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Is it possible for him to play this season?
The plan was for Caleb to take off for the year.
Would negative tests negate the need to quarantine?According to nj.com, he is currently in New Jersey quarantining and will begin practicing with the team at the end of that process.
It is a free year, there is no reason to not play him some.
Unless things change, if he starts playing NEXT year, he will only have 4 years. Playing some this year, he will still have his 4 regular years plus this year. They can work him in slowly(classwork, weight training, etc), but in my mind he should get some playing time if it truly is a free year.
Best of Luck,
Groz
Would negative tests negate the need to quarantine?
It's a lot to ask a true freshman to do. Come in mid-season during conference play where you are working toward first NCAA bid in 40 years. BTW, learn the offense, defense, and get into Pike playing shape.
I know it's a free year, but there may not be opportunities late in season to get minutes. Having him practice with team and get into shape and learn our system should be helpful enough for year one.
It's as win-win as they come. He gets the benefit of S&C, practice--he'll get better going against our starters and he's clearly good enough right now to make them better----and time to get acclimated to college.Great news either way!!! Welcome Jalen!
As I see it, the plan right now is for him to not play. As we all know, though, plans can change.
After Quarantine, there is no comparing Jaden Jones and Oskar Palmquist as far as potential impact this year. JJ will prove his worth the moment he starts practicing with the team and will play this year, he is not a 4 year player like Oskar. JJ is a better rotational option than Oskar, Duke and Mag, and a top 6 option on offense with RHJ, JY, MM, Geo, and Myles. JJ is the same size as Caleb McConnell, still working rust off, but plays bigger, stronger than Caleb, who is more smooth, finesse. Both very good. He brings more offensive skill set than Paul, Cliff, or Reiber. The quicker we turn JJ into a legit offensive option and acclimate him to our defensive schemes, will lessen the blow of losing RHJ and JY, and possibly Geo, next year. He has played 6 HS games this year he is in basketball shape, avg 26.8 pts, 8 reb, FG 65%
Imagine an all healthy 10 man rotation, this year, of JY, Paul, Geo, MM, Caleb, JJ, RHJ, Reiber, Cliff and Myles. We will become a legit threat to win the B1G conference and B1G tournament, and have a legit claim of many teams as the third best team this year behind Gonzaga and Baylor.
If you have seen his recruiting videos and follow his IG, JJ has a very strong work ethic like Cliff Omoruyi, a top 50 player. I saw him working like that since his commitment his Junior year but from what I've read he's been working hard like this for longer than Cliff has played basketball. We all see how skilled and impressive Cliff is.All of this may be true, eventually. But regular freshman at least get five months (June-November) to get acclimated to the system before then playing in games. Expecting JJ to leave high school one week and then suddenly become a "plus" player in a high major college two weeks later is just asking a bit much. At a minimum, Pike won't play him until he understands our team defensive schemes.
That said, if he is THAT GOOD, I don't see the harm in giving him garbage minutes initially, but then working him into the rotation in the last 6 or 7 regular season games.
There's also a little thing called school. This ain't Chapel Hill.It's a lot to ask a true freshman to do. Come in mid-season during conference play where you are working toward first NCAA bid in 40 years. BTW, learn the offense, defense, and get into Pike playing shape.
I know it's a free year, but there may not be opportunities late in season to get minutes. Having him practice with team and get into shape and learn our system should be helpful enough for year one.