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Throughout much of Jaron Pierre Jr.’s basketball career at St. Augustine High, the notion that he might one day become an NBA draft pick appeared to be far-fetched. That long-shot status seemingly was verified in 2020, as he was modestly recruited by NCAA Division I colleges.
“Going into his junior year (of high school), you could see he had some game,” said Josh Preston, a popular New Orleans sports videographer whose YouTube channel boasts 22,000-plus subscribers. “But I don’t think anybody thought he’d be an NBA player.”
Pierre officially became one Wednesday, when his hometown NBA franchise selected him with the No. 58 overall pick of the draft. The Pelicans used their lone 2026 selection to add the Crescent City native, who was Conference USA’s Player of the Year in 2024-25, then led SMU to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2025-26.
The journey to hearing his name announced by NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum took a few twists and turns; he played for four colleges over a six-year span, redshirting one season. But Pierre made progress at every stop, averaging 21.6 and 17.6 points over his last two campaigns, respectively.
Those consistent improvements began in New Orleans, where he played for St. Aug and was a member of NBA point guard Elfrid Payton’s local AAU team. On Wednesday, Pierre became the second player from Payton’s AAU program to be drafted by the NBA, joining Melvin Frazier (picked by Orlando Magic in 2018).
“It speaks to his perseverance,” Payton said of Pierre transforming from a “no-star recruit” to one of 60 players drafted this year in Barclays Center. “He was definitely locked in on (working in) the gym. When he was a young kid, I’d come back home for the summer (during the NBA offseason) and work out at St. Aug. He would always be there.”
The 32-year-old Payton, who played for San Antonio’s G League team last season, watched Pierre, 23, develop his skill set while getting sturdier physically, going from listed at 185 pounds as a college freshman to 210 now. He also grew from 6-foot-3 to 6-5.
“(At every college), he’s gotten better,” said Payton, a Pelicans starting PG in 2018-19 and the author of a 21-assist game for NOLA in 2024. “He’s continued to work on his body and continued to work on his game. He could always score the ball, shoot, put the ball on the floor. Now he’s seeing some of the fruits of his labor.”
Preston recorded many of Pierre’s St. Aug games, but does not recall the lean guard ever dunking during competition. Fast forward to now, and Pierre’s repertoire of windmill slams and soaring throwdowns prompted an NCAA Reddit page to call him “the most entertaining player in the country.” CBSSports.com noted that Pierre’s “ability to execute gravity-defying dunks has made him a fan favorite and a highlight-reel magnet.”
Pierre also checks another box New Orleans was determined to address this summer, shooting 184 of 488 (38 percent) from three-point range over his final two college seasons.
“I was glad the Pelicans got a shooter, because he can do that,” Preston said. “He was always a really good shooter.”
“I was excited for him, happy for him,” Payton said of Pierre getting drafted, becoming the first New Orleans native to be selected by the Pelicans. “I preach to all of my (AAU) players, just stack days, keep getting better. He’s been doing a good job of that.
“I wish him the best. It is a great opportunity. A lot of people (in New Orleans) are going to be pulling for him.”