Jahari Long
6-4 170 lbs Bellaire, TX
Episcopal HS
Video Highlights
During the fall recruiting period with Seton Hall looking to replace graduating point guard Quincy McKnight three names rose to the surface. Posh Alexander, Our Savior Lutheran out of the Bronx, an ESPN 4 star recruit, Noah Farrakhan, another 4 star recruit, this one local from the Patrick School,and a lesser known 3 star point in Bellaire Texas, Jahari Long, recruited by SHU assistant Tony Skinn.
Consensus at the time was that Alexander, a SHU target for a couple of years and former high school teammate of current Pirate Jared Rhoden was the number one priority, with the uber-athletic Farrakhan not far behind. Long? A fallback choice at best.
Yet, with all three players not committed an announcement was made July of last year that it was Long who would be coming to South Orange to eventually take over the reins of Seton Hall's offense.
Long chose the Hall over Power 5 schools Minnesota of the Big Ten and TCU of the Big 12. He also had offers from Rice, Louisiana Tech, Wichita State and VCU.
At the time Long signed his NLOI Kevin Willard noted "Jahari possesses exceptional ballhandling skills and is an elite level passer. He can score the basketball, and he's an unselfish player who makes plays for his teammates. All of our players will benefit from playing with Jahari, and we're excited to welcome him and his family to the program."
When asked what was his reason in choosing to play for Willard and the Seton Hall Pirates Long told Priratecrew's Adam Baliatico, “Coach Tony Skinn was my main recruiter. During the recruiting process he told me that he loved my ability to make plays whether it was as a scorer or getting my teammates involved.”
Long continued, “a big thing for me was that I noticed that a coach from the staff was at every one of my games during the final live period,. That was very comforting in a way, because it showed that they were interested in me.”
Concluding Long added, “I chose Seton Hall because I felt like I could fit right in with the programs exciting up tempo play style and with my ability to make plays for myself and for others. The family atmosphere that was present between players and coaches on my visit was another major reason I committed.”
So, what can the Hall expect from it's soon to be freshmen point guard? Let's look no further than to another Piratecrew reporter, Tyler Calvaruso, former editor of the Setonian who in an article published July 22, 2019 (https://www.thesetonian.com/2019/07/22/scouting-seton-hall-commit-jahari-long/) gave this scouting report....
Long is an ideal recruit in the sense that his game is getting better with each passing day. His court vision and defense are already top-notch, which bodes well for his development at Seton Hall.
Long is also athletic and long. He plays fast and hard on both ends of the floor and his motor never turns off. Long is also somewhat surprisingly a willing rebounder. Despite his 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame, he’s not afraid to mix it up down low and fight for a board. He’ll have to bulk up a bit once he gets to South Orange, but Long is certainly trending in the right direction.
Overall Analysis: Throughout the summer, Long has been rising up rankings and recruiting boards all across the country. He’s going to keep getting better and by the end of it all, I expect him to be a very good player for the Pirates.
With Kevin Willard, if you don’t defend, you don’t play. Long never takes a play off defensively and has a bulldog mentality. He could become one of Willard’s favorite players early on in his college career because of that.
We now fast forward to the present date and since Long's commitment Seton Hall has signed papers accepting Harvard transfer and All Ivy League star Bryce Aiken to take the mantle from the graduating McKnight. Aiken, far more experienced and proven at the D1 level will start at the point for Willard with the younger Long learning the position from both Aiken and returning backup senior guard Shavar Reynolds. A perfect scenario for the soon to be frosh. Then after both graduate, the point, critical to Willard's offense, will be there for the taking if Long progresses as expected.
Considering his work ethic, defensive intensity, talent and size It looks like the Hall will have a worthy successor to hopefully follow in the footstep of those that preceded him for Coach Willard. Names like Jordan Theodore, Sterling Gibbs, Isaiah Whitehead, Madison Jones, Khadeen Carrington and the aforementioned Quincy McKnight.
Tall shoes indeed, but then again when has anyone from the Lone Star state ever shied away from big expectations?
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