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Former Lower Merion Hoop Star Jack Forrest Transfers From Columbia To St. Joe’s
Jack is back. He’ll be taking his talents to 54th & City Line.
The 2019 Central League MVP, Jack Forrest, announced on his Instagram Feed, that he’s “coming home to St. Joe’s University.”
According to the NCAA’s “Year in Residence Rule,” Forrest will not be able to play for the St. Joe’s until the 2021-2022 Season. However, that rule is being challenged now, so it’s not inconceivable that Forrest might be able to suit up for the Hawks as early as this fall.
During the 2019-20 season, the 6’5″ guard played 25.6 minutes and scored 8.9 points per game for Columbia. He launched 108 shots from beyond the 3-point arc, and made 38 of them (35.2%, highest on the team).
Jack Forrest Lower Merion Highligh Reel
Three Central League Titles at Lower Merion
In addition to being named Central League MVP in 2019, Forrest also scored more than 1,000 points, and led the Aces to three League Championships.
Last year, The Change-up, a Columbia University publication, wrote this about Forrest in a scouting report.
Based on highlight videos, mixtapes, and sketchy gamefilm, Forrest is a good player. Such “film” is hardly the best method of prospect scouting, but Columbia no doubt has more video on Forrest and can reasonably judge for itself whether or not he will be a good addition to the team. Still, highlight videos can clue viewers into several major strengths and offer a little insight into a player’s weaknesses.
The first thing that stands out about Forrest is his shooting, which helped Lower Merion to a 28-6 record, ranked 23rd in Pennsylvania, in his senior season. The guard has a very clean shooting stroke and a tight, quick release that should translate very well to the college game. Players in the Ivy League are on average taller and faster than Forrest’s high school opponents, so his tight, efficient form will be useful against elevated competition.
About his decision to transfer, Forrest told HawkHillHardwood, “As the season progressed, I realized that I really wanted to play professional basketball,” he explained. “After the season, I evaluated how it went and realized that Columbia probably wasn’t the best place for me. So, looking at St. Joe’s when I reopened my recruiting, Coach Lange came on really strong and talked about player development. Didn’t just talk about it, but had evidence of it. He showed me how they are going to develop me over the next few years to help me reach my dreams.”