Three-star small forward Jaden Vance recaps Utah Prep’s trip to Shanghai, previews visit with Saint Louis
By SAM LANCE
Cross playing basketball overseas off the basketball bucket list for three-star guard Jaden Vance. The 6-foot-6, 180-pound wing out took a trip to Shanghai with his high school program Utah Prep earlier this month, and Vance helped the squad come out on top.
That was fun. Thank you Shanghai pic.twitter.com/GaW9AOQ4VF
— Utah Prep Boys Basketball (@UtahPrepMBB) August 11, 2024
One of Vance’s better games came vs. the China U18 National Team, where he scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.
“I played pretty good,” Vance told ZAGSBLOG. “I was working on my defense a lot in those games because there were a lot of pro players we were playing against. And it was a lot of good overseas talent. So it was a good showing that I had to put on.”
Vance added the overall environment of the tournament was “really cool.” The tournament was played in the Shanghai Sharks home arena and there were a lot of fans attending the games.
“You don’t really get that a lot at the prep level,” Vance said. “So it was really cool and we were signing autographs and all of that, so it was a good time. Great experience.”
As for Vance’s recruitment, the wing recently scheduled an official visit to Saint Louis from Aug. 29-31. He is also looking to set up visits to New Mexico State and UC Santa Barbara.
“Those should be in the books soon,” Vance said.
Last time ZAGSBLOG chatted with Vance, Colorado State, Fordham, Montana, Pitt, San Jose State and West Virginia were in mix as well as the three schools above. Vance said he hasn’t heard from Pitt or West Virginia since Peach Jam. He is, however, gaining new interest from Utah.
Vance broke down some of his options to ZAGSBLOG:
Colorado State: “There’s one coach that I talk to over there and he’s really cool. Like he reaches out really frequently. He helps me. He motivates me and cheers me on whenever I’m going to play. He’s always rooting for me so feels good.” Assistant coach Tim Shelton is who Vance was referring to.
Montana: “They reach out frequently. The coaches come watch games, they talk to you, all of that. They send you like player scouting reports and stuff, like what your strengths are, what your weaknesses are and how to get better at it.”
New Mexico State: “They just recently had some changes in the coaching staff and they are still staying on me. I know two players on the team already, and they said they like it. And the coaches are sending me film, everything, helping me learn how they run their offenses and defenses and how they want to play during the season. So it’s pretty good.” Players are Jae’Coby Osborne and Gabe Pickens.
San Jose State: “That was a coach that coached me at AZ Compass Prep a couple years ago. He’s pretty cool with the family and stuff. I don’t really know a lot about the program. I know a lot of players that have gone through coach [Ed] Gipson and all of the players that have gone there I know some of them on the team. They like their experience there. So it seems like it would be a good opportunity.” Some of the players Vance knows include Adrame Diongue, Chol Marial, Josh Uduje, Ben Roseborough.
SLU: “I like that their coaching staff is really heavy on me. They send a lot of information that I need to know and they tell me the truth. They are really the heaviest — they are really just on me the most and I feel like they communicate better than most schools that are out here. Because they are keeping it real with me and were quick to set up a visit with me. So it’s just a good opportunity.”
Thoughts on Josh Schertz: “I like that they had one of the top offenses in the nation. He’s a good coach. He holds his players accountable. I still have more research to do, but I should know after I go on my visit soon.”
UC Santa Barbara: “I like Santa Barbara because it’s a great area. The coaches are very welcoming. They’re all cool, the coaches I’ve met so far. And with all the coaches being welcoming, it feels like I can actually be at home over there.” In contact mostly with head coach Joe Pasternack and assistant Derek Glasser.
Utah: “They really just recently reached out to me. So I don’t really know a lot about them. But they have good ties with the coaches at Utah Prep. So all I hear is just really good things about it.”
Vance said he doesn’t have any timetables for narrowing down to a list or making a decision.
“At this point I’m really just trying to be patient with what I have,” Vance said. “See what options open up for me. I’m probably going to take my time depending on how these next couple months go.”
Vance is ranked the No. 44 overall small forward in the 2025 class by 247Sports and the No. 5 player in the state of Utah.
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