Jalen Duren, after developing 'in a lot of different ways' in one season with the Memphis men's basketball program, will enter NBA draft

Memphis freshman Jalen Duren will enter the 2022 NBA draft, he told ESPN Monday.

«My plan is to sign with agent Chafie Fields of Wasserman and enter the NBA draft,» Duren said.

Duren, the No. 7 prospect in the ESPN 100, was named AAC Freshman of the Year and First-team All-AAC after averaging 12.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 25 minutes.

«Going to Memphis was a fun experience,» Duren said. «It was a great challenge. Making the NCAA tournament and playing in front of the whole world on national television. Huge game atmospheres. I learned a lot and it really helped my growth and development. During the season we dealt with a lot of injuries, we couldn't quite get the chemistry right on the court. Once we got everyone back, it helped the team and my game. I started to understand the game better. Help defenses. How opponents were guarding me. I noticed that more as the season went on and that allowed me to do a lot more.»

Duren burst onto NBA radar screens as a 15-year old as the youngest member of a USA Basketball team that won a gold medal at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Brazil, averaging 10.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2 blocks and 18 minutes.

Now the youngest college player currently projected to be drafted, Duren was the No. 1 recruit in his class when he elected to graduate high school a year early and enroll at Memphis, two weeks after guiding Team Final to a Nike EYBL championship. He also led Montverde to a high school championship at the Geico Nationals in April.

«I've always been big on development,» Duren said. «Playing up as a younger player helped me grow. I was at the point in high school where I wanted a bigger challenge, to continue to be pushed and compete against older guys. We won a lot and