By Adam Baliatico
When Seton Hall chose to pursue and close 3-star Episcopal (TX) point guard Jahari Long instead of local 4-star point guards Posh Alexander and Noah Farrakhan, many Pirate fans were left confused. However, a deep dive into the Texas point guard gives a clear understanding why the staff prioritized Long.
First, he is a pure point guard whereas the other two are more combo guards. Second, he is a tremendous defender and passer. And finally, his best days are ahead of him, as the now 6' 4 1/2" rising senior continues to grow into his body and develop his game.
Below I will profile Long in detail, after being able to view 3 complete games as well as many highlight clips. I also was able to speak with two Texas area scouts and a local coach who saw Long play once in person. My profile will compare Long relative to Seton Hall's other top 2 PG targets, Alexander and Farrakhan.
Recruitment:
Long started off his recruitment in late 2018 when Minnesota, TCU and a handful of mid-majors got involved fairly early with offers. Despite not playing for a major AAU team, Long was able to get on their radar, then as a 6-foot-1, wiry point guard.
Over the next 6 months, Long would grow to 6-foot-4, and Seton Hall got involved in the early spring of 2019 as Tony Skinn, who used to recruit Texas for Louisiana Tech, extended an offer.
That spring, Long would visit Seton Hall twice, as well as taking trips to TCU and Minnesota. Around July 1st, Seton Hall as a staff decided they would prioritize Long as their top point guard target in the class of 2020, and three weeks later, Long committed to the Pirates as his stock was rising rapidly.
Rankings:
As a player, Long has seen his rankings rise as he’s grown and gained more exposure. A consensus 3-star recruit, Long was ranked #195 in the country by 247Sports when he committed to the program in July. In the late August update, Long rose 34 spots to #160, closing in on 4-star status.
In the 247Sports Composite Ranking, Long rose from 215 at the time of his commitments to #200, also a 3 star recruit.
According to Rivals, Long is a 3-star recruit as well and the #35 point guard in the country.
Strength::
·Court Vision – As a point guard, Long plays under control while playing in both the half court and in transition, and he is very adept at finding the open man and delivering the ball on target and on time.
·Defense – Long is one of the best defensive guards in the entire country, and it starts with his length and quickness. While he isn’t an elite athlete, he is very quick and he combines that quickness with long arms and great defensive instincts to be an elite on ball defender.
·Ball handling – Long is not a super flashy ball handler but he will rarely turn the ball over. Call him steady.
·Passing – Long delivers a catchable ball and does a good job throwing entry passes to the post as well as hitting shooters in rhythm. From time to time he will throw a pass that gets you off your seat as well and he is very good throwing the lead pass in transition.
·Finishing around the rim – While he needs to work on his jump shot, Long is a good finisher around the rim, crafty with various means to score.
·Work ethic – Long’s rapid improvement and development of his skill set shows a tremendous work ethic and a desire to get better.
Areas to improve:
·Jump shot – Long’s jump shot is not terrible but it is the weak part of his game at this time. He can hit the open three ball when given space, but he is still developing confidence. He has solid mechanics and a consistent release, showing the potential to become a much better shooter, and his rapid improvement from his junior high school season to his senior summer AAU season is a great first step. The thing I noticed the most on his jumper was the consistent rotation he gets. To me, his jump shot is more a matter of confidence than lack of ability.
·Strength – As long has sprouted from 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-4 1/2 in the past six months, he has to continue to grow into that frame. Right now, he is around 170 pounds, but he is focused on getting up to 185 before entering Seton Hall. That added strength will help him defensively as well as in working on his post game, which could become a weapon for the big point guard.
·Post game – Right now, Long has not shown any post game on the offensive side of the ball, but projecting to 6-foot-5+, he will be one of the biggest point guards in college basketball, and developing a mini post game could be a huge weapon, similar to how it was for Jalen Brunson later in his career at Villanova.
Scout talk:
I spoke with a local scout who has seen both Posh Alexander and Noah Farrakhan play at length and also got to see Long play a full game this summer. Here is what he told me:
"When SHU first chose Long over Posh and Noah, I was skeptical. However, after watching Long play this summer, I see why they did it. Long is a true point guard and an elite defender. Posh is a score first guard and Noah is a hybrid of the two. Long has the highest upside because he has elite size, long arms, and is a good athlete. His jumper is rapidly improving and honestly, probably better than Posh or Noah's at this point. And defensively, he is light years ahead of Posh and while Noah is a good defender, Jahari has that next gear."
"In terms of overall fit, Long is the best for the program. They are going to have some big time wings and bigs for the next couple of years as well as an established upperclassmen point guard in Anthony Nelson. Long is developing but his team first mentality should allow him to play the backup point guard role perfectly for two years while improving his game, whereas I am not sure Posh or Noah would handle the backup role well."
Conclusion:
Long is a tremendous prospect for Seton Hall and the first true point guard they have recruited in a long time. While some fans wanted the higher ranked Alexander or Farrakhan, Long was the better program fit. He is a better defender, more versatile, and a true pass first point guard.
Long intrigues me because of his size and athleticism as well as his rapid improvement over the past six months. Had he played for one of the elite AAU programs in Texas, I truly believe he would have generated huge recruiting buzz as he had to constantly play with limited teammates throughout both high school and AAU play.
To me, SHU is getting a potential multi-year starter and the perfect replacement for Anthony Nelson after he graduates from the program. As a freshman, I see a backup point guard who will be a plug and play defender.
By his sophomore year, I see a player capable of changing the game on both ends of the floor, backing up senior Anthony Nelson and also being capable of playing off the ball when SHU wants to go with a quicker, defensive lineup.
And as a junior and senior, I see a potential All Big East point guard who will combine elite defense, court vision and IQ with a likely far advanced offensive skill set by then.
The key for Long will be staying on his development path, focusing on his jump shot and post game. If he can make strides in both of those areas, the 6-foot-4 1/2 point guard has a unique skill set that should allow him to star at Seton Hall as an upper classmen.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
COMMENTS
When Seton Hall chose to pursue and close 3-star Episcopal (TX) point guard Jahari Long instead of local 4-star point guards Posh Alexander and Noah Farrakhan, many Pirate fans were left confused. However, a deep dive into the Texas point guard gives a clear understanding why the staff prioritized Long.
First, he is a pure point guard whereas the other two are more combo guards. Second, he is a tremendous defender and passer. And finally, his best days are ahead of him, as the now 6' 4 1/2" rising senior continues to grow into his body and develop his game.
Below I will profile Long in detail, after being able to view 3 complete games as well as many highlight clips. I also was able to speak with two Texas area scouts and a local coach who saw Long play once in person. My profile will compare Long relative to Seton Hall's other top 2 PG targets, Alexander and Farrakhan.
Recruitment:
Long started off his recruitment in late 2018 when Minnesota, TCU and a handful of mid-majors got involved fairly early with offers. Despite not playing for a major AAU team, Long was able to get on their radar, then as a 6-foot-1, wiry point guard.
Over the next 6 months, Long would grow to 6-foot-4, and Seton Hall got involved in the early spring of 2019 as Tony Skinn, who used to recruit Texas for Louisiana Tech, extended an offer.
That spring, Long would visit Seton Hall twice, as well as taking trips to TCU and Minnesota. Around July 1st, Seton Hall as a staff decided they would prioritize Long as their top point guard target in the class of 2020, and three weeks later, Long committed to the Pirates as his stock was rising rapidly.
Rankings:
As a player, Long has seen his rankings rise as he’s grown and gained more exposure. A consensus 3-star recruit, Long was ranked #195 in the country by 247Sports when he committed to the program in July. In the late August update, Long rose 34 spots to #160, closing in on 4-star status.
In the 247Sports Composite Ranking, Long rose from 215 at the time of his commitments to #200, also a 3 star recruit.
According to Rivals, Long is a 3-star recruit as well and the #35 point guard in the country.
Strength::
·Court Vision – As a point guard, Long plays under control while playing in both the half court and in transition, and he is very adept at finding the open man and delivering the ball on target and on time.
·Defense – Long is one of the best defensive guards in the entire country, and it starts with his length and quickness. While he isn’t an elite athlete, he is very quick and he combines that quickness with long arms and great defensive instincts to be an elite on ball defender.
·Ball handling – Long is not a super flashy ball handler but he will rarely turn the ball over. Call him steady.
·Passing – Long delivers a catchable ball and does a good job throwing entry passes to the post as well as hitting shooters in rhythm. From time to time he will throw a pass that gets you off your seat as well and he is very good throwing the lead pass in transition.
·Finishing around the rim – While he needs to work on his jump shot, Long is a good finisher around the rim, crafty with various means to score.
·Work ethic – Long’s rapid improvement and development of his skill set shows a tremendous work ethic and a desire to get better.
Areas to improve:
·Jump shot – Long’s jump shot is not terrible but it is the weak part of his game at this time. He can hit the open three ball when given space, but he is still developing confidence. He has solid mechanics and a consistent release, showing the potential to become a much better shooter, and his rapid improvement from his junior high school season to his senior summer AAU season is a great first step. The thing I noticed the most on his jumper was the consistent rotation he gets. To me, his jump shot is more a matter of confidence than lack of ability.
·Strength – As long has sprouted from 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-4 1/2 in the past six months, he has to continue to grow into that frame. Right now, he is around 170 pounds, but he is focused on getting up to 185 before entering Seton Hall. That added strength will help him defensively as well as in working on his post game, which could become a weapon for the big point guard.
·Post game – Right now, Long has not shown any post game on the offensive side of the ball, but projecting to 6-foot-5+, he will be one of the biggest point guards in college basketball, and developing a mini post game could be a huge weapon, similar to how it was for Jalen Brunson later in his career at Villanova.
Scout talk:
I spoke with a local scout who has seen both Posh Alexander and Noah Farrakhan play at length and also got to see Long play a full game this summer. Here is what he told me:
"When SHU first chose Long over Posh and Noah, I was skeptical. However, after watching Long play this summer, I see why they did it. Long is a true point guard and an elite defender. Posh is a score first guard and Noah is a hybrid of the two. Long has the highest upside because he has elite size, long arms, and is a good athlete. His jumper is rapidly improving and honestly, probably better than Posh or Noah's at this point. And defensively, he is light years ahead of Posh and while Noah is a good defender, Jahari has that next gear."
"In terms of overall fit, Long is the best for the program. They are going to have some big time wings and bigs for the next couple of years as well as an established upperclassmen point guard in Anthony Nelson. Long is developing but his team first mentality should allow him to play the backup point guard role perfectly for two years while improving his game, whereas I am not sure Posh or Noah would handle the backup role well."
Conclusion:
Long is a tremendous prospect for Seton Hall and the first true point guard they have recruited in a long time. While some fans wanted the higher ranked Alexander or Farrakhan, Long was the better program fit. He is a better defender, more versatile, and a true pass first point guard.
Long intrigues me because of his size and athleticism as well as his rapid improvement over the past six months. Had he played for one of the elite AAU programs in Texas, I truly believe he would have generated huge recruiting buzz as he had to constantly play with limited teammates throughout both high school and AAU play.
To me, SHU is getting a potential multi-year starter and the perfect replacement for Anthony Nelson after he graduates from the program. As a freshman, I see a backup point guard who will be a plug and play defender.
By his sophomore year, I see a player capable of changing the game on both ends of the floor, backing up senior Anthony Nelson and also being capable of playing off the ball when SHU wants to go with a quicker, defensive lineup.
And as a junior and senior, I see a potential All Big East point guard who will combine elite defense, court vision and IQ with a likely far advanced offensive skill set by then.
The key for Long will be staying on his development path, focusing on his jump shot and post game. If he can make strides in both of those areas, the 6-foot-4 1/2 point guard has a unique skill set that should allow him to star at Seton Hall as an upper classmen.
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
COMMENTS
