Hubert Davis analyzes Jalen Washington's game, how he can earn more minutes

North Carolina freshman forward Jalen Washington was one of the most highly touted recruits in his 2023 class, ranked a top 25 power forward in the nation according to On3 Consensus. He has not played a ton of minutes for the Tar Heels this season, not appearing in their latest game versus NC State, and head coach Hubert Davis was recently asked what it would take for Washington to receive more minutes down the final stretch of the season.

“In regards to everybody on the team, I give everybody opportunities, that’s the type of coach I am. I give guys opportunities to play and I don’t guarantee when, where, how, in the manner in which those opportunities to come, but it’s on the player to when your number is called to be ready,” Davis said. “Every time Jalen’s number has been called he’s been ready and he’s done a terrific job out there on the floor.”

Washington’s biggest opportunity came a month ago versus Virginia, where he received the most minutes of his young collegiate career. In that game, the Tar Heels may have suffered 65-58 loss, but Davis made the most of his playing time. In 27 minutes, Washington scored a career-high 13 points and also grabbed a career high six rebounds, not too when bad facing one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams.

His game is not fully polished with Washington celebrating his 19th this February, but Davis highlighted the strengths and weakness of his game, and also the area’s he’s improved.

“He’s got an unbelievable stroke and ability to be able to score in the post,” Davis said. “And he can’t shoot the ball from the outside, I know that he hasn’t made a three this year, but he can stretch it even beyond the arc.”

Washington has a ton of potential on the defensive end of the floor as well with his 6-foot-10, 225 pound frame. Practicing against one of the nation’s best big men in the country Armando Bacot probably doesn’t hurt in developing his game as well.

“Defensively I think he’s improving every say in terms of how to guard the 5 position and how to guard that hybrid 4 position where those guys are more perimeter based and resemble of a perimeter player as opposed to a traditional power forward,” Davis said.

Washington has appeared in 15 games this season for the Heels, averaging 6.5 minutes per game, and it will definitely be interesting to see how he’s utilized with four games remaining in the regular season.