SMU has had a relatively quiet transfer portal so far this season after a successful first season in the ACC. While they fell short of the NCAA Tournament, the Mustangs finished with 23 wins and a first-round bye in the ACC tournament. They were most known for their offense this season, averaging 80 points per game, ranked 38th in the country. For the first time this offseason, they’ve added a major transfer. Jaron Pierre Jr. entered the portal early in the period and committed to SMU on Monday night. What does Pierre bring to the Mustangs? How does he fit into the system? What is the ceiling for the Mustangs in 2025-26?
SMU Adds Top-5 Scorer Jaron Pierre Jr. in Transfer Portal
An Elite Scorer
Pierre is one of the best scorers in the country, averaging 21.6 points per game. He shot 42.4% from the floor and 38.2% from three, proving that he can score both inside and outside. While he won’t be able to have as much success in the ACC, scoring like that will translate well into any conference. Pierre was more than just a scorer, however, he added 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. That shows a willingness to get others involved and battle in the trenches. He was a highly touted transfer because of his scoring, but any coach would love a player who tries to affect the game in multiple ways. He may only have one year remaining for SMU, but Pierre will have a lasting impact on this team.
Jaron Pierre Jr. Fits Perfectly into SMU’s System
SMU wants to run and score as many points as possible. They topped 100 points on numerous occasions this season, so what better person than Pierre to join the team? Despite ranking 259th in the country in three-point attempts, the Mustangs ranked 24th in three-point percentage. They make the right pass to find the open player. They may not settle for many threes, but they make sure they’re open when they take them. Pierre slides in as a strong three-point shooter but one who finds the easy buckets. He likes to slash and score inside the arc. Moreover, he finds open teammates for easy baskets. Overall, Jaron Pierre Jr. is a perfect fit for the way SMU runs its offense. It doesn’t have to be flashy, but it is extremely successful, he could be the missing piece to get this team over the hump.
Could SMU Make the NCAA Tournament?
SMU needs more experienced depth, making Pierre the perfect addition. While Pierre is the only transfer, the Mustangs have three four-star recruits, giving them the eighth-best class in the country. It’s hard to rely on freshmen, but they have a strong class with Pierre and Kevin “Boopie” Miller leading the backcourt. If they can pick up one frontcourt player in the rest of the transfer portal, they will have enough experience to make up for the freshmen’s inexperience. SMU will have serious competition, with Duke, Louisville, Clemson, and North Carolina all putting together solid rosters for next season. Notre Dame has been sneaky in its recruiting endeavors. However, the ACC should receive more bids next season, so expect SMU to be in the hunt for one of those bids.
Photo credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The post SMU Adds Top-5 Scorer in Transfer Portal appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.