For Jaron Pierre Jr., last week’s NBA Draft was more than the realization of a lifelong dream. It was a homecoming.
The New Orleans native and St. Augustine High School product was selected by his hometown New Orleans Pelicans with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, bringing a basketball journey that began on the courts of New Orleans full circle.
Along the way, Pierre’s path took him through four Division I programs. Southern Miss, Wichita State, Jacksonville State and SMU. While he finished his collegiate career as an ACC standout at SMU, it was Southern Miss that gave him his first opportunity at the Division I level, where Golden Eagle fans got the first glimpse of the scorer he would eventually become.
While Pierre finished his college career at SMU after stops at Wichita State and Jacksonville State, Southern Miss fans remember where that journey began. Before he became a Conference USA Player of the Year, before he starred in the ACC and before he heard his name called on draft night, Pierre spent two seasons developing his game in Hattiesburg wearing the Black and Gold.
As a freshman, he appeared in 24 games with 16 starts, averaging 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while earning Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors. His breakout performance came in his first career start when he scored 25 points against South Alabama, offering an early glimpse of the scoring ability that would eventually make him one of the nation’s top guards.
Pierre took another step during the 2021-22 season, averaging 10.0 points per game while knocking down 2.2 three-pointers per contest. His signature performance came against Rice, when he erupted for 29 points and seven three-pointers, showing the perimeter shooting that would become his calling card throughout his college career.
Pierre’s college career perfectly reflects the modern era of college basketball.
After two seasons at Southern Miss, he transferred to Wichita State, where he averaged 10.6 points per game during the 2022-23 season. Looking for an even larger role, he transferred again to Jacksonville State, redshirted the 2023-24 campaign, and emerged as one of the nation’s most explosive scorers the following year.
In 2024-25, Pierre averaged 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, leading Conference USA in scoring while earning Conference USA Player of the Year honors.
That breakout season led him to SMU, where he proved his game translated to the ACC by averaging 17.6 points per game, solidifying himself as an NBA prospect before being selected by his hometown Pelicans.
He becomes the first former Southern Miss player selected in the NBA Draft since Clarence Weatherspoon was chosen ninth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1992. Pierre now becomes the 11th former Golden Eagles to hear his name called in the NBA Draft.
Pierre’s basketball story began in New Orleans, where he starred at St. Augustine High School. His collegiate journey took him to four different programs before ultimately returning home when the New Orleans Pelicans selected him in the NBA Draft.
Along the way, Southern Miss served as the launching point of his Division I career, making his selection a proud moment for Golden Eagle fans and another reminder that NBA talent has come through Reed Green Coliseum.
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