Jalen Johnson

[zephyr]

But his shot is FAR from consistent. Guess we didn't see the same player. He was a tweener who put us in a lose lose situation on the defensive end of the floor. He couldnt guard bigs, and was too slow for wings his size.

His midrange shot was pretty darned good, especially in the second half of the season. Like Mike said, his shooting overall was a little disappointment from what the team saw in his season he sat out. Even with some of the issues he had, especially from the perimeter, was he not our second best shooter behind Russell? I would have expected him to settle in more this year and see a pop in his percentages. Defensively I'd agree. Wasn't the best. But this year he would have played the PF more to guard bigger guys versus getting stuck on the perimeter guarding a wing. With Julien starting at the SF and an influx of wing players coming in, this likely would have kept him at the PF spot. I'll put it to you this way, I think we are worse off having him leave.

[zephyr]

I agree with all of this. Jalen seems to be a very high character kid who knows what he wants to do with the rest of his life which I believe is broadcast journalism. With the current situation and the real fact that a basketball season is not guaranteed for next year he may be choosing to focus on a graduate degree that he truly feels will help him the most with his career.

As far as the Cajun basketball program goes this is the first time I have been truly disappointed to hear about a transfer in a long time. Maybe the last was when Jerikius Davis announced he was transferring after his redshirt year before being convinced to stay. Before that maybe Colbey. Most of the transfers in recent years were not guys expected to have an impact the following season.

If he left due to academics kudos to him and I'm supportive. My concern is whether he left due to issues with staff or players. He was one of our most important players and would have been in line to be a major contributor in his senior season.

In regards to transfer upsets, mine was when Hassani Gravett transferred out to South Carolina to become a final four participant and contributor. He transferred in with Gant and those guys only to transfer out the immediate season after he sat out. This thoroughly confused me as why would someone do that?

[Hatch]

You are right. Change of environment is what concerns me. He got here a year ago. It's not like he's wanting a change of scenery after a year unless that environment was somewhat toxic. Can't be due to playing time. Had he wanted a graduate degree that we don't offer, why come here in the first place when you'll be leaving a year later? He's from LA so moving closer to home doesn't really seem that important.

He has been here and enrolled as a student for a full 2 years. It could be a number of factors including things he experienced in the class room that led to this decision. I remember hearing upon graduating that getting a graduate degree from the same school where you got your undergrad can be seen by some in the professional world as incestuous (actual term that was used because it stuck in my head). This is one of the reasons even though I love our school and Lafayette I moved on for grad school.

[zephyr]

He has been here and enrolled as a student for a full 2 years. It could be a number of factors including things he experienced in the class room that led to this decision. I remember hearing upon graduating that getting a graduate degree from the same school where you got your undergrad can be seen by some in the professional world as incestuous (actual term that was used because it stuck in my head). This is one of the reasons even though I love our school and Lafayette I moved on for grad school.

IDK. I moved on to grad school only because our university didn't offer that program. They do now and I'd have no issue getting my degree here versus leaving unless I had a great opportunity in a great program. Either way, if he's leaving for academics good for him but to enter the portal it means he still wants to play. Usually, players don't want to be just jumping around when academics are important to them. I think part of my criticism is just because I'm done with Marlin and these things stick out in my mind more when they happen because I just have this feeling that he can't build a program and it continues to show.

[Hatch]

If he left due to academics kudos to him and I'm supportive. My concern is whether he left due to issues with staff or players. He was one of our most important players and would have been in line to be a major contributor in his senior season.

In regards to transfer upsets, mine was when Hassani Gravett transferred out to South Carolina to become a final four participant and contributor. He transferred in with Gant and those guys only to transfer out the immediate season after he sat out. This thoroughly confused me as why would someone do that?

I thought about Gravett too but that was a little bit different situation as he went to prep school out of high school for one semester then came here for the spring semester. I believe he was on his own and not on scholarship. He had already left before Grant, Stroman, and Marquetti came in. I still think we got the better end of that “deal” with South Carolina as in my opinion Stroman was a better player.

[ManAboutTown]

Would you guys stop... Good lord, y’all are about to pull a hamstring bending over to find “reasons.”

Johnson was a key part of this ‘rebuild.’ And he knew it. There is no way to spin this. It’s a bad look for the program. Top returning scorer and projected senior leader transfers... Right before the year you’re supposed to compete for a league championship?

People can’t seriously believe this is because he’s focusing on broadcast journalism or getting a masters elsewhere as to not look “incestuous” (which btw is not a thing and pretty ridiculous to suggest imo)

[zephyr]

I thought about Gravett too but that was a little bit different situation as he went to prep school out of high school for one semester then came here for the spring semester. I believe he was on his own and not on scholarship. He had already left before Grant, Stroman, and Marquetti came in. I still think we got the better end of that “deal” with South Carolina as in my opinion Stroman was a better player.

Are you sure about that? I thought I remember him sitting behind the bench with Gant and Marquetti for games? Also, the point of curiousness about his arrival and departure is what did he see here that made him say, I'll sit out another year to go somewhere else? It's just odd.

[zephyr]

Would you guys stop... Good lord, y’all are about to pull a hamstring bending over to find “reasons.”

Johnson was a key part of this ‘rebuild.’ And he knew it. There is no way to spin this. It’s a bad look for the program. Top returning scorer and projected senior leader transfers... Right before the year you’re supposed to compete for a league championship?

People can’t seriously believe this is because he’s focusing on broadcast journalism or getting a masters elsewhere as to not look “incestuous” (which btw is not a thing and pretty ridiculous to suggest imo)

Go away. It's good to talk about actual sports right now, especially basketball. This is the most enjoyment I've had on this board in months.

[Hatch]

Would you guys stop... Good lord, y’all are about to pull a hamstring bending over to find “reasons.”

Johnson was a key part of this ‘rebuild.’ And he knew it. There is no way to spin this. It’s a bad look for the program. Top returning scorer and projected senior leader transfers... Right before the year you’re supposed to compete for a league championship?

People can’t seriously believe this is because he’s focusing on broadcast journalism or getting a masters elsewhere as to not look “incestuous” (which btw is not a thing and pretty ridiculous to suggest imo)

Of course all of these “reasons” are speculation. What else do we have to talk about? As far as basketball goes debate what you want about his game but he was the best player on the team last year, lead the team in scoring, rebounding, and minutes played. Of course it is a huge blow to the program. However I don’t think discussing the fact that this may go beyond basketball, especially in the current situation everyone is in, is that ridiculous.

[Hatch]

Are you sure about that? I thought I remember him sitting behind the bench with Gant and Marquetti for games? Also, the point of curiousness about his arrival and departure is what did he see here that made him say, I'll sit out another year to go somewhere else? It's just odd.

Yeah I was fairly certain but just looked it up. He would have actually been here in the spring of 15. He played 15-16 in Juco then went to South Carolina fall of 16. The 3 big transfers came in summer of 16 and sat out the 16-17 season. Of what I remember of that he was technically eligible while he was here and wanted to play but the staff wanted him to redshirt since he had already missed part of the season.

[RaginDave]

While, I was/have not been in love with Jalen Johnson's game (I think Kobe Julien, who plays a similar game is a much better player). it is going to be hard to replace Jalen's productivity. Jalen was and is extremely streaky. He had some really good games, and also had some really questionable ones. Also his production tailed off late in the year when we were limited with players. For instance he was averaging 16.6 ppg in late December in late January he was under 15 ppg. , he did pick it back up a little towards the end of the season.

[Cajunsmike]

He has been here and enrolled as a student for a full 2 years. It could be a number of factors including things he experienced in the class room that led to this decision. I remember hearing upon graduating that getting a graduate degree from the same school where you got your undergrad can be seen by some in the professional world as incestuous (actual term that was used because it stuck in my head). This is one of the reasons even though I love our school and Lafayette I moved on for grad school.

Leaving Jalen Johnson situation out of this for a minute, I can affirm that many major companies today prefer employees pursue graduate degrees at a different university than the one they earned their undergrad degree from. It demonstrates "diversity" on your resume. In today's politically correct world that many corporations attest to, that is a word that is always viewed favorably. Of course it does not mean the education received is any better than they would have received at the previous spot. No idea how big of a factor this was in Jalen Johnson decision to move on. Consider this as well, rule used to be that the school you transferred to for your Masters program had to offer a graduate degree program that was not offered at the place you earned your undergraduate degree from. No idea if that rule is still in place or how much of a factor the academic situation played into Jalen's decision making. If I had to guess, I would say it was at least a consideration when reviewing his options.