Sacramento Kings select Furman’s Jalen Slawson late in Round 2 of NBA draft. Who is he?

The Kings threw a dart at the board late in the second round of the NBA draft with Furman forward Jalen Slawson.

Slawson, selected with the 54th overall, profiles as a prospect on the fringes of making an impact in the NBA, but the five-year player from Furman filled up the stat sheet in college, averaging 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals in 2022-23. He was also an efficient shooter, hitting 39.4% of his 3-pointers and 77.5% of his free throws.

Slawson, 23, was the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection in 2021-22. He helped lead the Paladins to the NCAA Tournament this spring for the first time since 1980. The 13th-seeded Paladins upset No. 4 Virginia before losing to San Diego State in the second round.

“I’ve mentioned some of the awards and (he’s) a guy who’s been able to show it on both ends,” Kings GM Monte McNair said. “...Those are things we always look for.”

Slawson would be the fourth player to play in the NBA from Furman, a private liberal arts school in Greenville, South Carolina, joining Jordan Lloyd (2016), Clyde Mayes (1975) and Frank Selvy (1954).