Jarkel Joiner – G – NC State – 6-foot-1 – 180lbs
While Dingle was experienced as a junior technically in his fourth season, Jarkel Joiner is a sixth-year player who spent two years at Cal State Bakersfield and three years at Ole Miss before helping the Wolf Pack get to the NCAA Tournament this past season.
Joiner finished second on the team averaging 17 points on 42.8% shooting overall and 35.4% from beyond the arc. He added 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.3 steals to just 1.4 turnovers this past season and was named to the All-ACC Second Team also capping his career at CSB with an All-Conference selection as well, earning first-team honors in 2018-19.
He attended a workout with one of the Hawks’ division rivals, the Charlotte Hornets on May 2 as they kicked off their offseason workout slate as well.
Jarkel Joiner rewind ⏪ pic.twitter.com/9FnV0xngO1
— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) March 24, 2023
Since he is an upper (upper) classman, Joiner is indeed entering the draft but the expectation is that he goes undrafted. As could be the case with Dingle, however, that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be sought after.
“Overall, Joiner is a skilled, agile playmaker that can shoot and pass the basketball,” writes Alan Lu of NBA Scouting Live after observing State’s win over Duke on January 4. “He is a talented player that may have what it takes to make it in the NBA.”
Joiner had 21 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and two steals in that contest. He went off for 26 points and eight rebounds in the rematch on February 28.
However, the Hawks already tried the smallish guard with the questionable jump shot last season with homegrown product Sharife Cooper who found his way into the Cleveland Cavaliers last season after being waived over the summer. Joiner is a better shooter but his limitations will only be amplified at the next level much in the way they have for Trae Young, namely on defense.