Buffalo Bulls Men's Basketball Preview: Senior guard Jarryn Skeete

Skeete is not only the last remaining link to Reggie Witherspoon, but he's the last Bull who played with Javon McCrea. That was like 18 months ago!

The Basics

Number: 10
Year: Senior
Position: Guard 
Hometown: Brampton, ON
Height and Weight: 6-3, 185

New Guy?

No, in fact the most experienced Buffalo's got

UB Career

Jarryn's career blossomed with Bobby Hurley's up-tempo style and a move away from the point guard duties he assumed as a freshman. The faster play gave Skeete more opportunities for open shots, and Shannon Evans at the point simplified Jarryn's objectives on any one possession. A late-game foul against Manhattan earned him some time in the doghouse, and a healthy Jarod Oldham further diminished his sophomore minutes, but last season Skeete bounced back into a deadly shooter, hitting from distance at 38.4% and chipping in 9.1 points per game in UB's attack, though he never really regained his early-season form after an ankle injury.

Further Reading and Viewing:

Top 25 MAC Basketball Players: #23 Jarryn Skeete (G- Buffalo Bulls) - Hustle Belt - Bull Run

"No one exemplifies the turbulent last three years of Buffalo basketball better than shooting guard Jarryn Skeete. A senior who's steadily improved from a young, shaky point guard to one of the more consistent spot shooters in the conference, Skeete is the last remaining link to the longtime face of the Bulls, former head coach Reggie Witherspoon."

Buffalo Bulls Men's Basketball: Open Practice Observations - Bull Run

Most Impressed:  1. Jarryn Skeete- Skeete has improved a lot from last year in my opinion. His three point shooting is getting more consistent and he's also developing a presence in driving to the rim.

Buffalo Bulls 80, Kent State Golden Flashes 55: #BlackoutAlumniArenaTakeaways - Bull Run
Secondly, when you rewatch the game on ESPN3 (at least the first half), watch Wigginton and Jarryn Skeete. Their execution when they had to switch assignments was perfect. Kent ran all sorts of screens to try to get someone open and couldn't do it because Rodell and Jarryn covered it every time.

2015-16 Outlook

It's a pretty simple fact that Skeete is going to increase his scoring load this year. A key for the Bulls will be whether he can do it efficiently. Never much of a creator in his first three seasons, he'll still have Lamonte Bearden opening up space for him, and Robby's practice observations from this past weekend intimates that we'll see more action from Jarryn in the lane this season, which is certainly welcome from me.

Just as importantly, I expect Skeete to continue his strong chemistry with Rodell Wigginton on the defensive perimeter, and though I have lower expectations, the senior is the natural candidate to fill the leadership void among this group. I'm not sure how much that will pan out, but he's the most experienced by a large margin and the team desperately needs a leader.