Can big man Jeremiah Cherry be UNLV’s latest juco gem?

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | 2 a.m.

Jeremiah Cherry has a nickname: “Bear.”

I’m not certain how he attained that moniker, but I could venture a guess: He’s huge.

Cherry was listed at 6-foot-11 by New Mexico Junior College, where he played the past two seasons. No weight was given on the school’s official website. The height may be exaggerated by an inch or two, but Cherry surely tips the scales at 250 pounds, if not more.

That’s the first thing that stands out when watching video of the incoming UNLV recruit. The Scarlet and Gray have a need for true big men, with Kalib Boone and Karl Jones both graduating from the 2023-24 squad, and Cherry definitely has the size to fill that position.

And Cherry sticks to the basics, defending, rebounding and scoring like a traditional center, rarely roaming from the paint (or even the restricted area).

At New Mexico JC last year, Cherry posted 12.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. The vast majority of that production came directly under the rim, starting with his offensive output.

Cherry was at his best when using his strength down low. When he was able to begin in the paint, either by collecting a pass or offensive rebound, no one was able to impede him from getting to the rim. He clears space in crowds, and goes through arms and bodies as if he doesn’t feel contact:

In the games I watched, New Mexico JC didn’t run more than a few pick-and-rolls with Cherry. But when asked to catch and finish, he showed decent hands and enough lift to get above the rim when necessary. That’s how he ended up shooting 62% for the year.

Most of Cherry’s offensive touches came through very traditional post-ups. Few opponents were able to stop him from getting position, and Cherry works hard to establish himself and create lanes for the entry pass.

Once he got the ball on the block, Cherry was pretty predictable, almost always going to a jump hook over his left shoulder. He’s got pretty good touch on it, but it’s his only post move — he doesn’t fake or counter, preferring to keep it simple with the hook. Any time Cherry veered from the hook, it wasn’t by choice.

There were a couple instances where a loose ball or a late shot clock forced him to face up or do something different, but barring an emergency, it’s all jump hooks:

I didn't see Cherry attempt a single jump shot, and he wasn’t utilized as a lob threat. If UNLV wants him to do either of those things (especially the lobs), Kevin Kruger and his staff will have to teach him how to do it. Cherry did set some really good screens, both on the ball and away from the action, and a good staff will be able to use that to get him involved rolling to the rim.

If Cherry is going to expand his game outside the paint, he’s going to have to get in better shape. Brute strength works in the phone booth, but too often Cherry was left standing still, watching offensive action occur around him instead of moving.

That goes for defense, too. Cherry is big enough to take up space, but his lack of energy put a cap on his defensive impact. There were times when he clearly struggled getting back, allowing opponents to race in for easy transition baskets. And for a man with his natural size and leaping ability, Cherry should provide better rim protection than he showed last year.

Too many times, opponents drove inside and got easy attempts while Cherry declined to contest the shot. He’s too big to allow so many uncontested layups on his watch. Improved conditioning would make him quicker on his feet and, hopefully, help unlock some potential as a rim protector:

Cherry averaged 1.5 blocks per game last year, but as you can see, his presence did not deter opponents from going straight to the rim.

Conditioning also impacted Cherry’s rebounding output. He’s quick off the floor, and that skill should make him a top-notch rebounder, but smaller juco guards consistently beat him to caroms.

Cherry was at his best when boxing out — he is conscientious about putting a body on someone, which is good — and clearing space for a teammate to grab the ball. When Cherry had to hold off his man and then go get the rebound in space, he was at a quickness disadvantage:

Cherry was ranked as one of the best prospects at the junior college level this year, with Juco Recruiting listing him as the No. 15 player in 2024. There’s enough ability to see why coaches and recruiters think highly of him.

The question is, how much of Cherry’s game will translate to the next level? Can coaching and dedication smooth out the rough edges and enhance the strengths?

The UNLV coaching staff does have a track record in this area. They hit on a similar prospect last year, watching College of Southern Idaho forward Rob Whaley blossom into a quality starter over the course of the 2023-24 season. Like Whaley, Cherry will have to put in the work to get in better shape and keep up with the pace of play at the Division-I level.

At the very least, Cherry should be an upgrade over Jones as a deep-depth big man. If everything goes right, maybe he’s capable of more.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.