New Orleans native Jaron Pierre Jr. is officially coming home. The St. Augustine High School graduate and former SMU standout was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans in the second round (No. 58 overall) of the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, capping a long collegiate journey that took him through Southern Miss, Wichita State and Jacksonville State before his final season in Dallas.
CBS Sports' draft wrap notes that New Orleans used the final pick of the night, No. 58, on Pierre, a 6-foot-5 combo guard with proven college scoring chops. CBS Sports handed the move a B grade and pointed to Pierre's size and shooting as traits that could translate at the NBA level. For the Pelicans, the selection is a late swing on a high-volume scorer who can shoot from deep and finish in traffic.
SMU's roster page lists Pierre as a New Orleans native who averaged 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists this season after a 21.6-point breakout year at Jacksonville State. SMU Athletics notes he climbed past 2,000 career points and earned All-ACC Honorable Mention. That mix of production and size is what pushed him into late-round consideration around the league and made him a logical flier for a team drafting at the very end of the night.
What Scouts Liked
As described by NBA.com, Pierre "attacks the rim with a sturdy frame" and projects as a "downhill, three-level scorer" who can provide instant offense off the bench. The league's prospect profile highlighted his catch-and-shoot ability, his finishing at the rim and the physical tools to develop on defense. Those traits are why evaluators compared his upside to players such as Tim Hardaway Jr., Victor Oladipo and Terrence Ross, putting him in the mold of wings who can heat up in a hurry.
Back Home: Fit And Reaction
The Pelicans brought Pierre in for a pre-draft workout as part of their late-round evaluations, a session reported by Yahoo Sports. Local coverage framed the pick as a true homecoming. WDSU reported family members and St. Augustine classmates celebrating the selection in New Orleans as the final name came off the board. For a team with only one late pick, the move is a low-risk bet on a city kid whose scoring punch could translate into a rotation role off the bench.
