Assessing Feron Hunt, Dejon Jarreau, and Quentin Grimes

January 3^rd, 2021

By Alan Lu

Today, I decided to watch an AAC basketball game that took place between the Houston Cougars and the SMU Mustangs, as it featured second round prospects such as SMU’s Feron Hunt, and Houston’s Quentin Grimes and Dejon Jarreau.  It was poised to be a defensive battle, as it featured two of the best defenders in college basketball in Hunt and Jarreau.  It was close for quite awhile, but in the second half, Houston was able to make a steady stream of shots as they also buckled down on the defensive end, which helped them get a double-digit win over SMU.  Here are my thoughts on Hunt, Jarreau, Grimes, and the others fared on this day, and where they may stack up currently as prospects for the NBA.

SMU’s 6-8 junior forward, Feron Hunt had a solid showing in his team’s loss to Houston.  He especially excelled on the defensive end, and he made a number of highlight-reel worthy plays on both ends of the court, as he also threw down a couple of impressive dunks to help his team in this game.

Hunt did a very good job of scoring on hustle plays.  He would run the floor to catch lobs, and he excelled at throwing down nifty, alley-oop dunks on the break due to possessing very good hands and athleticism to do so.  He also would drive up the court to score on quick layups in transition.  Plus, he also would draw free throws after getting the ball on backdoor cuts to the hoop.

He also was able to pull up to make a fadeaway jumper from the mid-range.  However, sometimes he would take rushed, contested shots off the dribble, which would lead to him to miss shots in traffic, especially when he wouldn’t get foul calls.  In addition, he did not take a single three-point shot in this game, and it was rare when he would look to score from outside of the paint area.

He also displayed adequate playmaking skills.  Hunt will make the extra pass to find the open man, and he can kick balls out to shooters off the dribble to set up scoring chances for them.  He also did not turn the ball over on offense. Also, Hunt did a very good job of rebounding the basketball.  He was very active at crashing the glass, especially on the offensive end, and he would frequently help his team get boards on both ends of the floor.

Hunt also played good defense in this game.  He did a great job of rotating to block shots off of drives due to possessing very good athleticism, timing, and instincts.  He also would quickly jump on passes to get numerous steals and deflections for his team.  Every once in a while, he would gamble too much defensively, as he would sometimes miss on steal attempts and over-help in the paint, which would lead him and his team to be out of position and late on rotations, which would cause them to allow scores to their opponents.

Overall, Hunt played well in his team’s loss to Houston, and he is a very athletic, high-motor player that can make a lot of solid hustle plays on both ends of the court.  He will need to improve his outside shot, and he will need to be more comfortable in taking jumpers from outside the paint in games.  Right now, he is a second round prospect that could project to be a solid defensive specialist in the NBA.

Houston’s 6-5 senior point guard, Dejon Jarreau played well in his team’s win over SMU.  He had a solid all-around game, and he played a pivotal role in helping to lead his team to get the victory. Jarreau did a decent job of  scoring off the dribble.  He can quickly get into the lane to score on speedy layups, and he also showed a solid mid-range game, as he would pull up to make those shots.  However, sometimes he would take rushed, contested shots that would lead to misses, especially when he wouldn’t get foul calls.

Though he didn’t take many threes in this game, Jarreau was able to make an open, spot-up three off the catch from beyond the arc. Also, Jarreau displayed satisfactory playmaking skills.  He is an unselfish player that can throw solid passes off the dribble, and he can get the ball to his teammates in an assortment of ways to set up scores for them.  However, sometimes he would throw inaccurate passes that would go astray, and he also threw one that sailed out of bounds due to miscommunication. Plus, he also rebounded the ball well, and Jarreau would often chase down balls to help his team get boards on both ends of the floor.

Jarreau played decent defense in this game.  He was able to break up a lob pass to help his team get a steal, and he also intercepted a pass to collect another.  He also almost was able to rotate to block a shot off of a drive, except his teammate had fouled an opponent earlier on the play.  However, sometimes he can struggle to guard opponents on drives to the hoop.  He was beat off the dribble once to allow a score. He also rotated to swat a shot off of a drive to cover for a blown teammate, but instead committed a foul and allowed a score instead.

Overall, Dejon Jarreau had a solid showing in his team’s win over SMU.  He is a very athletic, energetic playmaker that excels at making hustle plays, and he also can effectively run a team at the point.  He will need to trust his outside shot more, and he will likely need to prove to NBA teams that he can consistently knock down jumpers in games.  Right now, he is a borderline second round candidate, but he could project to be a defensive specialist if he makes his way to the NBA someday.

Houston’s 6-5 junior swingman, Quentin Grimes had his ups and downs in his team’s win over SMU.  He was held scoreless in the first half, as he was plagued with foul trouble, so he wasn’t able to help his team that much early on.  He was able to pour on some points and make some nice passes early in the second half to help provide a spark for his team, but overall, he was inconsistent as a shooter and player, as he wasn’t quite able to consistently score down the stretch.

Grimes showed a decent ability to score off the dribble.  He used a crossover move and was able to seamlessly split a double team to score on a smooth right-handed drive to the hoop.  He also was able to go right to the rim to score another time.  He also used a hesitation move and a pump fake to draw free throws on a separate play.  However, he had some trouble finishing plays in traffic at times, as he tended to get his shots blocked, and he also missed on a pull-up jumper from the mid-range.

Though he struggled to knock down threes in this game, Grimes was able to run off of a ball screen to make a quick, spot-up three from downtown.  While he didn’t exactly make shots efficiently, he had a very good stretch run early in the second half where he was scoring creatively and efficiently for that time span.  It’s clear that he’s benefitted by playing in a team system in Houston that also allows him to freely handle the ball and make plays as a scorer and facilitator on offense, and it’s refreshing that he gets to do more rather than just spot up for their team.

He also displayed fairly average playmaking skills.  Grimes is an unselfish player that will make the extra pass to find the open man, and he will keep the ball moving.  However, he also committed a couple of turnovers.  Sometimes, he can struggle to handle the ball when faced with heavy ball pressure, and he also threw a pass that got intercepted another time.

He also did a good job of rebounding the basketball.  Grimes was active at crashing the glass, and he would leap up high to get plenty of boards for his team.  Defensively, he looked to be fairly average.  He gave effort, but he also would sometimes struggle to defend opposing ball handlers, as he ended up committing a couple of early touch fouls in this game.

Overall, Grimes didn’t have his best game, but he showed the ability to be a crafty scorer on offense, and he also will look to be a ball mover on offense.  He’ll need to be a more consistent shooter on offense and he’ll need to cut down on his turnovers, but he is a talented guard that could project to be a borderline second round candidate.  He’ll likely need to stay in school for another season, but in a favorable scenario, he could project into a 3 and D role if he’s able to make his way to the NBA someday.

SMU’s 5-11 junior point guard, Kendric Davis also played well in his team’s loss to Houston.  He scored 32 points and also collected 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in this game, and he was especially effective as a shooter and scorer on offense.

Davis is an agile, skilled playmaker that can shoot and score the basketball.  He excelled at making corner threes, and he would frequently drive past defenders to score on speedy, acrobatic layups around the basket.  He would go hard to draw fouls upon his defenders to get to the free throw line, and he also can knock down runners and turnaround jumpers from the mid-range.  He didn’t miss often, and if anything, he probably should’ve taken more shots, especially when considering he was much more efficient than the rest of his teammates in this game.

He showed off adequate playmaking skills on offense.  Davis can throw good passes off the dribble and in transition, and he also handles the ball well.  He can use a quick spin move to get around defenders, and he also threw an accurate lob pass to set up an alley-oop dunk for a teammate on the break.  However, he also was fairly turnover prone, as he would throw inaccurate passes, and would sometimes lose the ball when handling it under pressure. Plus, he also did a very good job of rebounding the basketball.  He was especially active at crashing the glass to get defensive boards, and he was able to get plenty of rebounds for his team.

Defensively, he looked to be perhaps above average.  Davis was able to poke a ball away to get a steal, and he also was able to block a shot another time.  However, he had some trouble defending opponents off the dribble, and he also would reach in a bit too much, which would lead him to commit fouls as a result.

Overall, Kendric Davis had a stellar showing against Houston, and he was able to play well in virtually all facets of the game.   He is an underrated prospect that could be worth considering in the second round, and he could project to be a solid backup point guard in the NBA.

SMU’s 6-9 senior forward, Ethan Chargois played fairly well in his team’s loss to Houston.  He showed off versatile scoring skills, and he also rebounded and defended well when he was on the court. Chargois did a decent job of knocking down threes in this game.  He was able to make a spot-up three from way out, and he also ran off of a ball screen to make another from beyond the arc.  He also can score on turnaround, fadeaway jumpers in the post, and Chargois had some really nice looking shots that he made.  However, he can be too streaky as a shooter, as he also missed his fair share of threes, and he also had a couple of shots blocked when posting up later on in this match.

He also displayed satisfactory playmaking skills.  He can pass and handle the basketball, and he possesses solid court vision.  Chargois is an unselfish player that will make the extra pass and look for the open man, and he generally threw good passes in this game.  He can find open shooters, and he also threw a nice pass off the glass to set up a breakaway dunk for a teammate.  He also was able to find a cutter when driving to the hoop another time.  Sometimes though, he can be careless with the ball, as he committed a few turnovers in this game.  He lost the ball once, and he also threw a hasty pass that got intercepted.

Chargois also was able to get his fair share of boards, as he was able to get rebounds on both ends of the floor.  However, there was one play where he was called for an over the back foul when going for an offensive board once. He also played solid defense.  Chargois did a good job of blocking shots in the paint to get stops for his team, and he also stole a ball away from an opposing ball handler another time.

Overall, Ethan Chargois is an athletic, skilled combo forward that has a variety of skills that could potentially help him at the next level, but he will need to make more shots consistently first.  He will need to be a more efficient shooter in games, but if so, he could project into a 3 and D role if he is able to make it to the NBA someday.

Houston’s 6-7 senior forward, Justin Gorham played very well in this game, and he managed to score 11 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in his team’s win over SMU.  He would often score in the post and off of put backs, and he is a physical player that would often scrap to score and rebound in the paint.  He also was able to make a corner three-point shot, and he also ran the floor and caught a lob pass to draw free throws on a breakaway dunk attempt.

He also is an unselfish player that would get the ball to his teammates to set up scores for them.  However, there was one play where he was called for traveling shortly after wrestling a ball away from his teammate to get a defensive rebound.

Gorham was a chairman of the boards in this game, and he hauled in an impressive 19 rebounds against SMU.  He was able to get a double digit number of defensive rebounds, and he also collected 9 offensive rebounds, which was just one less than the entire offensive rebound total of SMU’s team.

Overall, Gorham is an athletic, high-motor combo forward that excelled as an interior player for his team, and he also made a three to show his range.  He hasn’t taken many shots this season, but this may have been his best performance of the season.  He will need to continue to improve his perimeter skills, but his ability to make hustle plays and to rebound the basketball could enable him to compete for a roster spot in the NBA next season.

Houston’s 6-8 senior big man, Brison Gresham played fairly well, as he showed that he can score in the post, and he also was very effective as a shot blocker on the defensive end.  Gresham was able to score on a fadeaway jumper from the post, and he also can finish plays around the basket.  He didn’t take many shots, but he was also able to score on a dunk in this game.  He also is an unselfish player that would move the ball, as he was able to pick up a pair of assists on offense.

He didn’t grab many rebounds, but he was able to get a pair of defensive boards against SMU.  He also played solid defense.  He would rotate to block shots off of baseline drives, and he also excelled as a shot blocker in the post to get stops for his team.  Sometimes he would be too aggressive on the defensive end, which would lead himt o commit touch fouls.

Overall, Gresham is a strong, athletic interior player that can score and defend in the paint.  He will need to extend his shooting range and show that he can effectively guard players out on the perimeter, but he is a solid interior defender that could potentially challenge for a roster spot in the NBA sometime down the road.

Houston’s 6-1 sophomore guard, Marcus Sasser scored 17 points in this game, but he didn’t make shots efficiently, as he also needed 17 shots to get to that point total.  He showed that he can score on floaters and layups off the dribble, but he would tend to take tough, off-balanced shots that would lead to misses.  He also can make threes both off the catch or dribble, but he was too streaky with his jump shot.  He also struggled defensively, as he had trouble guarding quicker opponents, which would lead him to commit fouls and allow scores.

Overall, Sasser led his team in scoring in this game, but he didn’t make shots efficiently, nor defend very well.  He also only collected one assist, as he also didn’t seem to pass the ball that often either against Houston.  He is a talented scoring guard, but he will need to be a more consistent shooter, and he will have to improve his playmaking and defense.  Most likely, he will need to stay in school for at least another season, but he could be a prospect to watch if he continues to make strides to improve his overall game.

Other Notes:

Much was made in the telecast about Houston’s 6-3 redshirt sophomore guard, Caleb Mills having stepped away from the team due to personal reasons.  He provided his team with scoring and three-point shooting last season, and had played 4 games this season, but was limited due to COVID-19 and an ankle injury.

For me though, I really wanted to watch SMU’s 6-4 redshirt senior guard, Tyson Jolly, but he didn’t play, and he has not played at all this season, also due to personal reasons.  

From having watched highlights of Isiaha Mike online months before, I was aware that Tyson Jolly was a very athletic combo guard that can score the basketball in a variety of ways, and he showed enough potential to be a stat stuffer this season.  I haven’t seen him play in a live college basketball game this year though, and I didn’t get to see him play today, either.   I feel like SMU could’ve really used him in this game, but for him and Mills, mental health is important, and that should take precedent over basketball. 

Other Notes, Part II:

In the NBA, Golden State Warriors’ superstar point guard, Stephen Curry scored 62 points in his team’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers! He did a superb job of shooting and scoring the basketball, and he also excelled at making team plays to help his team get the victory. It’s clear that he is back, and he has fully recovered from his injury that he had suffered a year ago.

Since losing their first two games of the season, the Warriors have won 3 of their last 4 games, and they played very well, especially with Draymond Green returning to the lineup. The Warriors are 3-3 right now, and they are on pace to win 36 games in the regular season, which was exactly my prediction prior to the start of this season. The Warriors playing very well right now, and they look like a team that could be poised to make it back to the playoffs later this year in 2021.