Top local 2023 prospect Jalen Hooks planning Indiana visit
Indiana continues to receive heavy interest on the recruiting front for 2022 and 2023 prospects and that has led to another planned June visit.
Class of 2023 wing Jalen Hooks is planning a trip to Indiana for the end of June, he told TheHoosier.com. The trip is scheduled for June 22. He also added two more to Cincinnati on June 21 and Pitt on June 28.
The 6-foot-7 Crispus Attucks (IN) forward already took visits to Marquette, Illinois, Missouri and Butler this summer.
Hooks detailed what his goals of these summer visits are.
"A few of the visits most of the teams will be practicing so I’ll get to see how those go and I’d want to see the whole campus and meet the people just making sure me and my family are comfortable," Hooks told TheHoosier.
Hooks is one of the top in-state players in the 2023 class. He was already in contact IU under the previous staff. Coach Mike Roberts and Brian Walsh were his two main points of contact.
With college coaches now allowed to directly contact class of 2023 recruits starting June 15, Hooks' recruitment and Indiana's involvement will look to take the next step.
As for the new coaching staff, Hooks has a good impression of coach Mike Woodson despite not having a chance to speak to him yet.
"It’s a great thing and I’m glad he’s the type of guy who was willing to take it down a notch and come to college basketball and let alone come to Indiana," Hooks said. "I think he’s going to do a good job with the program going forward and it’s definitely something I can get into the more I develop."
Hooks has been on Indiana's campus before, but not as a recruit. This time will be different.
"I’ve always had family that went there (Indiana) so I’ve gotten a small experience from campus and I’ve been inside Assembly Hall," Hooks previously told TheHoosier. "I think it’s a really nice place."
Hooks averaged 11.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.3 assistants and 1.7 steals per game as a sophomore last year. His versatility is what's so appealing at this stage. His size, ability to create for his teammates and ability to finish at the rim stands out.
"There was a big jump in my jump shot and my handle but I added in the little things like watching film also," Hooks said of his development this past year. "I think everything has developed and a lot of it just came with getting comfortable with myself and my body kind of filling out."
As his recruitment continues to progress, Kentucky, Memphis and Missouri are just some of the other programs to begin reaching out.
He currently holds offers from LSU, Illinois, Xavier, Georgia, Tulane, Butler, Marquette and DePaul.
Hooks is currently ranked the No. 73 prospect in the class of 2023.
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