The JUCO Files Part 6
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?
Did you know Jimmy Butler played JUCO before Marquette? He did this at Tyler Junior College in Texas. In the last draft class, Dalton Knecht (Lakers) and Jonathan Mogbo (Raptors) also left the JUCO reigns while now having legitimate roles in the association.
That’s the emphasis of my newsletter’s new section: the JUCO files! I will continuously write summaries of prospects who can jump to the Division I level. Here’s an assumption, but a tested one among people I spoke to. JUCO basketball is underrated. It’s a fundamental-based focus where toughness and sticking to principles are the base. That’s the perfect environment for young talent to mature their game and go through adversity.
That will help prospects embrace the game and be ready when they made the jump to Division I. Whether it’s the low-major or mid-major level or an immediate transfer to a power-five conference, it’s essential to scout the entirety of college basketball, where I focus on creating more awareness and acknowledgment of the value of JUCO basketball.
Today’s focus: soon-to-become upperclassmen.
Division I programs value experience. And that’s a tough thing to get to in the portal. That is mainly the case for low-major programs. That opens up the opportunity for experienced JUCO players entering their junior year. That’s why today’s version will focus more on immediate contributors!
Prospects
1. Jaden Kempson — Midland College
Combo Guard — 6’4” — Sophomore — Bronx, NY
Link to Bio and Stats — Link to X
Rim-pressuring guards are a vital part of spacing at the collegiate level. Kempson is a crafty scorer with a scalable game. At 6-foot-4, he can play both as a slasher in a role with fewer ball touches and lead the scoring load while offering secondary playmaking. He’s best as an interior scorer. He has good footwork, using his creativity with fakes and jab steps on the perimeter and the rim. He’s mostly relying on his spin move, which can put a mark on his back for opposing scouting reports.
He’s good at finishing plays with both hands. While converting 78.5% of his attempts from the charity stripe, he’s making the most out of his rim presence. Kempson is decent defending in the point of attack, but for the next level, he’s a team defender, where his activity and quick feet help him to impact passing lanes. Kempson
At over 11 field goal attempts per game, Kempson is one of the main options at Midland. However, the rim pressure, quick feet, and good size should lead to his role as a scoring-focused slasher at the Division I level. I expect Kempson to land many offers from low-major programs throughout the season.
Projection for next season: starter for a low-major program
2. Emmett Hendry — Clarendon College
Shooting Guard — 6’5” — Sophomore — Brooklyn, NY
Link to Bio and Stats — Link to X
HHendry is a born shooter. He’s what advantage creators need around them. His ability to relocate and cut while leveraging his shooting gravity keeps him a target for defenses. So motion-based offenses, ball handlers can thrive on the gravity Hendry has as a shooter. He’s 46.0% on 63 three-pointers so far this season, and the consistency of his process makes it feasible he can stay a 40%+ shooter for years to come.
He’s quick in setting his feet. On top of that, he’s keeping the ball at the level of his chest without lowering the ball. That ensures a quick release, especially considering how fluid he elevates on his jumper. The release point is decent. It can be higher, but to compensate he can experiment with no-dip threes with a higher release. But for that to happen, he has to build more strength in his frame in the next few years.
As a defender, Hendry stands out in recognizing switches and rotations. He’s best in serving as a team defender away from the ball handler with his size at 6-foot-5, giving him room to switch from two to three easily. His NBA potential is there for the future. For that to happen, he must get better at the pick-and-roll, especially navigating through screens. However, his role is defined, and therefore imminent that at the next level, his shooting will continue to give him a large portion of the offense. Especially considering his decent handles to get downhill. He’s playing an analytics-friendly game of focusing on getting paint touches or drives to the rim to get himself to the line, barely shooting midrange jumpers. For his role; that's what NBA scouts will ask him to do.
It’s clear as water that Hendry will draw many mid-major offers for him to build his draft stock in his junior campaign.
Projection for next season: a clear-cut starter as a junior at the mid-major level, as he’s a serious NBA potential for his senior campaign.
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3. Justin Asi — Dawson Community College
Wing — 6’5” — Sophomore — Melbourne, Australia
Link to Bio and Stats — Link to X
Asi is an interesting multipositional wing. At 6-foot-5 he doesn’t have the extra inches to make him a true wing, but he compensates for it with his incredibly well-filled frame and broad shoulders. He’s a strong player who can play both as a closeout attacker who gets downhill with his craft and strength. He’s either cutting or setting off-ball screens to get himself an advantage. Asi doesn’t need on-ball reps as his strength and shooting gravity put him in a good position to find open angles when he’s driving or to get to a good position to shoot threes.
He’s shooting over 50% from three so far this season, mainly coming due to the aforementioned areas. He’s getting open looks easily with his strong body helping him to screen effectively or with his cuts. He’s looking to find himself good shots. Asi also has a decent floater game in his arsenal, opening up to be an effective two-level scorer, with the midrange and perimeter being his areas of focus.
He’s struggling from the charity stripe, shooting under 60%. Regardless, his touch at the rim needs to improve if he wants to reach his potential. As of today, he’s averaging under 20 minutes per game. Despite that, Asi scores over 16 points per game. From my film study, I’m not sure if that’s an issue of fitness or him not getting starter minutes. Regardless, he’s boosting offensive ratings when he’s on the floor.
As a defender, Asi’s strength allows him to play as a four despite lacking the size to fully operate from that position. However, he looks too heavy-footed to defend against guards all the time. For the next level, Asi is best to play as a combo forward, with the three being his main position. Areas of development have to be his free-throw shooting, as he’s incapable of playing closing minutes with how many points he leaves on the charity stripe. With 40 attempts this season, the sample size is good enough to draw this conclusion. For his development, it’s best to focus on playing heavier minutes at the low-major level, of which I expect him to have more offers throughout the season.
Projection for next season: a starter at the low-major level with the potential to rise to the mid-major level in his senior year.
4. Edrick Coleman Jr. — Lurleen B Wallace Community College
Wing — 6’4” — Freshman — Pineville, AL
Link to Bio and Stats — Link to X
Coleman Jr. is a born scorer. He doesn’t have an advanced game, and the production is what he hangs his hat on. Regardless, he’s a riskier prospect if the team fit doesn’t fully get there. He’s an inefficient scorer, mainly because of his shot selection. He’s trying to prove himself too much at times, scoring under 40% of his attempts. The numbers don’t tell the whole story, but they confirm the lack of involvement of his teammates, with only 7 assists in 10 games.
His shot process needs work. The jumper is pushed from his hands rather than a fluid release, with the 18-second mark showing an example. Regardless, he’s good at cutting when playing away from the ball. He’s a strongly built wing, despite the lack of the extra few inches to make it in full position. The lack of scoring around him puts more weight on his ability to produce, which makes the team context something to consider for college coaches.
As a defender, he’s giving a much better impression. He’s tough and looks to swat everything away at the rim. Coleman Jr. doesn’t back away from physical contact at all. He’s also active in passing lanes. Recognizing rotations isn’t consistent yet, but he’s using his length well to rotate timely and thus impact passing lanes and angles. His 26 stocks are the result of his defensive activity, with his interior presence helping him to collect boards effectively as well. Teams will have more possession with Coleman Jr. on the floor, but he has to learn to involve his teammates more and make better decisions on his shot selection. I expect him to collect many low-major offers and be a clear-cut starter next year.
Projection for next season: a starter at the low-major level.
5. Norris Bourne Jr. — McCook Community College
Scoring Guard — 6’5” — Sophomore — Beaumont, TX
Link to Bio and Stats — Link to X
Despite shooting under 40% from the field, it’s easy to see the offensive talent. His issue is that the balls stick to his hands more often than not. He’s not looking to make plays for teammates, mostly chasing his buckets. What intrigues me is how easily he gets to his shots, especially from NBA range. That’s his M.O. He has attempted 111 three-point attempts so far this season, roughly 60% of his field goal attempts. He has a great burst and a quick first step, but he doesn’t use his ability to get downhill as much as he should.
Bourne Jr. has a strong build at 6-foot-5, making him able to play as a two and a three at the Division I level. He’s also an accomplished rebounder, attacking the offensive glass when he can. He’s tough and physical, and I expect him to continue to be a presence inside the arc when he gets stronger. The fun thing about his trajectory is that when he’s attacking the rim, he’s drawing contact so easily. With 60 free-throw attempts, he’s a proven paint-touch generator, but it looks like Bourne Jr. isn’t fully aware of what his body can help him do on the floor.
Falling in love with the jumper often results in bad shot selection. That’s the case with him, as he has to learn to embrace the game better and involve his teammates more. At the 10-second mark, he dishes a good assist with the overhead pass, but unfortunately, his passing game hasn’t been put on display this season. That’s untapped potential for his next program to unleash. Regardless, his defensive activity is not consistent. He’s trying to impact passing lanes, but his rotations aren’t good enough to help a team with their defensive rating.
Bourne Jr. is a classic case of buying the offense with, and if his shot selection improves, he has a solid case to be a top scorer at the Division I level, but he’ll have to force more paint touches to reach his potential.