2024 Recruiting: Jordan Derkack (Merrimack Transfer)

[Hey Adrien!]

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I was able to watch Jordan Derkack live when Merrimack visited Sacred Heart.

The NEC Player of the Year and NEC Defensive Player of the Year was Mr. Everything for Joe Gallo and Merrimack.

Stats: 17.0p, 6.0r, 3.9a, 55.8 2P%, 27.5 3P% (1/3 shot attempts from 3), 7.3 FTA, 72.4 FT%, 2.1 steals in 33 mpg

A 6'5 205 incoming junior, Derkack is a tough, aggressive alpha-guard who can create off the bounce and is excellent in transition too. I can totally see why Hurley likes this kid. A pain-in-the-butt to play against.

I'd like better three-point shooting numbers from him, but he converted 34.8% of his three-pointers in sixteen games between January 6th and the end of the regular season. His NEC Tournament stats are shot since he injured a different leg in each game.

He's super versatile, so he can help his next team in a variety of ways. Not sure he's a high-major starter though, but that's also biased based on history since so few NEC transfers have been consistent high-major contributors. Sacred Heart/Cincy's Cane Broome is one example. He was a very good third guard for Cincy after averaging 23.1 ppg at Sacred Heart.

 

[mauconnfan]

27% from 3 is frightening.

 

[NC_Uconn_Fan]

Pass

 

[KingAG]

27% from 3 is frightening.

Quick: what does Newton shoot from 3?

 

[mauconnfan]

Quick: what does Newton shoot from 3?

Better, more clutch and he’s not Tristen Newton so I don’t care to compare. And Tristen is in the Big East.

 

[JRDBWK]

Quick: what does Newton shoot from 3?

33%

 

[KingAG]

Better, more clutch and he’s not Tristen Newton so I don’t care to compare. And Tristen is in the Big East.

The point is if you actually look at his game logs you’d see he’s more so inconsistent than he is a bad shooter. He also has the responsibility of taking them at an insanely high rate. Surround him with better players, cut down on his shot rate, and give him more open looks and that 27% becomes 33% rather easily imo

 

[PAHusky]

Quick: what does Newton shoot from 3?

Newton? First team all American Newton?

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Quick: what does Newton shoot from 3?

If you can guarantee that he'll be even 85% the overall player that Newton is I'd be willing to offer him two scholarships.

 

[Brochacho]

Tyrese Martin shot 31.6% from 3 at URI and 39.3% here. He would be coming here to be a rotational 2/3. DPOY in his conference. Yes please.

 

[KingAG]

Newton? First team all American Newton?

If you can guarantee that he'll be even 85% the overall player that Newton is I'd be willing to offer him two scholarships.

The way these points go completely over yall heads is crazy

 

[UCTitleTown]

I'd prefer to give our Greek freak more minutes.

 

[FreeKlaiber]

I'd prefer to give our Greek freak more minutes.

He's not going to be Spencer or Karaban, but I think he will be that type of high iq, 3pt contributor in next 2 years..Giffey +

 

[superjohn]

He's a turnover machine.

 

[gars44]

He's not going to be Spencer or Karaban, but I think he will be that type of high iq, 3pt contributor in next 2 years..Giffey +

Plus, by now you have to assume our coaching staff knows talent . . .

 

[Waquoit]

Tyrese Martin shot 31.6% from 3 at URI and 39.3% here. He would be coming here to be a rotational 2/3. DPOY in his conference. Yes please.

Yeah, let me think whose judgement I'm gonna go with here. Someone with great success with the portal to date or some guys reading a stat sheet.

 

[Brochacho]

	AvgPrior	AvgUConn	Increase
Calcaterra	94.325​	117.8​	23.475​
Spencer	116.725​	137.9​	21.175​
Diarra	86.9​	102.75​	15.85​
Newton	100.8​	115.45​	14.65​
Martin	100.1​	109.2​	9.1​
Cole	108.4​	113.8​	5.4​
Alleyne	102.7333333​	104.1​	1.366667​

Made a graph of offensive rating per Kenpom for all of our Big East era transfers. When looking at their average offensive rating at UConn, vs their average from their prior teams, all increased. In his 3 games vs P6 teams last year he averaged 17 on 61/33/62 shooting. He would be coming in to play a 10-15 minute bench role.

 

[Conndog]

I'd prefer to give our Greek freak more minutes.

Opa! Definitely, the dude can hoop, get him out of hiding

 

[Brochacho]

He's a turnover machine.

Its a concern sure. But his TO rate is lower than what Newton, Jackson and Diarra had for last year's team. He will look much better in a limited role at UConn vs being the focal point.

 

[Drame]

Joey California seemed like a bad decision by us, but done out of roster scholarship necessity. But we know how that turned out. If the staff wants Derkack then he is the guy.

 

[huskiesNhoos]

He's not going to be Spencer or Karaban, but I think he will be that type of high iq, 3pt contributor in next 2 years..Giffey +

I'm sure you're just trying to be complementary to Tolo but that's insulting to Giffey, who was a major contributor and a starter on 2 NC teams...

 

[KemBuckets21]

Turnovers are high
3pt shooting is frightening

However, he has alot to work with.

Trusting the guy and staff with a great deal of success evaluating and developing players over the course of their career(s). I think they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully he’s the first of several transfers to add to our class as we continue to build out the roster

 

[KingAG]

Turnovers are high
3pt shooting is frightening

However, he has alot to work with.

Trusting the guy and staff with a great deal of success evaluating and developing players over the course of their career(s). I think they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully he’s the first of several transfers to add to our class as we continue to build out the roster

Both of those things can be attributed to his usage rate. Which I’m assuming a very high at a place like Merrimack. Efficiency normally improves as usage rate goes down

 

[KemBuckets21]

Both of those things can be attributed to his usage rate. Which I’m assuming a very high at a place like Merrimack. Efficiency normally improves as usage rate goes down

Agree. And how often do we say, take the guys that want to be here. If he does, let’s make it happen.

 

[UCTitleTown]

We don't need him to be a ball handler. Ball movement and find him for three. That kid who beat Kentucky hit 11 shots and 10 were threes. There are specialists in today's game. Plus the Greek freak has length. Not everyone can be Kemba with the ball.

 

[Improviser]

I'd prefer to give our Greek freak more minutes.

Never enough good shooters. Let them both play and give us added firepower.

 

[husky429]

I'd prefer to give our Greek freak more minutes.

Not the same position. Greek may back up AK at the 4. This kid is a 2/3. Could start at the 2 or support Stewart and pur SG off the bench.

 

[KingAG]

Not the same position. Greek may back up AK at the 4. This kid is a 2/3. Could start at the 2 or support Stewart and pur SG off the bench.

Yea I think the starting 2 guard spot is Solo Balls to lose

 

[husky429]

Yea I think the starting 2 guard spot is Solo Balls to lose

I think a starting big guard transfer is probably in the cards. Solo is a player but has a ways to go.