Sometime this week, Jeremy Hazell’s college career will likely come to an end at Madison Square Garden.
Hazell and Seton Hall (13-17, 7-11 Big East) open the Big East tournament against Garden State rival Rutgers (14-16, 5-13) at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Barring a miraculous run of five wins in five days, Hazell’s career will end on the Garden court.
But what comes next for the 6-foot-5 Harlem native? Will he have a career in the NBA or will he end up overseas?
“What I like is he’s long, athletic and quick,” said an NBA scout with 10 years experience. “He’s a streaky shooter. The shooting comes and goes. His shot selection is questionable.
“He’s probably a late-second round or free agent guy.”
Earlier this season, Hazell said it was his dream to make it to the pros.
“Oh definitely, I want to make it to the NBA and play for an NBA team next year,” he said. “That would be any basketball player’s goal, so that’s my goal.”
A third-team All-Big East selection, Hazell is averaging 19.4 points per game. He missed 13 games this season with a broken left wrist and was also the victim of a shooting during a robbery attempt gone bad in front of his Harlem home on Christmas Day.
Still, he has tallied 2,098 career points, good for third all-time on the Seton Hall scoring list.
He scored a season-high 31 points and was an efficient 9-for-14 from the floor and 4-for-6 from 3-point range when Seton Hall defeated then-No. 15 St. John’s last Thursday. On Saturday, Senior Night, Hazell led all scorers with 21 points on 6-for-11 shooting and 4-for-5 from deep in an 85-72 victory over Marquette.
“Obviously, Hazell is playing at a very high level at a very good time for them, entering the tournament,” Rutgers associate head coach David Cox said.
One knock NBA personnel have on Hazell is that he’s a volume shooter and not necessarily an efficient one.
“Without a doubt,” the NBA scout said.
In an NBA game, Hazell would likely come off the bench and would have to make 6-of-8 or 4-of-6 from deep in limited minutes.
“In college, you have more shot-takers than shot-makers,” former NBA and Seton Hall guard Terry Dehere said in January. “But when you get to the next level, you have to become more of a shot-maker, not just a shot-taker.”
(Photo courtesy Daily News)
