By Tom Seipp, Sports Editor
Just three days after St. Bonaventure University men’s basketball program signed its first spring recruit, it got another commitment.
This time, Jalen Shaw, a six-foot 10 center by way of Triton Junior College in River Grove, Illinois.
Multiple schools pursued Shaw this year, including Cleveland State, but Shaw decided to be a Bonnie. Out of high school, Shaw had multiple Division I offers, including from Manhattan, Southern Illinois and UIC.
“It was a gut feeling,” Shaw said of his commitment. “I loved the coaching staff when they introduced everybody to me and they made me feel comfortable.”
Shaw said the coronavirus pandemic disrupted his visits to New York schools. Because of the outbreak, Shaw, like Bona commit Eddie Creal, never got the chance to visit St. Bonaventure in person.
Shaw is now the eighth member of the 2022 class. With his commitment, the Bonnies have just one scholarship remaining.
Shaw is the second Bona commit who played his first two seasons at a junior college. He spoke highly of playing at Triton Junior College, saying that he “developed as a player and a person.” He said the experience allowed him “to be a leader.”
“Jalen is a very nice kid. He’s conscientious and is a good teammate,” Triton head coach Steve Christiansen said. “He’s full of tremendous natural ability. With him, it will be more a question of ‘when’ and ‘not if’ he becomes a great player.”
Shaw is known for his elite shot-blocking ability. Over his two years at Triton Junior College, Shaw blocked 131 shots, which was an average of 2.1 per-game. This past season, Shaw finished the year with 70 blocks, which was good for 23rd in the NJCAA.
Shaw was extremely consistent over his two seasons. He averaged 10.7 points-per-game his freshman year, and followed that with 11.0 PPG this past year. Shaw was consistent from the field as well, averaging 60.4% and 64.1% in his two seasons respectively.
“I would say I’m a post playmaker,” Shaw said of his play style. “I can post-up and play-make also. I love to play defense and make shots away from the basket.”
Christiansen said that Shaw can “honestly do about anything you ask him. But, I’d say his best quality is his ability to pass the ball. He’s an extremely unselfish player.”
Shaw is just one of two Bonnies who stand taller than six-foot-eight. Osun Osunniyi is the other.
Shaw is ready to battle with Osunniyi on a daily basis, saying, “hopefully me and him battle. I can’t wait. I love to go against great bigs, it makes me better.”
Not only is Shaw excited to play with Osunniyi, but he expressed his excitement for the rest of his teammates as well.
“I just can’t wait to play alongside all my future teammates,” Shaw said.
“I’m very excited to watch him compete against the A10’s finest,” Shaw’s former coach said. “I think as he gains strength, confidence, and familiarity, his play will take off.”
seipptw19@bonaventure.edu
