[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2023 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Jalen Hood-Schifino
Frame: 6’6″ 213 lbs
Position: Guard
Team: Indiana Hoosiers
2023 Draft Age: 19
Stats via www.sports-reference.com

Offense

Hood-Schifino’s strength comes from his versatility in playing on and off the ball. He typically functions as the lead ball handler for the Hoosiers, initiating their offense with pick-and-roll actions where he thrives. Hood-Schifino doesn’t necessarily probe off of ball screens, instead opting to attack downhill with capable acceleration. He still plays under control, making quality decisions, whether a dump-off to the roller or a kick-out to an open shooter on the wing or corner. He possesses excellent synergy with his wings, specifically Trayce Jackson-Davis in transition. When he can find his teammates leaking out and filling in lanes, he averages 3.7 assists per game, with a 20.3 assist percentage. 

Turnovers can be an issue at times for Hood-Schifino. His handle is diverse enough to help him get to his spots on the court, but when caught in traffic, he is prone to losing the ball. When deciding to snake a ball screen and keep his defender on his back, he can also turn it over—averaging 2.8 turnovers per game, with a 19.7 turnover percentage. 

Hood-Schifino’s prowess as a mid-range shooter further adds value to his on-ball play. He pulls up around the elbow areas coming off ball screens or handoffs. He possesses quality shooting mechanics, getting a good extension on his shot and holding his release afterward. His guide hand flares out on the shot, leading to some inconsistency —sometimes hitting the front of the rim, while others hit the far back. It impacts his free throwing as well (77.6 percent).

Hood-Schifino also has a floater with his right hand. He is shooting 41.8 percent on 201 mid-range shots while being assisted on 23.8 percent of the attempt, according to www.barttorvik.com. 

As a three-point shooter, Hood-Schifino currently needs to be more consistent. His guide hand flaring out is exaggerated when he shoots behind the arc. It is common for a three-point attempt to be entirely off the mark. However, he garners enough elevation to where most of his shots possess a high arc and are close enough around the rim. He can get hot and put up threes in bunches, shooting 34.7 percent on 98 attempts while being assisted on 61.8 percent.

Hood-Schifino is an adequate finisher at the rim. With his plus length at 6’6″, he can rise and finish over rim protectors with a clear lane to the basket. He can finish with either hand confidently. He isn’t an above-the-rim finisher, so he can struggle to make shots when faced with a hard contest, finishing 53.5 percent around the rim on 71 attempts while only being assisted on 12.2 percent.

 

Defense

Hood-Schifino excels as a point-of-attack defender. With his length, he is capable of guarding both guards and wings. He has a high motor and quick lateral footwork, enabling him to stay in front of ball handlers. He does a good job using his footwork and physicality to get over ball screens and staying with his man in pick-and-rolls. He can even switch onto big men when rolling and guard them for certain periods, although it is not a consistent part of his defensive skillset. He has good instincts when going for steals on the ball, although he rarely attempts to do so. He only commits 2.9 fouls per game. 

As a help defender, Hood-Schifino thrives as a strong side defender, jabbing at ball handlers that drive on his side while doing a good job getting back to his man on closeouts. He has shown flashes of anticipating passes and intercepting them, averaging 0.8 steals per game. Although it is on a minimal sample size, Hood-Schifino has also shown some strong side rim protection, meeting a driving offensive player mid-air to strip them of the ball. Although he averages only 0.2 blocks per game, it’s worth watching for the future. His weak-side defense is more of a work in progress. Hood-Schifino sometimes struggles to get through off-ball sets due to ball-watching, making him susceptible to back screens.

Looking Ahead

Hood-Schifino’s size and multi-faceted skillset on both ends make him a high-floor prospect. His ability to play on and off the ball effectively while adding quality on-ball defense suggests he should be a rotation player from day one. 

His guide hand mechanics and handling inconsistencies currently limit his upside. However, as it stands, Hood-Schifino has the makings of a quality role player in the NBA for a long time. 

He resembles shades of Delon Wright and Terance Mann. Both are 6’5 combo guards capable floor spacers and offer value as perimeter defenders.