Jalen Johnson

[zephyr]

There’s always an excuse. Always the most positive hypothetical explanation when it comes to basketball.

Like I said on the RR Pod, between the social club and the propaganda machine, the program doesn’t stand a chance.

This is my point. There is always an excuse. We've had a decade to see if a program can be built for longterm success and its obvious it can't by this staff. It's just frustrating.

[talktomewillis]

If I may be allowed to check in here....

None of you have hit on the reason Jalen is gone. Jalen's family thinks he's a pro. They want him at a bigger school where he'll be seen more. Now, will that happen? Remains to be seen. Some parents (and players) refuse to believe what the scouting reports say, and this is one of those situations. Jalen is taking the advice of a parent who values the talent more than any scouts do.

Now, having seen all but a couple of games, let me give an opinion here. Jalen was our leading scorer, but someone has to be the leading scorer. He's got a good part to his game for sure. Good kid, plays hard. But also took a lot of bad shots, especially from behind the arc where he was less than 30 percent. Also, teams did a good job of making adjustments against him. Of the points he scored, look how many were scored in the first half of games. He was in the top ten in the league in scoring and rebounding and didn't make any of the top three all-league teams in the Sun Belt. That's telling right there.

Now, many of you have already made up your minds on our coaching staff and that is your opinion. But sometimes it's good to have the facts. Now you have them.

[Hatch]

If I may be allowed to check in here....

None of you have hit on the reason Jalen is gone. Jalen's family thinks he's a pro. They want him at a bigger school where he'll be seen more. Now, will that happen? Remains to be seen. Some parents (and players) refuse to believe what the scouting reports say, and this is one of those situations. Jalen is taking the advice of a parent who values the talent more than any scouts do.

Now, having seen all but a couple of games, let me give an opinion here. Jalen was our leading scorer, but someone has to be the leading scorer. He's got a good part to his game for sure. Good kid, plays hard. But also took a lot of bad shots, especially from behind the arc where he was less than 30 percent. Also, teams did a good job of making adjustments against him. Of the points he scored, look how many were scored in the first half of games. He was in the top ten in the league in scoring and rebounding and didn't make any of the top three all-league teams in the Sun Belt. That's telling right there.

Now, many of you have already made up your minds on our coaching staff and that is your opinion. But sometimes it's good to have the facts. Now you have them.

Thanks for the insight. That perspective seems very much inline with the way his announcement was worded on Twitter.

[Hudsheen#Fired]

If I may be allowed to check in here....

None of you have hit on the reason Jalen is gone. Jalen's family thinks he's a pro. They want him at a bigger school where he'll be seen more. Now, will that happen? Remains to be seen. Some parents (and players) refuse to believe what the scouting reports say, and this is one of those situations. Jalen is taking the advice of a parent who values the talent more than any scouts do.

Now, having seen all but a couple of games, let me give an opinion here. Jalen was our leading scorer, but someone has to be the leading scorer. He's got a good part to his game for sure. Good kid, plays hard. But also took a lot of bad shots, especially from behind the arc where he was less than 30 percent. Also, teams did a good job of making adjustments against him. Of the points he scored, look how many were scored in the first half of games. He was in the top ten in the league in scoring and rebounding and didn't make any of the top three all-league teams in the Sun Belt. That's telling right there.

Now, many of you have already made up your minds on our coaching staff and that is your opinion. But sometimes it's good to have the facts. Now you have them.

Best of luck to him but He is an average sun belt player at best, he reminded me a lot of Justin Miller. Unathletic and slow on defense. He is no where near a pro level player

[UncleCajun]

Best of luck to him but He is an average sun belt player at best, he reminded me a lot of Justin Miller. Unathletic and slow on defense. He is no where near a pro level player

Sad that he appears to be getting bad advice - he could have had a good year coming up and, to give Coach Marlin credit where credit is due, Coach is good with assisting players to obtain overseas professional gigs. Pro scouts come to Cajundome all the time if there is a pro-level player - see Ilfred Payton, Sean Long, Orien Green, Frank Bartley, Bryce Washington, Gant, etc. Pro scouts more specifically drill down after the college season on overseas and instructional leagues. Unless JJ gets on a top-10 team and does well, he likely is making a mistake leaving here. At any rate, best of luck to JJ and I truly hope he does well at his next landing. Seems like a really nice kid.

[ZoomZoom]

Feel sorry for Jalen. He's not playing for the love of the game.

We had a RB here in the last decade, his momma in section C would yell at him on the sidelines DEMANDING he go tell Hud to put him back in the game because she considered him pro material and our best player. Dude was crestfallen some nights; to this day I think she killed his desire. Being he's not the focus of this thread, wont name him, but sure some of you guys can figure it out.

[cajuns80]

Imagine if Levi transferred, or Cantrelle?

You think people would be hypothesizing that they transferred to show “educational versatility”? Of course not. Most reasonable people would be asking what in holy eff is going on?

1000% agree MAT. I can guarantee Johnson didn’t leave for academics. That is a joke

[ManAboutTown]

I’m not saying the professional thing isn’t why he’s leaving, but again, we’ve heard it all. I find it hard to believe that this guy is looking to transfer for the third time, chasing the pros. If you can play for money, someone will find you. And JJ is a nice player but he ain’t no EP. Seems awfully short sighted to hop around the county based on a family member’s opinion.

[CajunVic]

I'm not saying the professional thing isn't why he's leaving, but again, we've heard it all. I find it hard to believe that this guy is looking to transfer for the third time, chasing the pros. If you can play for money, someone will find you. And JJ is a nice player but he ain't no EP. Seems awfully short sighted to hop around the county based on a family member's opinion.

There are dads and there are DADS. The latter always believed little Jalen was pro material and control their kids with that belief until the end. They either quit because of DAD or run out of real estate with their abilities while DAD continues with his belief and in most instances a ruined parent/child relationship. Unfortunate, but reality.

[CajunEXPRESS]

If I may be allowed to check in here....

None of you have hit on the reason Jalen is gone. Jalen's family thinks he's a pro. They want him at a bigger school where he'll be seen more. Now, will that happen? Remains to be seen. Some parents (and players) refuse to believe what the scouting reports say, and this is one of those situations. Jalen is taking the advice of a parent who values the talent more than any scouts do.

Now, having seen all but a couple of games, let me give an opinion here. Jalen was our leading scorer, but someone has to be the leading scorer. He's got a good part to his game for sure. Good kid, plays hard. But also took a lot of bad shots, especially from behind the arc where he was less than 30 percent. Also, teams did a good job of making adjustments against him. Of the points he scored, look how many were scored in the first half of games. He was in the top ten in the league in scoring and rebounding and didn't make any of the top three all-league teams in the Sun Belt. That's telling right there.

Now, many of you have already made up your minds on our coaching staff and that is your opinion. But sometimes it's good to have the facts. Now you have them.

May I be so bold to ask what you’re saying about making up our minds about the Big Fish? Maybe you mean in this instance, but the comment suggests Marlin as our head coach?

There’s no doubt he’s had enough time and opportunity for everyone who follows Louisiana basketball to have a legitimate opinion on him. I get those who love him, I get those, like me, who thinks he’s not very good. I don’t get those who think he’s earned yet another year. He’s Marlin, we know him intimately as our head coach, back him or ask for his departure ASAP.

[zephyr]

Thanks for the insight. That perspective seems very much inline with the way his announcement was worded on Twitter.

Our program is what it was 2 years ago when he made the decision to transfer here. Did his family all of a sudden think he needed a bigger name program or did they have issues with coach and staff? or both?

You are right in your assessment but does it really take away from the fact that its disappointing that he's leaving. He's a senior, a starter and valuable front court player where we seriously lack depth.

[CajunVic]

Our program is what it was 2 years ago when he made the decision to transfer here. Did his family all of a sudden think he needed a bigger name program or did they have issues with coach and staff? or both?

You are right in your assessment but does it really take away from the fact that its disappointing that he's leaving. He's a senior, a starter and valuable front court player where we seriously lack depth.

Very unfortunate of the Cajuns.

Maybe we were his best option 2 years ago.

Maybe he has played himself into what his DADDY perceives to be better options.

Always remember the DADDY thingy.