BLACKWATER will be parading Jaylen Bond for the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup. And based on his credentials, the 28-year-old Bond could be one of the imports to watch in the coming conference.
Here are some facts about the Bossing import.
G LEAGUE
Bond saw action for Westchester Knicks in the G League during the 2016-2017 season where he averaged 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 45 games with the New York Knicks-affiliated squad.
In a feature by Fansided, the website noticed Bond’s improved three-point efficiency during the G League stint particularly in a game against Canton Charge where he had 21 points and shot 3 of 4 from threes.
The Norristown, Pennsylvania-born Bond only shot 22 percent from threes in college but had a 39-percent clip from the perimeter with the Knicks, according to Fansided.
“I set high expectations for myself. “There’s always more that I want to accomplish,” Bond told Fansided.
‘VERSATILE ON DEFENSE, TERRIFIC REBOUNDER’
Bond is a highly-regarded defender, at least in college. In a 2015 interview, Temple coach Fran Dunphy described Bond as a player who can defend anyone.
“He’s so versatile defensively. He can guard people on the post. When we get stuck with him on the perimeter on a point guard, we don’t have any fear. He’s just such a terrific rebounder, as well,” said Dunphy in an interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia.
“Each and every game I look to get as many rebounds as I can,” Bond said in the same interview.
NCAA TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE
Bond had one appearance in the 2016 NCAA tournament with Temple. He had a solid outing in that lone match where he had 14 points and 15 rebounds in the Owls’ 72-70 loss to Iowa. It was his 11th double-double for the Owls during that season.
Bond’s NCAA tournament game was actually a heartbreaker with 7-foot-1 Adam Woodbury beating all Owls defenders for the offensive rebound to score the tip-in.
“They just beat us to the ball. They were able to get an offensive rebound and the tip-in won the game,” Bond was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
TEXAS
Before Temple, Bond saw action for another NCAA Division 1 school in Texas where he only played limited minutes. There were glimpses of what the future holds from Bond during that time with the Longhorns where he was fourth in rebounds with 4.6 a contest in his freshman year during the 2011-2012 season.
RECENT STINTS
Last year, Bond played for Muharraq Club in Bahrain. He also saw action for Al Naser in the United Arab Emirates as well as in Italy.