If you thought that Marist men’s basketball did not have a player who led the nation in assists two years in a row, you would definitely be wrong. Jared Jordan, class of 2007 led the NCAA in assists in both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, and advanced to a 13-year professional career.
Before embarking on a 13-year professional career, point guard Jared Jordan led the Marist Red Foxes in their best years of the early 21st century, most notably leading all of NCAA Division I men’s basketball in assists in consecutive years.
Jordan earned the nickname “The Magician” during his time as a Red Fox. He was notorious for his flashy passing; his playmaking led to his selection by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 45th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
“I think passing was always just something I enjoyed doing,” said Jordan. “With (Marist), especially those junior and senior years, I had the ball in my hands a lot of the game and then I was surrounded by good shooters. I had the ability to just make plays, penetrate and kick and we had guys that could shoot it.”
Although Jordan’s basketball career is anything but standard, he had a typical upbringing, growing up in Hartford, CT. He played youth sports through town programs and did not take basketball seriously until he attended Kingswood Oxford Prep in West Hartford.
“I grew up playing all different types of sports, but basketball was my favorite all along,” said Jordan. “When you’re young, you play for fun. It was not until the end of my sophomore year of high school that I thought I would play at the Division I level. That is when it started to get a little more real.”
Jordan was a two-star recruit in high school as a shooting guard; he ranked 409th in the nation, 87th for shooting guards and eighth in Connecticut. Midway through his senior year of high school, Jordan signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Marist Red Foxes.
“It was different for me going to a Division I level, because the guys are more athletic. I wasn’t that athletic per se, so it was an adjustment,” said Jordan. “10 games into my freshman year, I began to start, which gave me a little more confidence. The coaches trusted me, I had the ball in my hands a decent amount. With any kid coming to college, especially me at that time, you have to have a comfort level to make an impact.”
Eventually, Jordan’s mindset paid off. In his freshman year, Jordan played 28 games, averaging four assists per game. In his sophomore year, Jordan averaged 11.7 points per game and 6.3 assists per game over 27 games played. By his junior season, he had the most minutes played in the MAAC with 39 minutes per game, notoriously averaging 17.2 points and 8.5 assists per game.
Jordan remained consistent with his junior year self, averaging 17.2 points and 8.7 assists per game in his final season for the Red Foxes.
Jordan ended his junior year setting a career high 16 assists in one game and leading the Red Foxes in scoring through nine games, with a season-high of 31 points.
In a game versus Rider on Jan. 15, 2006, Jordan set a career-high 16 assists in one game. He also led the Red Foxes in scoring in nine of their games that season. He had a season-high of 31 points against Niagara on Feb. 11.
“It’s just how I’ve always played the game,” said Jordan. “Someone’s open, you pass it and that’s the kind of offense we had my junior and senior year.”
Jordan remained consistent with his junior year self, averaging 17.2 points and 8.7 assists per game in his final season for the Red Foxes. He was ranked in the top 20 point guards in the nation by Lindy’s and The Sporting News.
Jordan also won the Haggerty Award, which is bestowed upon any outstanding players playing within the New York Metro area. Other notable winners of this award are former NBA star Ron Artest (St. John’s) and Warriors and Team USA 1992 Dream Team member Chris Mullin (St. John’s).
After his final season at Marist, Jordan participated in the NBA combine. His dream came true later that summer, and he was drafted 45th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.
“That was probably one of the biggest days of my life,” Jordan explained. “It’s every kid’s dream, and for me, it was eye-opening. I remember that day I played golf with my dad and he was super nervous; he couldn’t concentrate.”
Jordan played in the 2007 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas for the Clippers. He started five games, averaging 4.2 points and 4.8 assists.
Jordan’s NBA dreams were becoming a reality when his story began to take a different turn. After the conclusion of the summer league, Jared Jordan was traded by the Clippers to the New York Knicks for cash. In turn, he played in Knicks training camp and only a total of eight minutes across three preseason contests. Shortly after, he was waived by the Knicks.
“It was a big adjustment, like high school to college, it’s just at the (pro) level, the athleticism, the length, the height … I’m kind of the exact opposite of all those things. For me, on the defensive side, it was just a struggle,” said Jordan.
In response, Jordan signed with BC Lietuvos Rytas, a basketball club based in Lithuania in the Euroleague. The guard averaged 8.2 minutes and one point per game. Shortly after the end of the 2007-08 season, he was released by Lietuvos.
“I was at Marist and had great years, I had a huge role. I was close to home. Then, going over to Lithuania, it was tough,” said Jordan. “I went to one of the best teams in Europe, and I wasn’t playing much. I didn’t really understand the European game.”
After his time in Lithuania, Jordan returned to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League, playing for the Phoenix Suns. He made four in-game appearances, averaging four points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game and three assists per game.
That same year, he attended the New Orleans Hornets training camp under a non-guaranteed contract. He played in preseason games with New Orleans, having the opportunity to play with another prolific pass-first guard, Chris Paul.
“The best player I ever played with as a point guard, who I spent a couple of months with, was Chris Paul,” Jordan said.
Jordan averaged three points and three assists, but on Oct. 22nd, he was cut. In December, he signed with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA D-League, where he averaged 10.6 points per game and 8.8 assists per game in 37 games played.
After the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, Jordan returned to Vegas for a third and final time, playing for the Golden State Warriors. He averaged one assist and one steal in two games played.
Jordan continued to bounce around different international leagues, playing a handful of seasons in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) in Germany with multiple teams, a season in the Greek Basketball League, Spain’s Liga ACB and ending his career in Romania.
Jordan was consistently putting up numbers in the BBL, tallying over seven assists per season. In 2017, Jordan became the all-time assists leader in the BBL, passing point guard Dru Joyce with 1,458 assists. Jordan now held an assist record in Germany and over 4,000 miles away in Poughkeepsie.
“I think the best league I played in was in Spain, out of all the international leagues. I just think they had very talented players,” said Jordan. “The IQ was as high as any league in Europe. They were loaded with talent and guys that just know how to play and a lot of veteran European players.”
Jordan signed what would be his final basketball contract in 2019. Playing in the Romania Division A league with CSU Atlassib Sibiu. He averaged 6.6 assists per game before deciding to hang up his jersey for good.
Jordan didn’t only have a professional basketball career, but he also got to travel across the world. Growing up in Connecticut, Jordan experienced living in many different countries, gaining the experience of being a part of different teams, and learning new cultures from the people he met along the way.
“My favorite place I lived was in San Sebastian, Spain, and the Spanish style of basketball was great,” said Jordan. “I would say the Bond fans in Germany are very, very passionate, and they just create an excitement for that club. That city that is kind of unmatched out of anywhere I’ve played.”
As of 2025, Jared is living back at home in Hartford, working in real estate. He feels that his basketball career has shaped him into the person he is today.
“I think having played basketball, you have to have a certain confidence, I had that at Marist and in my professional career, which I carry over today,” said Jordan. “I think bouncing around to all the different countries and understanding different cultures and people gives me a good ability to connect with people in all walks of life, and I think that’s one of the best things I can do.”
Today, Jordan looks back at his basketball career, not regretting a single second of it. To him, passing the ball and making the most of one’s best skills is what makes a person successful.
Edited by Cara Lacey and Ben Leeds
Photo from Marist Athletics
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