Jaleen Smith at Virtus Bologna

Jaleen Smith at Virtus Bologna

Here is the statement with which Virtus Segafredo Bologna announces on its official website the arrival of 28-year-old naturalized Croatian American guard Jaleen Smith.

“Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna S.p.A. announces that it has reached an agreement with Jaleen Smith until 2025.

‘How are you doing Virtus Segafredo Bologna fans? I wanted to say hello, tell you that I look forward to seeing you all in the stands and getting off to a strong start this season!’ Smith’s first words in a Virtussina jersey.

A 193cm play/guard, Smith was born in Freeport on Nov. 24, 1994. A naturalized Croatian American, Smith grew up first at Brazosport High School and then at the University of New Hampshire. In 2017, he began his professional career in the Heidelberg jersey. He stayed in Germany, where from 2019 to 2021 he joined Ludwigsburg, a team with which he made his definitive approach to the European basketball scene and where he won the Bundesliga MVP award in the 2020/2021 season. In the last two seasons, Germany has remained his second home: with the Alba Berlin jersey he wins a Championship and a German Cup, as well as competing in the Euroleague: in the Bundesliga, in the season just ended, he averaged 13 points and 3 assists per game, and also in the Euroleague he reached double figures in average, 12 points and 2.5 assists.

With Croatia, Jaleen Smith certainly starred in the last European Championships with an average of 12 points and almost 5 assists, also proving to be a creator for his teammates as well as a finisher.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna officially welcomes Jaleen Smith to the big Bianconera family.”