For the past four seasons, Jerrell Wright has been a solid presence for the La Salle basketball team. He never led the team in scoring or rebounding, but much of the team’s success, including a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2013, may not have been possible without his steady play on both ends of the floor.
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The 6’8, 245 pound Wright made an immediate impact as a freshman, averaging 10 points and almost 6 rebounds, in just about 20 minutes per game. The numbers increased when he was a sophomore, averaging 11 points and almost 7 rebounds.
The team went to NCAA Tournament his sophomore year, and Wright really showed what he could do on a big stage, averaging 14 points and 5 rebounds in four tournament games, including a 21-point, on 6 of 6 from the field, 8-rebound performance in the Round of 64 against Kansas State.
“The season we made it to the Sweet Sixteen when I was a sophomore, I learned a lot from that,” said Wright. “Just going through some rough patches, but pushing through and being able to succeed, that changed my whole mindset. It showed me anything was possible.”
The lessons he learned from that season would impact him the rest of his career. “After that Sweet Sixteen season, we had a lot of key players leaving, and I knew I had to become a leader,” said Wright. “I was going to have to be the example, and be more productive on and off the court.”
The Explorers were not able to match that Sweet Sixteen run during the rest of Wright’s career, missing the NCAA Tournament both seasons, though they were competitive, and a few bounces the right way and things may have been different. “It was a letdown to me not being able to build off of that Sweet Sixteen team,” said Wright. “It was a big adjustment without the star players who helped us get there, and we definitely had a target on our back from the rest of the Atlantic 10.
This past year, Wright averaged 12 points and over 6 rebounds, plus 1.5 assists per game. In back-to-back games, he scored 19 points against Villanova and Vanderbilt, and he almost single-handedly willed La Salle to a win against top-seeded Davidson in the Atlantic 10 tournament, scoring 19 points, grabbing 6 boards, and dishing out 3 assists, only for the team to lose on a last-second shot.
The reputation of the Atlantic 10 as a basketball conference has grown throughout Wright’s career, and he thinks it definitely made him a better player. “You had to be at your best every night because there was competition from the top to the bottom of the league,” said Wright. “You never went into a game thinking it was a win, and on any given night, you were matched up against good players.”
Now, Wright’s college career is behind him, and he’s looking forward to showing NBA teams what he can do. “I bring a lot on the defensive end, and I already have the ability to score around the basket,” said Wright. “I’ve worked a lot more on my athleticism, and shooting mid-range and three-pointers since the season ended.”
Wright was recently out on the west coast training, and he’s looking to add even more to his game. “I’ve been working a lot on finishing around the rim through contact, and using my right hand more,” Wright explained. “I don’t think people really got to see all I can do based on my play in college.”
Wright has already had a workout with his hometown Philadelphia 76ers, and looking back over the past four years, he realizes how lucky he was to play college ball at home. “It was special having all the love and support, and my friends and family getting to watch me play all the time. Not many people have that when they go to college.”
“Plus, I loved being able to take part in the Big 5 rivalries. That’s a part of history,” Wright continued. “Everyone dreams of playing at The Palestra, and I got to do it every season.”
Wright is now waiting for his next opportunity, knowing that he can help a team at the pro level right away. “I think I can fit any role a team needs me to, and there’s more to my game than people may know. I can do more than they think,” said Wright. “I’ll bring a lot of energy, on and off the court, and I will try to do as much as I can to help the team.”
Looking at the success that a player like Draymond Green has had at the NBA level, Wright thinks he can bring the same energy and ability to defend multiple positions.
Wright has a lot to offer a team, he just needs the opportunity, and he will take care of the rest.
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