JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - MARCH 23: Jalen Smith #25 of the Maryland Terrapins drives against Kavell Bigby-Williams #11 of the LSU Tigers during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vystar Memorial Arena on March 23, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Jalen Smith became a bright young star for Maryland basketball and his return to College Park could mean great things are to come for the program.

Jalen Smith blamed himself for the loss Maryland basketball suffered against LSU in the NCAA Tournament. Tremont Waters drove past him for the game-winning basket. As a young player, so much must have been going through his mind after that play and it’s understandable. Now that he has decided to come back for his sophomore season, he has another year to improve upon a stellar freshman campaign.

Smith finished the 2018-19 season averaging 11.7 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game. He earned Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors and was a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week. He was the first Terrapin freshman to do that since Melo Trimble in the 2014-15 season. Smith averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds in his first-ever NCAA Tournament. He has the ability to average a double-double for the regular season as well if he continues on this path.

Smith seemed to always be in the right place at the right time to make plays on both ends of the floor. He held his own inside offensively, became a rim protector defensively and what impressed me the most about his game was his willingness to run on the fast break. When he did that, he helped his team convert on those opportunities and kept the opposing defense off balance.

Where Jalen Smith needs to improve is his basketball IQ and knowing the importance of executing situational basketball in the big moments. He’s a young guy so the mistake that he made could happen with any young player. With Bruno Fernando off to the NBA, Smith would become the leader for Maryland basketball in the frontcourt. More eyes would be on him to make the plays at his position.

My prediction for Jalen Smith to start in Maryland’s 2018-19 rotation for the Terps was right, and I was pleasantly surprised to see him succeed at the level that he did. I too along with my colleague, Adam Childs, feel that he will take his game to another level in the 2019-20 season.