Jalen was selected with the 17^th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He has appeared in 21 career games (no starts) for the Lakers, and missed 13 games (10/24/23-11/17/23) due to a right patella contusion, six games due to a low back spasm (12/12/23-12/21/23), and 13 games due to lumbar disc surgery (3/22/24-4/14-24).

At Indiana University, Jalen was named 2022-23 All-Big Ten Third Team selection, 2022-23 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and 2022-23 Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree. He appeared in 32 games (all starts) averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 33.1 minutes. He scored in double figures in 22 career games, including five games with 20+ points and two games with 30+ points.

Jalen is originally from Pittsburgh but moved to Charlotte while in middle school. He is the son of Glenn Hood and Adrianne Hood-Schifino. At Montverde Academy in Florida, Jalen played for coach Kevin Boyle and led the team to back-to-back and its sixth GEICO High School national championship in his senior season. He was named a Naismith third-team All-American. He scored 14 points and hit three triples in the Jordan Brand Classic.