A10: Since Leaving Rutgers, Jonathan Laurent Has Improved Considerably

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When Jonathan Laurent played in the Big Ten, he was known as one of the better perimeter defenders in the conference. As part of Steve Pikiell’s Rutgers program, Laurent helped establish the defense-first mindset that’s since taken the Scarlet Knights from doormat to respectable in just a few seasons.

After the 2016–17 season, Pikiell’s first, Laurent announced that he intended to transfer out. From the outside, it wasn’t much of a surprise. As a freshman under Eddie Jordan, Laurent played huge minutes (24.3 MPG) for a shorthanded team. Under Pikiell, the sophomore swingman was somewhat of a defensive specialist, often appearing first off the bench and playing 10–15 minutes per night. It should be noted that when Laurent started during his lone season with Pikiell, the team was 10–1 (Rutgers finished 15–18).

UMass, always one to fish in the transfer pool, was able to lure Laurent to Amherst shortly after. Last season, he sat out, per transfer rules, joining the fray this season alongside several other UMass transfers.

What he’s done since is surprising, especially when you look at his body of work as a Scarlet Knight. Laurent currently leads the Atlantic 10 in three-point shooting by a wide margin and recently scored 20-plus in back-to-back games for the first time. The first of which, 24 in a win over St. Joseph’s, is the most he’s scored in a single game during his three-year career.

He followed his career-high with 21 points in a loss to Dayton, bringing his two-game total to 17-for-26 from the field (and 5-for-10 from three) for 45 points.

At Rutgers, Laurent wasn’t known as a lethal shooter…like, at all. In fact, during two seasons, he only attempted 40 three-point shots, hitting 10 in the process (25 percent). With a season to work on his game, however, he’s not only developed a reliable shot from deep — 29-for-63, 46 percent — but he’s also mastered his stroke from the free throw line. Before joining UMass, the Florida native was a respectable free-throw shooter, going 74-for-102 (72.5 percent) in two seasons. With the Minutemen, he’s ramped up those numbers considerably and currently leads his team with an 87.7-percent mark (50-for-57).

LAURENT AT RUTGERS (’15-’17) — 58 GP

  • MPG: 18.4
  • FG: 45.2%
  • 3P: 25%
  • FT: 72.5%
  • PPG: 5.1

LAURENT AT UMASS (’18-’19) — 26 GP

  • MPG: 22.4
  • FG: 55.4%
  • 3P: 46%
  • FT: 87.7%
  • PPG: 9.3

Had Laurent not had a three-game stretch where he played 20 minutes combined, he’d be averaging double-figures in scoring.

While Jonathan Laurent’s new team isn’t a juggernaut, you’ve gotta be happy for him. He was a grinder at Rutgers, dealing with a slew of different roles during his two-year stay. These days, his role continues to fluctuate but because of the work he’s put in, his game is becoming fully rounded.

Diamond Foundry, Inc.

If there was a Most Improved Player award in the A-10, Laurent would most definitely be in the conversation, and deservedly so.

UMass (10–18, 3–12) plays at Duquesne (18–9, 9–5) this Saturday. Make sure to tune in because it could be a third consecutive 20-point performance for Laurent.