For a local athlete, Jamail Stanley has had quite the journey in basketball. The Syracuse, New York native played his high school ball at Columbus High School and started his collegiate career at Nassau Community College.
From day one, NCC head coach A.J. Wynder knew Stanley was a talented player.
“It’s funny, like I told people before, my assistant coach saw him,”Coach Wynder told KnicksJournal.com. “I didn’t get to see him. He had already enrolled at Nassau [Community College]. My assistant coach had an opportunity to see him..and then once I saw his skill set, then I knew that I had somebody that was special and that I could work with in regards to his talents.”
Stanley averaged a double-double (19.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game) during the 2012-13 season and made a huge impact on the team the following year. The combo guard nearly put up the same numbers (18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game) while the program continued to have great success. The Lions finished the season with a 29-6 record, along with winning the Region XV Division III championship— their first of three championships in a four-year span.
With two years in the books, Stanley took a year off before resuming his collegiate career at Old Westbury.
When he went to Old Westbury, Wynder believed he could not only lead another program to success, but he believed the Old Westbury product could have played Division I basketball.
“Jamail can play Division I basketball,” Wynder said. “He could have played Division I basketball as far as talent wise.”
“He had to go to a D-III program and because of my relationship with Coach [Bernard] Tomlin [head coach at Old Westbury], I’ve known him for over 30-something years.” Wynder continued. “I called him and told him Stanley [was] ready to go to school and he just wants to continue getting his education and go to school.”
In his final two years, Stanley played a crucial role in the team’s success. The Panthers went 37-18 while winning the program’s first Skyline Conference Championship.
“I felt like at that time, we had the right pieces,” Stanley said. “We had the right players. We were starting to lock in on defense. We believed in the coaches’ philosophy that we got to play on the defensive side and get easy stops and I think everybody on the team believed in it and thats what we did.”
“It was a great experience because a lot of guys on the team, they never won a championship,” Stanley continued. “It was a big thing for the school and the players on the team.”
In both of his seasons at Old Westbury, Stanley was named the Skyline Conference Player of the Year and was named to the First Team All-Skyline Conference in his senior season. After having success on the court and looking impressive on the defensive end in the process, Stanley feels his defensive game is his most underrated part of his game.
“I think [it] would be when somebody sees me guarding them,” Stanley said. “I feel like they don’t really think I can stay in front of them. But once they see I can stay in front of them, they stop trying to attacking me so much. So, I think thats what most players think is my weakness is defense, but it’s really not.”
With his collegiate career now in the rearview mirror, Stanley is embarking on his new journey as a professional athlete. He says he takes pride on his defense and he showed that during the 2017 RBA Showcase. Stanley had the opportunity to showcase his talents while facing off against NBA G League alum and former Division I talent.
Stanley displayed his intensity on the defensive end and scored a few buckets at the RBA Showcase. During his collegiate career, he showed he could get to the rim & draw contact and pull down rebounds as well. His playmaking ability will continue to be a focus.
“My first professional season I’m looking to develop my jump shot. Trying to help my team get easier shots. If your players on your team are getting involved, it makes the game way easier,” he explained.
Whether it was at the collegiate level or displaying his defensive skills at the RBA Showcase, the Old Westbury product is ready for his next challenge in his basketball career.
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