Scouting and Highlights: Jordan Roland (2017)
Jordan Roland is an athletic guard who can knock down the three ball at a high rate. The lefty stands at about 6’1, give or take an inch. He played a key role in helping Flint Beecher secure the Class C state championship this year. He was at the Unsigned Senior Showcase this weekend which means he hasn’t committed yet. To any JuCo or D3 level squads that need a shooter who can be effective without having to dominate the ball: he’s worth a look.
Here’s my take on Roland’s game:
Strengths:
Shooting – He’s a very good shooter. He knocked down 6 or 7 threes while missing only 2 at the recent Unsigned Senior Showcase. He’s capable of shooting off the dribble or catch. He’s also capable of connecting from several feet beyond the three point line.
Communication – He does a good job communicating with his teammates on both sides of the ball. This is often an overlooked skill that contributes a ton towards winning. At the Unsigned Senior Showcase, he was one of the best leaders on a team that consisted of players he’s never played with before.
Making plays without the ball – While he doesn’t stand out as elite at anything besides shooting, he always seems to make smart, winning plays. Several times during the showcase he went up and got a rebound over a taller defender, immediately pushing the ball and dishing for an easy fastbreak layup. He also is a solid defender that communicates well, as previously mentioned. Every team needs guys that make winning plays without the ball and Roland is that guy.
Passing – He has good vision and knows how to set up his teammate with an easy look. Most importantly, he’s a willing passer. He doesn’t force anything offensively and will swing the ball to an open teammate.
Areas For Development:
Handles/playmaking – Developing an ability to break a defender down 1-on-1 would take Roland’s game to the next level. This would allow him to create offense for himself or for his teammates, an invaluable skill.
Movement without the ball – Roland isn’t the type of player to stand around and be lazy on either side of the ball. However, if he could become more active on the offensive side of the ball it would increase his overall effectiveness. Even something simple such as running off screens or back-cutting a few more times a game could generate 3-4 more easy, open looks for him.