While Scotland Campus Sports’ Gerald Jarmon III may not be laced with those “eye test” passing qualities coaches tend to fawn over, the rugged 5-foot-11 guard atones for it with constant relentlessness.
This gung-ho style has translated into Jarmon III’s emergence as one of the high school team’s and the entire SCS program’s most potent scoring sources.
The transfer via Cedar Cliff (Pa.) will be tasked with shouldering a significant piece of the go-to role for head coach Blake Kingsley this season.
Kingsley’s unrivaled leader from last season, 6-foot-10 stretch four Hal Hughes, was claimed by 2018 graduation and is now at Hofstra.
He returns a guard-laden core underscored by Jarmon III, Estonian shooter Johannes Kirsippu, a high-rising guard in Kayden Stewart and a versatile 6-foot-7 Class of 2021 forward who oozes of high major potential in Aime Ciza. What they lack in depth they’ll make up for in heart.
That appears to be the intangible with which Jarmon III thrives.
With his pull-up jumper already registering itself as the combo guard’s trademark component, the Class of 2020 prospect has the fluid outside stroke capable of pioneering 3-point onslaughts and breaking open powerful scoring surges.
“Gerald can best be described as an electric scorer who can get hot in an instant,” said Kingsley, who will soon return another focal point in sweet-shooting 6-foot-6 guard/forward Louis Bleechmore.
“He loves to compete and just hates losing.”
Jarmon also understands how to manufacture points methodically. Jarmon’s scoring drive and his skill set have actually been triggered by his ability to come to terms with his limitations.
“I try to be quicker than most people, I can fit into certain places other people can’t,” said Jarmon, who scored 20 points and kicked in four assists during a recent 91-75 victory over Olympus Prep.
“On the pick and roll, I can split the defense. I can elevate on my jump shot, so I don’t have to rely on my athleticism for that. Defensively, it helps me out because I’m a lot quicker laterally.”
Jarmon’s poise between the ears is where he sets himself apart the most.
While that’s an immeasurable stat which surely can’t be computed, it goes far given today’s recruiting landscape. Rather than sulking or taking arrogant, headstrong reactions to criticism, Jarmon is receptive to it all.
“For as long back as I can remember, my Dad (Gerald Jarmon Sr.) was my biggest influence on the court,” Jarmon said.
“I mean he can be tough on me, but he’s always pushing me to get better at all times. He’s put me through everything, different types of drills that involve transition scoring, fast break drills. It’s a blessing to have a trainer who knows how to simulate your game and put you in those situations.”
Prior to his time as a trainer at Advance Hoops in Harrisburg, Jarmon Sr. was a four-year starter at Richmond University.
The memorable guard is currently top-10 in program history in assists, steals, and 3-point shooting percentage. The pinnacle of Jarmon’s collegiate career occurred back in 1991, as his No.15 Richmond team re-wrote the pages of history with a pulsating 73-69 NCAA tournament victory over No.15 Syracuse.
Jarmon Sr. would prolong his career as professional throughout Europe, even averaging 29PPG during a stop in Australia.
“He’s always got stories about when he was playing against Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and some of these other epic battles he’s been in,” said Jarmon III with a chuckle.
“I get this great distaste for losing from my Dad. I hate losing, no matter what it is. Even if it is 2K or Fortnite. I can’t stand it. I remember one time my Dad was coaching us in AAU and we lost a game to a team we had no business losing to. After the game, my Dad made us sprint to touch every line on the court-foul line, baseline, three point line–about six times. It was a lungs-burning experience. It taught me to hate losing that much more and just how bad it feels.”
At the helm of Jarmon’s support system is his mother, Darcey Jarmon.
As much as his father emphasized the basketball and conditioning components, Jarmon III said his Mom brought that same unwavering focus on his academics. The stability has helped shape him into a balanced kid who leaves little room in his life for distraction.
“It was tough saying goodbye to my teammates at Cedar Cliff,” said Jarmon, who averaged 17 points, registering a 29-point performance against Lower Dauphin and a 24-point performance against Elizabethtown last year.
“Ultimately, they understood. I came to Scotland because of the competition. There’s so many mid-major and high major players here, there’s the coaching, there’s the opportunity to play a national schedule throughout the year.”
Jarmon plays with that edge his father instilled in him.
When various Division-I coaches entered Scotland’s gym only to evaluate more highly-touted prospects on the prestigious prep team this fall, Jarmon felt slighted. He channeled that frustration into a desire to develop an assassin’s instinct and make his name known.
“Of course I want to win first and foremost, but I want to show I can play with anyone in the country,” he said.
If he doesn’t win, will he likely receive an earful from Dad after the game?
“Oh yeah, without a doubt,” Jarmon III said with a smile.
“He gets on me at first but later in the conversation he tells me what I could do better or what I should have done in this particular situation. It is constructive criticism, I take it with a grain of salt. I owe (my father) a lot.”
He also owes teammate and poised veteran guard Oli Jacquot for helping acclimatize him to the prep lifestyle.
“When I first got here, Oli was the one who really showed me the ropes,” explained Jarmon.
“He was the one who set the tone for me and showed me what to do. We’ve got a really tight core with this high school team, we don’t have a lot of depth but we play well together and we mesh well off the court. That translates to our play on the court.”
