16-year-old Jalen Lewis joins Overtime Elite, becomes youngest pro basketball player in U.S. history

Jalen Lewis, a 16-year-old high school junior and five-star 2023 recruit, is signing with Overtime Elite, the league confirmed to ESPN's Jonathan Givony.

"Jalen is one of the most exciting young talents in the country, and we are humbled that he has chosen Overtime Elite to elevate his professional development on the court and academically while building his brand internationally," executive vice president and head of basketball operations Brandon Williams told Givony. "This is a foundational signing for our league and another acknowledgment of the need and desire for our program."

The deal is worth more than $1 million, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Lewis, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound center, is ranked 12th in the 247Sports composite rating. He is the youngest North American basketball prospect ever to turn pro and the highest-ranked recruit to join Overtime Elite. 

Kentucky, UCLA, Duke, Stanford, Kansas and USC, among others, have shown interest in Lewis, according to 247Sports. 

Overtime Elite has signed several top prospects ahead of its launch in September, including Matt and Ryan Bewley. With the addition of Lewis, the league now has 10 prospects under contract.