The JUCO Files Part 5
JUCO hoops are the backbone of college basketball. The JUCO files highlights underclassmen ready to make the D1 jump while improving their NIL and portal value through playing time in the NJCAA.
Why JUCO?
Big news! We’re getting closer to NJCAA seasons not counting toward NCAA eligibility. Thus, student-athletes can develop themselves via the JUCO reigns, whereafter they get a ‘fresh start’ once they complete their two years of JUCO education and get their associate’s degree.
However, we should be careful before fully embracing the idea of NJCAA years not counting toward NCAA eligibility. This is the beginning of a game-changer, but we’re not entirely there. There’s lots of misinformation on the subject, and I am not a lawyer or anything, but I would advise you to stay careful and not promise Christmas gifts we cannot afford.
Regardless, this news helps to draw more attention to JUCO basketball, with their prospects being in a much better spot to showcase their talent and find the right program at the next level.
Prospects
1. Terrence Hampton — East LA College (#33)
Power Forward — 6’8” — Freshman — Los Angeles, CA
Link to Bio and Stats — Link to X
Hampton is a true bully at 240 pounds. He’s an explosive and tough face-up scorer who thrives on getting downhill. He can find his opportunities as a pick-and-roll or as a face-up scorer. He has decent handles for his size but mostly focuses on playing a physical game and attacking a defender’s chest rather than throwing in creative moves to find advantages. Using his strength to his advantage is where he does most damage. Either way, his bulky build helps him to play both as a four and a five. Regardless, Hampton is best when he’s in the interior. He can be heavy-footed against smaller quicker guards, where his physicality compensates for a part of it. He’s an active rebounder who crashes the offensive glass to find some of his easy putback finishes.
Hampton’s future Division I trajectory is to play as a floor-stretching forward. He’s expanding his range and looks more comfortable shooting-wise. With 4 attempts in 9 games, the sample size is limited hence it being the future value for his next coaches to help develop. Other areas of development are to put more in the position of a passer out of the post. His physicality holds so much gravity that his threat of posting up or attacking the rim as a face-up scorer draws help defenders to where he’s in a good spot to find cutters or open shooters.
I expect Hampton to be a long-term prospect to play for a power-five school in his junior or senior year. But it’s in his best interest to play starter minutes, which makes it a better decision for him to focus on finding a spot at a low-major program next year.
Projection for next season: Starter for a low-major program.
2. Oluwafemi “Femi” Olaniyan Jr. — Clarendon College (#24)
Wing — 6’5” — Sophomore — Allen, TX
Link to Bio — Link to X — Link to Stats
Olaniyan Jr. is an intriguing long-term prospect. His motor and energy are the first two things that immediately stood out. He’s a fantastic athlete who’s a constant threat on the open floor. He’s good at generating transition opportunities with his activity as a team defender. His great length helps him to impact passing lanes. His highlight finishes cause less attention for his defense, but that’s his M.O. He boxes out hard and crashes the offensive glass often. Having plus-rebounding outside the four and five slots helps a team’s offensive rating while keeping more control in the game. That’s one of the values Olaniyan Jr. brings to his next program.
The biggest challenge for plus-athletes is that they can bank on them while playing against their age group. However, Olaniyan Jr. made sure he added more to his game. His role as a slasher who can use his burst and speed to create advantages. For that to be effective, he has to show he can efficiently shoot off the catch. So far this season, he’s 45.5% from three on 22 attempts in 12 games. That’s a low volume mostly related to his focus on finding ways to finish the interior. His gravity as a shooter helps him to be even more dangerous downhill. So far this season, he averages about five free-throw attempts per game while being a 60.4% finisher overall from the floor.
Improving his footwork as a defender while serving in both the point-of-attack and pick-and-roll could make him a prospect for the pro level. He’s best to thrive in his current role earning more responsibilities at the next level.