Let me tell you about Jalen Tate. A combo guard who played last night for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Received a lot of compliments from the broadcasting booth. Deservedly so. A kid with no fear, with a high energy engine and a lot of maturity on the court.
I know his game, I saw him play maybe 40 to 50 times. I was a season ticket holder for Northern Kentucky in 17/18 and 18/19
-In 17/18 he was a scrawny kid who played 20+ minutes in a good (for Horizon League standards) team. He played because he played defense seriously. He was a redshirt FR with an attitude, who even dared to taunt and get on opponents' faces. His shooting was mediocre and he clearly (and seriously) lacked leg strength. At 6'6 he appeared to just barely being able to dunk.
-In 18/19, with the departure of some seniors, he stepped up to a more prominent role on offense. His shooting improved but not much. He had good shooting percentages though. Attempting 3 pt shots only when wide open and sticking to field goals close to the basket.
-In 19/20 (not a season ticket holder anymore) I watched him play a few times on ESPN+. He was injured a good 1/3 of the season. It was a repeat of the previous season for him, with very poor 3 pt shooting as he was more heavily guarded.
Having graduated from NKU he transferred to Arkansas. This kid did not transfer because he a physical specimen. He still seriously lacked leaping ability and was not explosive. He was a competent offensive player who knew his role and when to take, and not take, shots. He was a great defender, two time DPOY. Length for a guard was good and just guts. Lots of it.
At Arkansas he continued to be the same type of player. Mediocre from long range, good from close to (maybe) mid range. Good 3 pt percentage explained by just taking very good open shots. He was heavily used as a point guard. I think he probably played 20% of his time at NKY as a PG. It showed in the stats, respectable 3.8 assists, not so respectable 2.6 turnovers. Solid 10.9/3.8/3.8 while shooting 48.2%.
Last night I heard a large amount of compliments on Jalen. Highlighted by calling him "Northern Kentucky's gift to the state of Arkansas". Why is it that a kid with a poor shot and, apart from good length for a guard, not particularly athletic, was such a great get for the Razorbacks? I think I know the answer. He was a 5th year senior who knew what he could and could not do. Experience and maturity matter. A lot.
So this brings me to NU, where is our Jalen Tate? Does it make sense we can find players like him in the Portal? Are admission standards, by themselves, enough to think we are doomed to fail if we try to find them? We had 3 unused schollies last year. Seniors and maturity matter. They might eat up other people's minutes but they also make them better. Make younger players more mature. Leadership. Practice quality. They all matter.
PS-I hate the portal. I think it's fair to kids to have the chance to transfer and even support to 1 time exception without sitting out rule. But I hate what it does to the mid majors. It just helps concentrating talent in the power conferences.
I know his game, I saw him play maybe 40 to 50 times. I was a season ticket holder for Northern Kentucky in 17/18 and 18/19
-In 17/18 he was a scrawny kid who played 20+ minutes in a good (for Horizon League standards) team. He played because he played defense seriously. He was a redshirt FR with an attitude, who even dared to taunt and get on opponents' faces. His shooting was mediocre and he clearly (and seriously) lacked leg strength. At 6'6 he appeared to just barely being able to dunk.
-In 18/19, with the departure of some seniors, he stepped up to a more prominent role on offense. His shooting improved but not much. He had good shooting percentages though. Attempting 3 pt shots only when wide open and sticking to field goals close to the basket.
-In 19/20 (not a season ticket holder anymore) I watched him play a few times on ESPN+. He was injured a good 1/3 of the season. It was a repeat of the previous season for him, with very poor 3 pt shooting as he was more heavily guarded.
Having graduated from NKU he transferred to Arkansas. This kid did not transfer because he a physical specimen. He still seriously lacked leaping ability and was not explosive. He was a competent offensive player who knew his role and when to take, and not take, shots. He was a great defender, two time DPOY. Length for a guard was good and just guts. Lots of it.
At Arkansas he continued to be the same type of player. Mediocre from long range, good from close to (maybe) mid range. Good 3 pt percentage explained by just taking very good open shots. He was heavily used as a point guard. I think he probably played 20% of his time at NKY as a PG. It showed in the stats, respectable 3.8 assists, not so respectable 2.6 turnovers. Solid 10.9/3.8/3.8 while shooting 48.2%.
Last night I heard a large amount of compliments on Jalen. Highlighted by calling him "Northern Kentucky's gift to the state of Arkansas". Why is it that a kid with a poor shot and, apart from good length for a guard, not particularly athletic, was such a great get for the Razorbacks? I think I know the answer. He was a 5th year senior who knew what he could and could not do. Experience and maturity matter. A lot.
So this brings me to NU, where is our Jalen Tate? Does it make sense we can find players like him in the Portal? Are admission standards, by themselves, enough to think we are doomed to fail if we try to find them? We had 3 unused schollies last year. Seniors and maturity matter. They might eat up other people's minutes but they also make them better. Make younger players more mature. Leadership. Practice quality. They all matter.
PS-I hate the portal. I think it's fair to kids to have the chance to transfer and even support to 1 time exception without sitting out rule. But I hate what it does to the mid majors. It just helps concentrating talent in the power conferences.
