In our preseason “Open Gym Tour,” we had the opportunity to check out 5’11 senior PG Jaylen Gore of Northwest Guilford High School. In speaking with Coach Reavis, he stated, “Jaylen Gore has strong leadership skills and is one of our better on ball defenders, and is a willing passer.” When you think of fixture and stability, you have to think of Jaylen Gore and his tenure at NW Guilford. First of all, he has been a starter since his freshman year and continues to be an instrumental part of the success of NW Guilford.
Currently, Jaylen is averaging 12 PPG, 3.7 APG, and 3.3 RPG. However the most important statistic is he is averaging 5 SPG. While these numbers are impressive for such a well-balanced team that should compete for the 4A NCHSAA state championship, it is also the intangibles that often don’t show up in the box score that are most important. We particularly like his strong leadership skills and becoming an extension of Coach Reavis. To put it mildly, Gore is a coach on the floor. He is poised and provides a mature approach to the game that is needed to make that title run.
At the present time, Jaylen is getting interest from Winthrop, Catawba, UVA-Wise and Guilford College. Last year, he was named to the Piedmont Triad All Conference First team. We have been tracking Jaylen Gore for the past three years. He has attended many of our NC Phenom 150 camps and has always played with collegiate potential. After watching him in the 2014 NC Phenom 150 we wrote, “Jaylen is another player that has been flying under the recruiting radar and may have the best understanding of the point guard position as well as any player inn the state. He is a true pass first point guard that has simply not gotten enough credit for his strong attributes as a playmaker. Coach Misenheimer stated, “Jaylen has a great ability to get to the rim with a quick first step. He is constantly talking on both ends of the court, but more importantly he knows how to control pace. He is exceptional in knowing when to push the ball in transition and when to slow it down.” Jaylen averaged just over 10 PPG but was also one of the leading assist guys in camp. Simply put, Jaylen is an extension of a coach on the floor. The next step for him is to get physically stronger which will help him negate his size at the collegiate level. He has all the other tools to be an effective playmaker at the appropriate level.”
In addition to being a strong playmaker, Jaylen is a tough hardnosed defensive player. He has excellent instincts and anticipates well which helps him overcome his perceived size issue. Although, Jaylen only stands 5’11, he definitely plays much bigger than his listed height. Jaylen plays with intensity and poise and provides valuable on the court leadership. His leadership also starts in the classroom as he sports an impressive 3.8 GPA. Jaylen is a true student athletic and his skill set and ability to run a team and provide leadership are all scholarship qualities. Colleges that are looking for leaders on and off the court should serious give Jaylen Gore a serious look. His game translates to the next level and any school should cherish the intangibles he brings to the table.