WSOU

2021 Pirate Player Preview: Jared Rhoden

Date: July 12, 2021

By: Jorie Mickens

Jared Rhoden delivers a ball fake during a Seton Hall game last season.

Seton Hall Athletics

Coming off a season in which he averaged career-highs in nearly every statistical category, Seton Hall’s senior forward Jared Rhoden has an excellent opportunity of being one of the best players in the Big East conference this year.

Rhoden posted season averages of 14.9 points (ninth in the Big East), 6.7 rebounds (ninth), 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game during his junior year, and that was alongside a 2021 Big East Player of the Year co-recipient in Sandro Mamukelashvili.

With Mamukelashvili and his Big East-leading 28.8% usage rate now testing NBA waters, Rhoden is in line to become the fifth Seton Hall senior to be selected to an All-Big East Team in the last five seasons (Mamukelashvili, Myles Powell, Desi Rodriguez and Angel Delgado). It did not take long for Rhoden to showcase the work he put in during the 2020 offseason.

Jared Rhoden makes a dribble move during a Seton Hall game last season.

Seton Hall Athletics

In Seton Hall’s home opener against Rick Pitino’s Iona Gaels, Rhoden went for a career-high 26 points on 7/14 shooting (3/6 from three) and 10 rebounds. Rhoden looked comfortable running in transition and was not hesitant to let it fly from three-point territory on his catch-and-shoot opportunities.

But one area of Rhoden’s game that was clearly refined was his off-the-dribble shot creation. A lot of those attempts were simple one or two-dribble pullups into the midrange area, but the fact that he added to his offensive repertoire is very encouraging.

Do not be surprised if Rhoden is featured in a lot of pin down and back screen actions to generate easy looks this season, but at the same time, be excited about his potential in becoming a three-level scorer.

Another area of Rhoden’s game that looked better than ever was his ball handling. This was on display during the Pirates’ 78-67 victory over Georgetown in December. Rhoden torched the Hoyas with 26 points on 10/19 shooting, corralled 12 rebounds and dished out a career-high four assists. 

Last year, a lot of Seton Hall’s ball handling duties were bestowed upon Mamukelashvili and now Monmouth Hawk, Shavar Reynolds. But several times during that Georgetown game, Rhoden either advanced the ball up the floor against a press defense or went one-on-one against his defender in the halfcourt. Regardless of the situation, his handle looked promising. If Rhoden can be an impromptu point guard at times for the Pirates this season, it will expand the team’s offensive versatility.  

Two areas of Rhoden’s game that if he improved would solidify his place on an All-Big East team would be his “grab-and-go” ability and perimeter defense.

Rhoden has always been an excellent rebounder. Along with ranking ninth in the conference in rebounding last year, Rhoden posted nine games with at least eight or more rebounds. The next evolution of his game could be pushing the ball up the floor after securing those rebounds and applying pressure on the defense. 

Seton Hall has the athletes to run with anyone, and if two or three times a game Rhoden goes coast to coast and attacks the rim, draws a foul or creates opportunities for others, Seton Hall’s transition offense will be that much more potent.

And in terms of his defense, Rhoden could finetune both his ability to closeout on shooters and navigate screens. At times, Rhoden can be an overzealous defender. Whether that be overhelping on the drive or playing the passing lanes, Rhoden occasionally finds himself out of position defensively. He has the agility and length to make up for his mistakes but being more disciplined defensively would take his game to another level.

To end the 2020-21 season, Rhoden was an All-Tournament selection after averaging 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games during the 2021 Big East Tournament. If that is any indication of how his senior season will play out, the Pirates and Rhoden will be in great shape.

Jorie Mickens is an Assistant Sports Director for WSOU Sports and can be reached at jorie.mickens@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Men's Basketball, Sports, WSOU

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