Overview
As a senior at St. Augustine, Jaron Pierre Jr. led a 31-2 team to the Louisiana Division I state title game, earning Class 5A First Team All-State honors along the way. MaxPreps tabbed him a three-star prospect, the No. 4 player in Louisiana and No. 240 nationally. From there he took the scenic route, suiting up at Southern Miss, Wichita State and Jacksonville State before landing at SMU. The Jacksonville State year is where he broke out. Pierre averaged 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 37.6 minutes per game on a 42.4%/38.2%/81.0% shooting line, finished fourth in the country in scoring and walked away with Conference USA Player of the Year. He carried that production straight to the ACC, posting 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 33.0 minutes per game while shooting 46.2%/37.0%/75.8%, climbing past 2,000 career points and earning All-ACC Honorable Mention and NABC All-Gulf District Second Team recognition.
Analysis
Pierre’s calling card is his scoring. He attacks the rim with a sturdy frame that lets him absorb contact and finish through traffic. Defenses need to guard him from deep as well, where he’s an excellent catch-and-shoot option. The wing is explosive in the open floor, racing ahead in transition and finishing above the rim. As a passer, he flashed enough vision as a secondary creator to suggest a fuller combo-guard role is within reach. He’s also not shy about doing the dirty work, crashing the glass at his position and showing the physical tools and motor to keep growing on defense.
Projection
Pierre projects as a downhill, three-level scorer – a combo guard/forward a team can turn to for instant offense off the bench. His shotmaking and athleticism are NBA-ready, and his frame for the position gives him a path to guard multiple spots as he sharpens that end of the floor. Comparisons include Tim Hardaway Jr., Victor Oladipo and Terrence Ross.
— Profile by RotoWire.com