AMHERST — Anytime a high-profile recruit joins a program that doesn’t regularly land them, there’s obvious excitement, but a little concern.
Will the rest of the roster resent the newcomer’s attention, playing time and status? Ben Simmons’ one season at LSU last year is among the more notable examples.
It hasn’t been an issue at UMass. DeJon Jarreau is the Minutemen’s highest profile recruit in over a decade. The 6-foot-5 guard from New Orleans was the 38th-ranked recuit in the nation by Rivals. ESPN (63) and 247Sports (54) also had him ranked high.
UMass coach Derek Kellogg said Jarreau has been as good a teammate as he’s been a player. His personality and his play have made him an instant fit.
“For a guy who has come in with some pretty high accolades, he’s been able to acclimate to the team. I don’t think he’s tried to overwhelm anybody with his personality or his clippings by any stretch,” Kellogg said. “He’s got a good demeanor about him on and off the court. He’s done a good job of fitting in with the team, but the people who have watched can see he has a chance to be a special player down the line. I like where he’s at with fitting in with the team, but still showing ‘Hey I’m a good basketball player. I can play.’”
Jarreau can play. Kellogg hasn’t announced starters yet, but the Louisianan is a pretty good bet to either start at point guard or play significant minutes there in Friday’s 4 p.m. opener against UMass-Lowell.
Jarreau knew he’d have to prove himself upon arrival.
“You have to come and prove yourself and show them that you know how to play,” he said. “But you also want to show them that you know how to pass.”
The ability and willingness to pass always makes the new guy popular and Jarreau takes it seriously. Since he arrived, he has studied his teammates. Where do the big men like to catch the ball? Who can jump how high for an alley-oop? Where are the perimeter players most confident shooting jump shots?
“He does make the guys around him better,” Kellogg said. “He has a good feel for the game, he passes the ball. He’s not a selfish player by any stretch.”
That’s a point of pride for him.
“I like to pass the ball a lot,” he said. “It’s just about adjusting and getting to know my teammates.”
Kevin Sanders, Jarreau’s high school coach at McDonogh 35 High School in New Orleans, said Jarreau’s eagerness to pass is deep-rooted.
“He loves to distribute the ball,” Sanders said. “I had to prod him a little bit to get him to shoot the ball.”
Jarreau and fellow McDonogh product Brison Gresham both chose UMass for a chance to be part of making UMass a NCAA-caliber team again. Jarreau said all of his goals revolve around making that happen.
“I want to start something new like when Chaz (Williams) and all those guys were here,” Jarreau said about the Minutemen’s 2014 tourney berth. “It is a rebuilding process. I want to be a part of that, when we become successful this year and the next years.”
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage