Jalen Smith's former coach: 'When he’s challenged is when he’s at his best'

Maryland assistant Bino Ranson has been watching Smith since he was a seventh-grader.

With less than a month remaining until the NBA Draft, Valley Tales will publish a series of profiles on prospects that could be a fit for the Suns, featuring exclusive interviews with a college coach or personal trainer. 

These are the people who discovered and recruited these players, who were around them every day, who observed their development into a potential lottery pick. Sure, these coaches/trainers want to support their guy, but I also generally found them to be honest about where their player needed to improve to have a successful NBA career.

Jalen Smith is a 6-foot-10 big man who can stretch the floor and make a defensive impact. Though he is projected to go later than the Suns’ No. 10 pick, Smith said during the NBA Virtual Combine that he has spoken to Phoenix. 

Maryland assistant coach Bino Ranson provided insight about Smith. His responses are edited slightly for length and clarity. 

First impression

He was a young kid, about seventh grade. I was at another event (scouting) some prospects, and then the younger kids were playing. It was a Baltimore team playing. I peeked my head in and saw this big kid with goggles on and I was like, “Wow.” I (watched) for about two minutes and, at that time, I was like, “Wow, this kid’s gonna be a player.” I found out who his mom is. We kindly spoke and I said, “I’m Coach Ranson from Maryland,” and he was so excited. By the time he got to the ninth grade at Mount Saint Joseph (High School), I would come to open gyms and he was always such a friendly kid. He was a happy-go-lucky-type kid who worked hard and was just talented. 

Strengths

First of all, he’s a great kid and has great character. I believe in character kids. Second of all, for his position that I think he’ll play in the NBA, he’ll be able to stretch the floor. And I think he’ll be able to contribute right away on the defensive end. He has exceptional timing in blocking shots, and he’s a willing rebounder. I think that translates to the NBA. 

Biggest improvement

From his freshman to his sophomore year. If you look at the last game we lost his freshman year to LSU, you look at how bad he was crying. He couldn’t pull himself together. After that loss, he made a commitment to the game, and he improved all around the board. It helped us capture a Big Ten title. 

Game that captures Smith

The Indiana game on the road. Assembly Hall is a tough place to win at (because) it’s one of the best venues in college basketball. He played his tail off. He made big shots. There was one basket that he had to get, and if it was a year before, he probably would have gotten pushed off the ball. But he kind of willed his way in and laid it in. At the end of the game, he was full of emotions. That, right there, is Jalen Smith. Somebody who has the fire in him. Somebody that’s gonna compete. If there was a game that defines who he is, I would say that game. He made multiple 3s. I don’t even know what his stat line was, but I think the plays that he made were exceptional both on the offensive and defensive end. 

Underrated trait

Something that doesn’t show up in the stat sheet is his toughness. I think Jalen Smith is a very, very tough kid. When he’s challenged is when he’s at his best, because he don’t want to let no one down. That’s the type of kid he is. He comes from a great, structured family. He’s got great core values. When our backs were up against the wall, if you look at our season, we were down in a lot of games and Jalen Smith had a lot to do with us coming back and winning those games. His work ethic, what he did every day after practice, when you talk about toughness, toughness is doing something every day. You’ve got to be tough-minded, and that was Jalen Smith every day. After every practice, the day of the game, he was gonna stay behind and get his work in. He was gonna be the first to the floor. 

Next developmental step

Because he’s been working at it, puting the ball on the floor. Taking those one, two, three dribbles off of a defensive rebound and bringing it (up the floor). That’s something that he’s capable of, and I know that’s something he’s been working at. 

Ideal NBA fit

He’s the type of kid that could fit in any system, because he’s going to be willing to do whatever it takes to get on the floor. But maybe like a Toronto. A system like that, I think, he would flourish in. That kid (Pascal Siakam) reminds me of Jalen.

Personality

He cares about people. He’s a people person. You’re not gonna have to worry about him after midnight. 

Suns draft prospect profiles

Tyrese Haliburton (with Iowa State assistant Daniyal Robinson)
Desmond Bane (with TCU assistant Ryan Miller)
Killian Hayes (with skills development trainer Tyshawn Patterson)
Obi Toppin (with Dayton assistant Ricardo Greer)