Malique Jacobs

BORN: 28/04/2000

LAST TEAM: BC Margveti (GEO)

HEIGHT: 191 cm

WEIGHT: 88 kg

PRO

• Versatility
• Defense
• Playmaking

WEAKNESSES

• 3P percentage to confirm
• Limted upside
• Handling left hand

VIDEO

EUROBASKET.COM

REALGM.COM

ACTUAL

POTENTIAL

INTRODUCTION

Malique Jacobs spent two years in junior college before transferring to Kent State, where he immediately showcased his qualities as a defensive stopper. He earned a spot in the defensive lineup for all three seasons with the Golden Flashes, and was named to the MAC second team in his senior year. He also claimed the divisional title after a standout performance in the final game, tallying 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists. This led to their subsequent participation in the NCAA Tournament, during which he delivered a solid performance against Indiana with 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists.

PHYSICAL

Malique Jacobs is not particularly tall but well built and possesses good athleticism, he is not afraid of contact and absorbs it rather well. Excellent in moving his feet, which ensures him to position himself well and, combined with remarkable lateral mobility, makes him a top-notch defender; good elevation but his speed to cover open field is limited for a player of his position

OFFENSIVE PHASE

Malique Jacobs is a versatile player in the entire backcourt, capable of serving as a secondary handler and creating plays with a predisposition to find teammates with kick-outs when posting up against the direct opponent or in pick and roll situations (3.7 assists in his senior season). Rather passive in situations away from the ball, he tends to position himself in a corner and await the kick-out; despite struggling with three-point shooting (29% on just 2 attempts per game), he excels at punishing close-outs by finishing from mid-range. He aggressively attacks the rim, whether utilizing static situations in the post or driving from the dribble and penetrating the traffic, proving to be a decent generator of free throw opportunities.

DEFENSIVE PHASE

Malique Jacobs has been the defensive soul of Kent State, always marking the most formidable opponent and ready to help or dive to recover a ball, which is his great specialty: 2.6 on average per game, top numbers for the entire NCAA. A combination of speed and strength allows him to pass over blocks, beating him off the dribble is complex, and holding up to physical contact in approach for a layup is not trivial, with the risk of suffering a block looming (0.8 in the last two years).

IMPROVED AREAS

Malique Jacobs has limited offensive capabilities that could hinder his chances of reaching high levels in Europe; shooting percentage from beyond the arc is the main area he will need to work on in order to aspire to be a Charles Jenkins of the next decade. He does not possess the ball-handling skills to be used as a primary ball-handler for extended minutes, so it might be more reliable for him to spend more time in that role. He will likely start his professional career in a league of medium to low prestige to see if he can also be productive in terms of scoring.