Only days after the NCAA’s leading three-point shooter entered the transfer portal, another top scorer decided it was his turn. Jaron Pierre Jr., a guard from Jacksonville State, has entered the transfer portal. After his breakout season, he still has one season remaining of college eligibility but will test the NBA Draft waters before deciding on his next destination. With a flurry of elite guards already in the portal, Pierre Jr. will become one of the best targets for 2025. So, what does Pierre Jr. bring to the table? Are there any top programs that could use him? Will he be in college next year?
NCAA’s 4th-Leading Scorer Jaron Pierre Jr. Enters Transfer Portal
Pierre Jr. Is Elite in Multiple Ways
Pierre Jr. has the size to play in the NBA at 6-foot-5. He brings so much to the table beyond his 21.6 points per game, he grabs 5.5 rebounds per game, an impressive number for a guard, while also dishing out 3.8 assists per game. Pierre Jr. stuffs the stat sheet incredibly well for a guard. His numbers improved from two years ago in Wichita State by incredible margins. He approximately doubled all of those totals from his last full season. The improvement was remarkable, but not as much as his impact.
Guards who can rebound and assist are amazing in combination with a guard who can score. However, to see all three done at an above-average or higher level in one player is what draws the interest of NBA scouts. When all of these things add up together, Jaron Pierre Jr. will be one of the most sought-after transfers in the portal if he stays in college.
Will Pierre Jr. Stay in College?
A few things are working against Pierre when it comes to the NBA draft. Despite his incredible production, there aren’t too many players being drafted into the NBA at 23 (he will be 23 when the season starts). Production speaks for itself, but players his age are often looked at as being close to their ceiling. The NBA draft has shifted significantly to drafting based on potential rather than solely college production. Any NBA team would love his size while shooting 38.2% from three. However, his potential may not be what he desires. The question will be whether he enters the draft with a second-round grade (or worse) or returns to prove he can improve more against better competition. If I had to choose now, I would say he likely will return and transfer to a power conference school to increase his draft stock.
What School Will Jaron Pierre Jr. Transfer to?
With North Carolina’s tremendous needs going into next season, they’ve become a default selection. If they lose any more of their guards for next season, they will need a player like Pierre Jr. to fill in immediately. Even if they don’t, they may still need him. I also look at teams that are losing multiple guards this season. Donovan Dent already filled a need for UCLA, but most of the other top options have remained unsigned.
Louisville is losing most of its backcourt, so they could be an option for the transfer-portal-loving Pat Kelsey. Auburn is losing most of their team to graduation amid a Final Four run, so they’ll likely be a heavy favorite to pick up a one-year loan. At the end of the day, any power conference team with any kind of questions at guard will be reaching out to Pierre Jr. Ultimately, wherever Jaron Pierre Jr. goes, he will be an impactful transfer.
Photo credit: © Dave Hyatt / Special to the Gadsden Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
