NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The New Orleans Pelicans selected SMU guard Jaron Pierre Jr. with the No. 58 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, adding a scorer who could become one of the players to watch as the franchise’s G League team begins a new era in Kenner.
Pierre, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard, averaged 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists during his lone season at SMU. He shot 46.2% from the field, 37% from 3-point range and 75.8% from the free-throw line while serving as one of the Mustangs’ top offensive options.
The pick gives New Orleans another developmental guard with scoring upside. Pierre is considered a long shot to make the Pelicans’ opening night roster, but he could be a candidate for a two-way contract or a G League assignment with the Laketown Squadron.
That would make him a player to monitor during the Squadron’s first season in Kenner. The Pelicans’ NBA G League affiliate is relocating from Birmingham and rebranding as the Laketown Squadron for the 2026-27 season. The team is expected to play at the renovated Pontchartrain Center in Laketown Park.
Pelicans G League affiliate relocating to Kenner, rebranding as Laketown Squadron(New Orleans Pelicans)
More: Jaron Pierre Jr. becomes first New Orleans native drafted by Pelicans
Pierre’s offensive game is built around shot-making. He can score from the perimeter, pull up off the dribble and attack as a catch-and-shoot option. His size gives him the frame to handle contact and create space against smaller guards.
His path to the NBA draft was not direct. Pierre played two seasons at Southern Miss, then spent time at Wichita State and Jacksonville State before finishing his college career at SMU.
At 23, Pierre enters the league older than many draft prospects. That could put more pressure on him to make an early impact as a scorer. He will also need to prove he can defend consistently and create for others at the professional level.
Still, the Pelicans’ late second-round pick gives the organization a player with production, experience and a skill set that could translate in a complementary role.
For fans in Kenner, Pierre could become one of the first major names tied to the Laketown Squadron’s debut season.
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