The JUCO Files Part 8
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 at Tyler Junior College. Recent NBA draftees like Dalton Knecht (Lakers) and Jonathan Mogbo (Raptors) also came from JUCO, now key role players in the league.
That's why I've launched The JUCO Files in my newsletter, focusing on prospects ready to leap to Division I. JUCO basketball, often underrated, emphasizes fundamentals, toughness, and principles - perfect for young talent growth.
This section aims to spotlight JUCO's value, helping prospects adapt and succeed at higher levels, whether low-major, mid-major, or power-five conferences.
Prospects
1. Jakobe Singleton — Hinds Community College (#15)
Combo Guard/Wing — 6’5” — Sophomore — Woodville, MS
Link to Bio and Stats — Link to X
I first saw Singleton a few months ago. He’s a standout as the team’s leader. His game as one of JUCO’s most aggressive scorers allows him to score on all three levels. For the next level, he’s best as a two-level scorer with his flawless way of getting downhill and generating paint touches. He’s drawing contact easily and has a strong upper body, helping him to stay in balance at all times. The handles need to be tightened at the Division I level. Regardless, he’s taking good care of the ball with his 28 assists to 144 field goal attempts. The context here is that he’s the main target of defenses and punishes help defenders collapsing on him once he gets in the lane.
The area of development for Singleton is to involve his teammates more. He’s averaging a few assists per game, but most are bailing himself out. His plus size as a ball handler doesn’t translate to him finding easier baskets for others. It looks like he’s playing for himself most of the time. That’s an area of risk for college coaches, but a sign of what he needs to improve at the next level. He’ll be a junior and can help a low-major program with their scoring immediately. If he’s looking to embrace his role as a playmaker and secondary creator, that’ll give Singleton a good recipe to continue his success after JUCO.
Of all the JUCO players I scouted. I built one of the best relationships with Singleton. He’s coachable. He wants to improve his game. On the defense end, he’s not consistent with his rotations. The feasible part of his development at the next level is his consistent motor, good lateral quickness, and strength, which allows him to guard against the average forward. He’s not protecting near the rim but often gambles for steals on defense. His decision-making on that end needs work. Regardless, he should get offers from highly ranked Division II programs and some low-major Division I teams adding him to their watchlist.
Projection for next season: Rotational for a low-major program.
2. L.A. Hayes — Frank Philips College (#1)
Combo Guard — 6’5” — Sophomore — Cleveland, OH
Link to Bio and Stats — Link to X
Hayes’ tight handles and great mobility help him to play as a high-end scorer at the JUCO level. He decided to bet on himself and work on himself while transferring from Kent State. Taking a step back to work on his future value shows his dedication to the game and embracing the process rather than fearing for the future while staying at the higher level he was before. Hayes brings instant offense and playmaking. He’s best with the ball in his hands, but compared to most JUCO prospects, he’s a team player first. His team trusts his scoring prowess to draw defenders to him to find open teammates.
Regardless of his high usage and many ball touches, Hayes’ handles allow him to take good care of the ball. He’s good at keeping his composure while defenders hedge or even blitz him. Playing out of doubles while recognizing incoming help defense is a vital context for coaches. His two assists per game won’t tell the whole story. The area of development is to get stronger in the next few years. He often loses his balance when initiating contact. His good touch allows him to finish his plays at the rim still. The positive is that he doesn’t settle for shots. His shot selection is at par as he’s focusing on attacking the rim to create an advantage. That’s a positive, and he carries it to the next level.
As a defender, Hayes’ quick feet, decent footwork, and mobility help him to defend both guard positions. He’s a good option for the point-of-attack as he’s able to play tough and attack ball handlers. This led to him collecting many steals. This adds more value to his rebounding. A good habit of his is passing the ball in transition rather than carrying the ball himself. However, he’s not consistent there. When he’s bringing the ball up the court he’s trying to finish plays himself, making him more predictable for defenders. Regardless, Hayes is ready to help a mid-major program, and I expect him to collect more offers throughout the season.
Projection for next season: Rotational for a mid-major program.
3. Christian Torres — Central Georgia Technical College (#10)
Wing/Forward — 6’6” — Sophomore — Lula, GA
Link to Bio and Stats — Link to X
Torres is one of the better athletes I have scouted so far. His verticality is the major selling point. Combined with his quick feet, he adds versatility on the defensive end. He’s able to play in the point-of-attack while his size, toughness, and improving frame helps him to play against taller and stronger wings. Torres’ size helps him to rotate in most positions, playing as a weak side rim protector. His active hands and twitchiness lead to him impacting passing lanes and collecting deflections and steals.
His rebounding is at a good level. This is due to his great motor and toughness when boxing out. So far this season, he’s averaging over nine rebounds per game. The area of development is his shot selection. He’s best when used as a play-finisher in transition. The shot selection in the halfcourt isn’t consistent. He’s mostly settling for shots while he has the athleticism and decent handles to get downhill. Being more aggressive in attacking the rim is the main area of focus for college coaches to develop at the next level.
His touch is a work in progress as well. He’s shooting under 70% from the line, which has to improve. When taking away his dunks and transition offense, he’s not a consistent offensive weapon. His defensive value compensates for most of it. He’ll improve a team’s defense with his versatility and decent rotations. Regardless, Division I programs shouldn’t make him a main part of their offense but use him more in a complementary role. With more programs targeting wings in the transfer portal, most low-major teams struggle to replace these players. Especially experienced players are hard to find. Therefore, I expect Torres to garner more Division I interest throughout the season. He’s able to defend right away, with his halfcourt offense and utility being the investment programs have to make.
Projection for next season: Starter for a low-major program.
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