It’s no secret that timing plays a critical role for every individual in the game of basketball. Whether development, opportunity, or something completely unforeseen, circumstances have a way of shaping how things unfold. This is especially true nowadays, when college coaches are visibly prioritizing older players over high school prospects. In turn, the JUCO route has become much more advantageous for applicable players. Although there are a lot of former North Carolina natives throughout the JUCO ranks, Desmond Kent Jr. has arguably been as impressive as anyone. Let’s take a closer look…
Currently ranked the 27th prospect by JucoRecruiting, he’s currently having an incredible year for Chipola College. Kent is shining as a leader and focal point for the Indians, who currently sit at 18-6. This season, he’s posting per-game averages of 14.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.3 SPG, and 1.0 BPG with 50/32/72 splits. He ranks towards the top of the roster in the following categories: points (first), rebounds (second), steals (first), and blocks (third). Given some of their most recent results, it’s clear that he’s a massive contributor to their overall success. When he plays well, the team follows closely behind.
In terms of his actual game, Kent is simply an elevated version of the high school player we remember with Central Cabarrus and BSA Supreme. He’s an offensive mismatch with length, athleticism, and an extremely efficient game from 15 feet and in. Kent has visibly added strength to his once wiry frame, which pairs incredibly well with his physicality and overall nose for the ball. He can also space the floor, create off the bounce, and wreak havoc with his switchable defensive presence. It’s also worth noting that Kent was already set to transfer up after last season before ending up at Chipola College due to unexpected events. Fast-forward to now, and it seems like Kent is a no-brainer for Division I coaches. It feels somewhat obvious that he will be a major priority for coaches during this upcoming recruiting cycle.