The New Orleans Pelicans have signed second-round pick Jaron Pierre Jr. to a two-way contract after selecting the New Orleans native with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Wednesday that Pierre and the Pelicans reached an agreement on the deal, officially bringing the former SMU standout back to his hometown. Pierre attended St. Augustine High School before beginning a college career that included stops at Southern Miss, Wichita State, Jacksonville State and SMU.
The signing continues a quiet offseason for New Orleans, which has prioritized continuity following a disappointing 26-56 campaign in 2025-26. Rather than pursuing major free-agent additions, the Pelicans have retained the core of their roster while hiring Jamahl Mosley as head coach and adding Pierre with their lone selection in the draft.
Pierre capped his collegiate career with an impressive senior season at SMU, averaging 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34 games while shooting 46.2% from the field and 37.0% from three-point range. He connected on 80 three-pointers and scored 599 total points, establishing himself as one of the American Athletic Conference’s top perimeter scorers.
His breakout season came a year earlier at Jacksonville State, where he averaged a career-best 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists over 36 games. Pierre shot 42.4% from the field, made 104 three-pointers at a 38.2% clip and converted 81.0% of his free throws, demonstrating the high-volume perimeter shooting that helped elevate his draft stock.
Across 152 career college games, Pierre averaged 14.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists while making 324 three-pointers. Although his overall field-goal percentage finished at 41.1%, he improved his efficiency over his final two seasons and developed into a reliable long-range threat.
