This is the first profile of three recent basketball commits, both are from Tyler J.C., SF Jaron Nash and C Kader Tapsoba. Both of these players provide some depth and height to a team that's not terribly tall inside. And I should clarify that Nash, Kader Tapsoda and Ty Nurse are commits #6, #7 and #8 in the 2011 recruiting class. Right now, there's a bit of a roster conundrum, which will be solved before the season starts, but it's still something to watch.
The Measurables:
JARON NASH
Position: SF
DTN Profile
Video: N/A
Rivals Profile N/A
Scout Profile
ESPN Profile 40
Ht: 6'8" | Wt: 185 lbs
JUCO: Tyler J.C. (Tyler, TX)
More good-good after the jump.
The Player Speaks: I think we'll start chronologically, which is that Nash spoke with the Tyler Morning Telegraph's Joe Buie about his injury-plagued 2008-09 season and his only season at his TJC coach talks about what he brings to their team:
"At (Nash's height), his ball skills and his athleticism are very, very impressive," said TJC head coach Mike Marquis. "That's why he's being heavily recruited.
"The thing that's exciting to us is the maturity from last year to this year has been great. He's allowed himself to become coachable, he's very competitive now and he's really upped his assists. He's becoming more and more of a complete player."
A thin 185 pounds, Nash plays the "three lane" in the Apaches' system and has "above-the-rim" skills. He's second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game, and first in steals with 34.
"That's one of the toughest positions to actually play because you have to run the floor every time and once you get (the ball), the offense mainly comes through you," Nash said. "You have to look for the (post players) or penetrate. I also help bring the ball up during the press."
Nash and Tapsoda both committed on the same weekend and LAJ's Courtney Linehan talks to Nash's head coach who had this to say about Nash's game:
Nash, a 6-foot-8 freshman from Waterloo, Iowa, said as a kid he modeled his game after Tracy McGrady and Kevin Durant. Now, however, Marquis compares him to another Big 12 Conference player.
"He’s a long, athletic guy who’s a more perimeter-oriented Quincy Acy type of player," said Marquis, comparing Nash to the former Baylor Bear. "He handles the ball well."
Marquis said Nash plays surprisingly agile defense for his height, runs well and finishes above the rim.
And last but not least, the official site, grabbed some quotes from Gillispie about Nash:
"We are really excited to have Jaron in our program," said Gillispie. "He fits the profile of what we are looking for in that he is a good player and a great student. His dad was a great basketball player and has been very well coached at Tyler Junior College under Mike Marquis. He is very long and athletic which is what we are looking for."
"There are two things that really standout about Jaron. He can handle the basketball like he is a point guard and that really gives him a chance at a great future. Secondly, we will have him for three years which is a unique situation coming from junior college."
The Video: Sorry folks.
Scouting Report: There's a few mentions about Nash's scoring averages and you should keep in mind that Nash is an okay shooter, making 48% of his field goals, but assuming the NJCAA website is correct, he's an awful free throw shooter, 44%, and just 23% from beyond the arc. Having not seen any video of his game, I'd say that Nash is a guy that's going to be in and around the rim rather than on the perimeter.
Nevertheless, this is an interesting stat line for the season: 10.96 points PG; 4.30 rebounds PG; 1.70 assists PG; 1.53 steals PG; 0.26 blocks PG. That's usable.
Jaron, welcome to Texas Tech and Git Your Guns Up!
The 2011 Class:I haven't added Nurse, but just wait until Friday for a full list and table.
| Position | Commitment | Ht/Wt | High School/State | Rivals  |
Scout |
ESPN |
ESPN Grade |
| PG | Kevin Wagner | 5-8/145 | Estacado (Lubbock, TX) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 88 |
| SG | Toddrick Gotcher | 6-3/185 | Lakeview Centennial (Garland, TX) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 88 |
| SF | Terran Petteway | 6-5/200 | Ball (Galveston, TX) | 3 | N/A | 3 | 91 |
| SF | Jaron Nash | 6-8/185 | Tyler J.C. (Tyler, TX) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| PF | Jordan Tolbert | 6-7/210 | All Saints' Episcopal (Ft. Worth, TX) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 88 |
| PF | Hershey Robinson | 6-7/200 | Christian Life Center Academy (Humble, TX) | 2 | N/A | 2 | 87 |
| C | Kader Tapsoba | 6-10/200 | Tyler J.C. (Tyler, TX) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |