Jalen Hood-Schifino selected in first round of 2023 NBA Draft

Jalen Hood-Schifino will begin his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The former Indiana guard was selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday night by the Lakers, just outside the draft lottery. The 6-foot-4 combo guard becomes IU’s first NBA Draft pick since 2019 (Romeo Langford).

Welcome to the Purple & Gold, Jalen Hood-Schifino! pic.twitter.com/DdMu3PKML9

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 23, 2023

Hood-Schifino gives Los Angeles a multi-faceted offensive weapon who also projects as a capable defender at the NBA level.

He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in his lone season with the Hoosiers after averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. He shot 33.3% from 3-point range and finished the year with a 49.2% true shooting clip. That landed him on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team and the media’s All-Big Ten Second Team.