Mississippi State transfer Jaquan Scott is expected to play center and power forward for the Roadrunners. – File photo by Joe Alexander
By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay
Center Jaquan Scott rebounded above the rim, defended and also made his fair share of shots from the field Thursday afternoon at UTSA.
Afterward, a visitor was waiting for Roadrunners coach Austin Claunch as he left his office, asking, “So Jaquan decided to take over practice today?”
Claunch didn’t disagree with the premise to an obviously leading question.
“He had a great day,” the coach replied, noting that a good week of work for Scott started last Saturday in Houston.
That was the day that UTSA played the McNeese State Cowboys, the defending champions in the Southland Conference.
The Cowboys, who won 30 games and made an NCAA tournament appearance last March, had to rally from a 12-point deficit in the second half to beat the Roadrunners by three. Claunch confirmed that Scott played well against McNeese.
“Scored and rebounded and guarded at a high level,” Claunch said. “He’s just really confident right now. He’s getting into a rhythm of how he’s going to be effective for us. I really like where he’s at. I think he’s just starting to scratch the surface.”
Scott, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound transfer from Mississippi State University, is expected to play both power forward and center as a senior this season for the Roadrunners.
He seemed to revel in extra work Thursday that came his way because of an injury that has sidelined center Mo Njie. Especially at the defensive end, Scott seemed to have a bounce in his step.
Springing for rebounds and guarding the paint, he made his presence known. For the Roadrunners, it’s a good time for the big man to emerge, with the season opener scheduled Nov. 4 at home against Trinity University.
Asked where Scott would play once the season starts, Claunch indicated that coaches will have options.
“To be honest, he was really good as a small-ball five (at center) against McNeese,” Claunch said. “But also, if we want to go bigger, we can play him at the four. We’re still trying to figure out our best lineups. But, certainly, we feel confident with him on the floor regardless.”
In closed scrimmages, fans aren’t allowed to watch and statistics aren’t posted, so it’s hard to assess the team’s play objectively.
But coaches seemed pleased with the way the Roadrunners battled from behind, trailing by double digits at the half and then surging into a double-digit lead down the stretch.
“I thought we played really well,” Claunch said. “Obviously that’s a good team over there. Well coached. They have tournament experience. They have a coach (Will Wade) who’s coached at a high level.
“They have really good players. They’re an older group that has NCAA tournament aspirations like us.
“I thought we played well. We were down a little bit. Then we went on a run. Got up a little and it was a dogfight. A close game at the end.”
Scott grew up in the DFW area and played at Mansfield Timberview for one season. He also played two seasons for Universal Academy in Irving and one season at the TLAP Academy in Tallahassee, Fla.
Out of prep school, he spent two years at Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville, Utah, where he averaged 16.8 points and 10.0 rebounds as a sophomore.
At Mississippi State last season, he played sparingly, appearing in only 11 games, averaging 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds.
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