Trent Forrest’s journey in the NBA

A kid from the Panhandle in the NBA is very refreshing to my ears. Trent Forrest has emerged into a terrific point guard with a magnificent IQ for the game. It’s a shame that an NBA organization didn’t grab Forrest in this year’s draft. But with his two way contract with the Utah Jazz, Forrest will seek the opportunity to make his impact felt in the NBA.

Forrest’s name seemed to have been overlooked when it came to prospects coming out of Florida State. His ability to run the floor as the point guard is what impacted players in Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams to elevate their play. Coach Hamilton understood to trust Forrest to be the floor leader with his phenomenal IQ. And the more Forrest gained confidence in filling the point guard role, the more efficient the team was.

The most unique thing about Forrest as a point guard is that he is a high-flying athlete who loves to gain opportunities at the rim. When he’s bringing the ball past halfcourt, he quickly finds an opening in the defense right away and takes advantage of it. The system that Coach Hamilton built allowed Forrest to play at max speed. While making an aggressive move with the ball, he still finds a way to read his teammates on the floor and find them for an open opportunity.

His defense was a major factor as well. Being at 6’4 with a 6’7 wingspan, Forrest is excellent at getting deflections and putting pressure on the defense with his size. Forrest averaged 1.6 steals in his college career at FSU and had a 3.6 steal percentage rate. His hustle and competitive spirit always gives him an edge against the players that he’s guarding. At many times, he’s forced the opposing player to become tentative with the basketball, which turns into bad possessions and a FSU transition basket on the other end.

Forrest’s defensive awareness will be a big key in landing rotation minutes in the NBA. His ability to be a step faster than his opponent will be key for a playoff team looking for contributions. As Forrest gains more experience at the higher level, there could be a chance that he becomes one of the premier perimeter defenders in the league.

A lot of teams missed out on a tenacious point guard in Forrest in the NBA Draft. Although he still shows flaws in his game as far as perimeter scoring and turnovers, the kid shows that he is a quick learner and could develop quickly in the NBA. Luckily, the Utah Jazz saw something special in Forrest by offering him a two-way contract. This opportunity will once again keep Forrest as an underdog as a point guard. But the beauty of the situation is that it will continue to keep him hungry for success.

Forrest will spend most of his time in the G League for the Salt Lake City Stars. In his time with the affiliate, it’s important that he dedicates his time to improve his shooting. Forrest had shooting splits of .462/.248/.748. Player efficiency is important in the modern NBA. The ability to knock down outside shots will be critical for Forrest to develop at the point guard position. With the way spacing has evolved in basketball, Forrest must improve his shooting splits to become a more efficient scorer.

In conclusion, Trent Forrest is looking to put the panhandle on the map. It’s very rare for colleges and scouts to look in the smaller towns for top notch talent. But Forrest stood out during his time at Chipley High School, allowing him to be recruited to one of the best programs in the NCAA. Forrest has a lot in his game to develop. But there is without question that his value is league bound.