Fast-rising junior Jaen Chatman talks new interests and his game
I drove to New Jersey for the annual Mid-Atlantic Independent Team camp this past summer. Most of the time, I discover a prospect I hadn’t seen much of. Jaen Chatman did just that for me this summer, impressing me and leaving a massive first impression on myself and several high-major college coaches.
Chatman is a 6-foot-2 guard out of Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ. He plays his AAU ball with the New York City-based PSA Cardinals squad.
He’s everything you’d expect out of an east coast guard. Hard-nosed, physical, and versatile, but one aspect of his game that has seen growth over the last few months is his shooting from behind the arc.
You knew after seeing his surgance this past summer, that it would take a successful fall for him to have a breakout. He did just that.
Chatman went off at the Jordan Holiday Classic. Averaged 15 points and 6.5 assists per game and shot 50% from the field. He proved his worth in front of plenty of high-major talent and it has resulted in offers from plenty of programs over the last few weeks.
“West Virginia, St. Joe’s, and Xavier,” are amongst those heavily involved in his recruitment, Chatman told Stockrisers.com.
Xavier was his first high-major scholarship offer and they’ve continued to remain active in his recruitment as more competition continues to enter the mix.
“My thoughts are good. I liked how they communicated with me consistently and came out to see me multiple times. Coach Miller is a solid dude. I can tell he’s really about business and is a good man,” Chatman told Stockrisers.com.
West Virginia, another program Chatman mentioned, also recently entered the mix.
“I think they’re very good. I recently watched them for the first time when they played Kansas.”
In addition to the programs that Chatman mentioned, he has drawn plenty of new suitors in his recruitment.
Amongst the new suitors are ‘Syracuse, Loyola Chicago, and BYU’ none of which have extended an offer just yet, but, have entered the mix and have positioned themselves nicely so far. Especially Syracuse, who has had a dialogue with Chatman recently.
“It’s been good. I like Alex [Kline] who has been in contact with me. He’s a very genuine dude and they want me to come down for a visit soon.”
Chatman told Stockrisers.com he likely won’t take any visits till after the season. He’s focused on making a run at a state title and a national title. His development and making a run with Blair Academy is his main goal, which is the same thing his backcourt mate Deron Rippey Jr. reiterated to Stockrisers.com as well.
It takes hard work but making the necessary improvements needed to continue an uptick and Chatman says he must continue to improve his playmaking as well as his decisions at the end of games.
“Dealing with pressure and my end of the game decisions,” he said.
If anyone can do it, Chatman can. He continues to rise rapidly in the 2026 class and I expect him to continue rising.