SWAC has always been an underrated conference and it has its own stars and great players. That includes Tristan Jarrett from Jackson State.
SWAC basketball is underrated and has never really gotten the respect it deserves. Just to level-set yes, I know SWAC teams are often outmatched by the schools and they do not usually win much when it comes to the NCAA tournament. The conference is not about that, the basketball and the athletic departments compete for and represent something greater than the accomplishments on the court.
Every single school in the conference is a Historical Black College or an HBCU. These institutions were first established to provide black Americans a place to further their education when it was illegal for black youth to attend school due to discrimination. The schools which were established before the Civil War focused on basic education with an emphasis on teaching and the trades.
On the athletic side, these athletic departments are never operating with a profit, they are trying to make enough money to get through the season. The schools have to take a ton of buy games and are going to spend most of the non-conference on the road. That is why these schools will usually have extremely lopsided records heading into conference play and that usually shows up when the NCAA tournament comes around.
The SWAC looks to be extremely competitive within the league again and is now starting to get some top talent both via transfer and through recruiting. Much like the MEAC, the tides may soon change and the SWAC is going to start getting much more talent.
One of the top-tier teams every year is the Jackson State Tigers. The Tigers are looking to get over the hump this year and finish at the top of the standings and hopefully get back to the tournament for the first time since the 2006-2007 season.
The Tigers are going to have one of the best players in the league this year in senior guard Tristan Jarrett. Jarrett is going to be tasked with helping head coach Wayne Brent guide the offense and try to get the Tigers over the hump in the SWAC.
Always approach the SWAC with caution when it comes to wins and losses, there are some teams in this league who can play and many players who could see significant minutes on a power roster.
Why you should know Tristan Jarrett
The senior has taken a rather unorthodox path to his future stardom at Jackson State. The guard is now on his third school but has found a home in the SWAC and is ready to take his game to the next level. Jarrett began his career at Kennesaw State and averaged just under five points per game. Kennesaw State didn’t work out, so the guard hit the transfer portal.
Jarrett ended up spending a year at a Three Rivers College. While in JUCO Jarrett was able to develop the skills that have made him a prime breakout candidate. The senior was able to put his skills on display and showed his ability as a scorer, distributor, and rebounder. He averaged 29 points per game in his lone season at Three Rivers.
That production led to him getting the scholarship offers he ultimately hoped to get out of high school. He received a lot of interest from schools in the MAC, AAC, Conference USA and Sun Belt, along with his current offer to Jackson State.
Since he has been on campus the Tigers have benefitted greatly from Jarrett and his ability to do everything on offense. The guard led the Tigers in scoring last season and finished second on the team in assists. He offers a lot of positional flexibility for the Tigers as he can play both guard spots and play on the wing.
Jarrett has displayed that he can be a great rebounder and can pass the ball well when the lead guard. He is a good scorer from any position and can score at all three levels. Jarrett is one of the best players in the SWAC and in his last year it will be the year he finally gets recognized for it.
Expectations for Tristan Jarrett in 2020-21
Jackson State like every SWAC team is going to have to play a ton of buy games against top opponents to secure a budget to operate within the basketball season. The Tigers have a roster that is once again going to compete in the SWAC, but the roster does have some weaknesses.
They had moments last year where it was hard for them to put the ball in the basket and relied too much on their scorer Jarrett. Jarrett is good enough to get the tough buckets, but ball movement always makes offense easier, even for the most skilled offensive players.
Jarrett enters his second and final year as a Jackson State basketball player and the expectations for him are never higher. He is going to have to be the alpha male on the court and hunt for his points everywhere on the floor in order to maximize the success of the Tigers.
As mentioned, the senior has a knack for scoring the ball and with his ability as a passer, the guard should find himself on the All-conference team. He is likely going to finish in the top five in the SWAC in scoring and depending on where coach Brent plays him, he could rack up the assists quickly. If he can become a rebounder who averages more than three rebounds per game, he could find himself in the conversation for the SWAC player of the year.
The Tigers head into the year looking for anything to potentially jumpstart their offense. The offense was a problem at points last year, but it has the potential to be very good. Jackson State has a force in the middle of the paint both with his ability to score the ball and his elite rebounding skill. That player is Jayveous McKinnis.
McKinnis and Jarrett make a great duo and one that can fix the struggling offense quickly. Point Guard Jonas James is going to be a huge factor for the Tigers. If he is running the point it frees up Jarrett to hunt for his shots and help this offense. Jarrett has a huge opportunity to change the shape of the program for Jackson State. He is a special player.