, 2021, he decided to finish high school a year early. He then committed to playing college basketball for Memphis.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Jalen Duren C	Sharon Hill	Montverde Academy (FL)	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	Aug 6, 2021
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 97
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 3  247Sports: 4  ESPN: 7
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

College Career at Memphis

Jalen Duren played one year of college basketball for the Memphis Tigers. On November 19, 2021, he had an amazing game. He scored 19 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, and blocked five shots against Western Kentucky.

He was named the Freshman of the Year for the AAC. He also made the First Team All-AAC. Jalen helped Memphis reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014. As a freshman, he averaged 12 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. After his freshman year, Jalen decided to enter the 2022 NBA draft.

Professional NBA Career

Playing for the Detroit Pistons (2022-Present)

The Charlotte Hornets chose Jalen Duren as the 13th pick in the 2022 NBA draft. On the same day, his rights were traded first to the New York Knicks and then to the Detroit Pistons. Jalen joined the Pistons for the 2022 NBA Summer League. He signed his first NBA contract with the Pistons on July 7, 2022.

Jalen made his official NBA debut on October 19, 2022. He scored 14 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and blocked three shots in a win against the Orlando Magic.

On February 10, 2023, Jalen had a fantastic game. He scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in a double-overtime win against the San Antonio Spurs. On January 28, 2024, he set a new career high with 21 rebounds, along with 22 points, in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Playing for Team USA

Jalen Duren has also played for the United States national team. He played in the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Brazil. He averaged 10.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and two blocks per game. His team won a gold medal, and Jalen was named to the tournament's all-star team.

Career Statistics

NBA Stats

College Stats

Player Strengths and Style

Jalen Duren is known as a strong "true post" player. This means he is very good at playing close to the basket. His large size, strength, and quick footwork help him control the paint area. He is good at both scoring and defending.

Some experts have compared his playing style to other NBA stars. His ability to block shots reminds some of Bam Adebayo. Others have compared him to Marvin Bagley III because of his strong physical presence.

See also

In Spanish: Jalen Duren para niños