Meet the Seahawks: Previewing the Wings
UNCW has pieces to make a quick leap on defense
If there’s a reason to believe UNCW will outperform the eighth-place finish predicted in the CAA preseason poll, it’s a deep and talented group of wings whose skills easily fit into the identity Coach Takayo Siddle wants to build.
Length, interchangeability and toughness are the common thread in a group led by Jaylen Sims on offense, while Mike Okauru and Brian Tolefree will help set the tone for who the Seahawks are defensively.
Here’s what to know about the UNCW wings:
Jaylen Sims | 6-6 | 195 | Junior
2019-20: 30.5 minutes, 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 35% 3-pointers
John Crouch/UNCW Athletics
An honorable-mention pick among preseason All-CAA selections, Sims was on fire out of the gate as UNCW’s most consistent guard and despite some late-season struggles after suffering a broken nose, figures to again be a focal point of the offense.
A good athlete and the best shooter among the Seahawks’ wings, Sims averaged 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and just 1 turnover in Nov. 2019. Not only was Sims’ producing, but he was doing it with incredible efficiency, hitting 41 of 83 (.493) from the field overall and 23 of 44 (.522) from 3-point range with an offensive efficiency rating of 123.3
Need an idea of how good that was? Charleston’s Grant Riller finished the season with an offensive rating of 111.9.
As the season wore on, opposing defenses made slowing down Sims a priority and his good looks from 3-point range dried up, hitting 7 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc in February.
He’ll certainly stand to benefit from the wide-open style where four-guard looks will allow Sims to get favorable matchups when bigger, slower defenders are forced to step out and guard him on the perimeter.
Mike Okauru | 6-3 | 185 | Senior
2019-20: 27.8 minutes, 9.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists. 1.3 steals
When UNCW dug in on defense and started playing a tougher brand of basketball last season, Okauru was at the center of it all as the combo guard helped set the tone for the Seahawks.
Over the course of the CAA schedule, Okauru ranked second on the roster in steal rate, and that came in a defensive system that wasn’t particularly reliant on pressuring the ball or jumping passing lanes. Expect to see even more disruption this season as Siddle’s approach gives his guys a great opportunity to get disruptive in the backcourt and on the wings.
Okauru played his best all-around game in February as Burke put the ball in his hands more often, helping him average 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals as he found more consistency in his offensive game.
At the end of the day, though, scoring is a bonus for Okauru. Regardless of whether he’s shooting well, he’ll find a way to help the Seahawks thanks to his defensive ability and tenacity on the boards – where surprisingly, the 6-3 Okauru ranked seventh in the CAA in defensive rebounding.
In a fast, pressing system, that effort will pay off in a few easy baskets for Okauru or in him setting up teammates.
Brian Tolefree | 6-5 | 195 | Junior
2019-20: 25.4, 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 40.5% field goals
Stats don’t tell the story for Tolefree, who broke into the starting lineup for the Seahawks after Christmas and helped lead a massive defensive improvement after Rob Burke took over as interim coach in January.
The most physically imposing wing on the roster, Tolefree is a big, physical guard with the ability to guard the opposing team’s best guard without being whistled for fouls. His steal numbers aren’t impressive, but that speaks more to Tolefree’s positioning and understanding of team defense.
There were a few moments Tolefree showed flashes of offensive potential and long-range shooting last season, including a career-best 17 points in a win over Northeastern, but at this point, he’ll make his biggest impact as a smart, physical defender.
Jamahri Harvey | 6-5 | 175 | Freshman
2019-20: 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals at Moravian Prep
Arriving at UNCW with a strong pedigree, Harvey spent his high school career playing for established programs at Northwood Temple and Moravian Prep where he often flew under the radar alongside elite prospects.
Harvey is like a lot of players we’ll see in Wilmington during the Siddle era: a lengthy combo guard whose versatility makes him an ideal fit in rotation that values interchangeability on offense and the ability to disrupt on the press and switch in the half-court defense.
Jeff Bendel of Phenom Hoop Report wrote this evaluation after watching Harvey in January:
He possesses a well-rounded skillset and approach with the ability to do basically anything on the floor. That being said, Harvey’s shooting consistency has really skyrocketed over the last calendar year—making him even more dynamic. He can reliably operate from either guard position, score from all three levels, and overwhelm his assignment on both ends of the floor. His game might be relatively quiet, but Harvey’s numbers speak volumes.
Having played alongside the likes of Josh Hall (NBA), Shakeel Moore (N.C. State) and Josh Nickelberry (Louisville), Harvey has already proven he’s comfortable playing a role and playing it exceptionally well.
Brent Jenkins | 6-5 | 190 | Junior
2019-20: 2.7 minutes, 1.4 points
A former walk-on who earned a scholarship before his sophomore season, Jenkins appeared in 18 games, hitting 10 of his 16 field goal attempts and 3 of 5 from beyond the arc.
He’s got a great story, having joined the UNCW program late in his freshman season as the Seahawks were desperately in need of bodies.
With improved depth among the guards, it’s likely Jenkins will begin the season in a reserve role.
Jay Estime’ | 6-5 | 185 | Senior
2019-20: 22 minutes, 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 41% field goals in five games
Your heart breaks for Estime’, who will miss the entire season after suffering a serious knee injury for the second straight year.
His presence would have given the Seahawks another lengthy wing who has shown the ability to knock down 3-pointers.
Hopefully, he’ll have an opportunity to come back healthy and finish his career on a high note at UNCW in 2021-22.
Joe Pridgen | 6-5 | 210 | Redshirt
2019-20: 17.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 55.8% field goals, 42.9% 3-pointers at Holy Cross
Transfers made a major impact on the program when Siddle was an assistant, and it didn’t take long for him to make a splash with big-time talent in Pridgen and Ian Steere.
While Steere is immediately eligible, Pridgen will sit out this season and have three to play, starting in 2021-22 when he’ll instantly be expected to become a major contributor.
Whether it’s the Patriot League — where Pridgen was last season’s rookie of the year — or the ACC, freshman don’t often show up and put up the stats and efficiency numbers that he did during a season that saw him score 20 or more points 14 times while also making a major impact on the defensive end.
Pridgen was more than ready physically to contribute in the Patriot League, and with a season off in Wilmington, he’ll have plenty of time to take another step in the weight room. In addition, his offensive skills and defensive ability will cause all kinds of problems in practice as a member of the scout team.
Landing Pridgen is a huge deal for UNCW, given he received interest from programs like Arkansas, Georgia, Rhode Island and Richmond.