Jordan Nesbitt has committed to Saint Louis University, and Travis Ford has done it again, landing yet another elite recruit from the St. Louis area. Nesbitt, a 6’6 guard out of St. Louis Christian Academy, is ranked 48th in the class of 2021 according to 247 Sports, and boasts a stellar all-around game that will immediately make him one of the most dangerous freshmen in the A10 next season.
Nesbitt had originally committed to Memphis, and graduated early to join the Tigers this season. However, things apparently didn’t work out. Nesbitt only played 12 minutes total on the year before entering his name in the transfer portal. SLU had been in Nesbitt’s top 3 when he initially committed, and he has decided to come home after just a few days in the transfer portal, in what was a very quiet recruitment.
Nesbitt is one of the highest-rated recruits SLU has landed and will bring an immediate injection of talent to a Billiken team losing two legends in Jordan Goodwin and Hasahn French. With all due respect to Dayton’s impressive recruiting haul, Nesbitt might be the most talented individual incoming freshman in the A10 next season (It’s close between Nesbitt and DaRon Holmes).
Nesbitt has great size at 6’6, a strong frame and is a fantastic ball handler. He’s built like a 3 and can play anywhere from the 1-4 due to his vision and ball handling. He’s a strong rebounder, and an underrated shooter who is smooth off the dribble as well as off the catch. It’s not a perfect comparison, but Nesbitt’s combination of size, length and ball handling is a bit reminiscent of Houston star and former UMass Minuteman De’jon Jarreau, another big guard who is a unique talent. Nesbitt will provide Travis Ford with a lot of versatility and should be an immediate starter for the Billikens.
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Travis Ford has had incredible success recruiting in the St. Louis area, as well as in the wider Missouri/Illinois region. Jordan Goodwin, Javonte Perkins, Yuri Collins, Terrence Hargrove Jr, and Phillip Russell are all from St. Louis. Fred Thatch Jr. is from Sikeston, MO and Francis Okoro went to high school in Normal, IL and both played for Brad Beal Elite in AAU ball. Nesbitt joins a long line of Billikens representing their city, and already has strong connections with a lot of current Billikens.
With the addition of Nesbitt and Oakland transfer Rashad Williams, it’s clear that the post-Goodwin-and-French era isn’t a rebuild, but merely a reload. Oregon transfer and fellow top-60 recruit Okoro will be ready to go next year as well after sitting this season. Okoro is extremely talented and could quickly establish himself as one of the best frontcourt players in the A10 with his length and athleticism. Nesbitt is a dynamic offensive player and could be the best freshman in the A10. Javonte Perkins returning for his super senior season gives the Billikens a bonafide go-to guy and star. Yuri Collins should continue to develop as a junior and is one of the best floor generals in the conference. Thatch, Hargrove and Gibson Jimerson are all strong options on the wing, and Williams gives the Billikens a microwave scorer as well. Travis Ford has assembled another team that should be near the top of the A10.
Jordan Nesbitt coming home to SLU is a huge coup for Ford and the Billikens, and he has the potential to be an impact player from Day 1. Come next season, Nesbitt will be repping his city, and I can only hope there will be a packed crowd at Chaifetz to welcome him.
