X Factors: Pepperdine’s Jett Raines

Pepperdine standout Stacy Davis isn’t going to be the only major threat that the Waves will boast for the 2014-15 season. Returning to the front court for Pepperdine is junior forward, Jett Raines, who’s bound to make quite the splash for head coach Marty Wilson’s front court.

With rookies such as Nate Gehring and Ryan Keenan composing the majority of Pepperdine’s interior presence, the Waves will look to Raines for experience and leadership in the front court. His consistency and physicality in the paint is going to be a monumental ingredient to Pepperdine’s success for the upcoming season.

November 13, 2012; Berkeley, CA, USA; Pepperdine Waves forward Jett Raines (45) is called for the foul against California Golden Bears guard Justin Cobbs (1) during the first half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports00

Though he missed the first eight games of the 2013-14 season due to a hand injury, Raines’ return to the lineup made a noticeable impact on Pepperdine’s play in the paint. After averaging 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in his first two seasons with the Waves, he looks to avoid another setback and add a new dimension of versatility to the front court. Due to his injury, the WCC was only given a relatively small sample size of the arsenal that Jett contains, but make no mistake about it: Raines is capable of stretching the floor and knocking down the mid-range jumper, but also has the athleticism to block shots and attack the rim with force.

Raines’ full potential was on display during Pepperdine’s game against Loyola Marymount last season, as he scored a career high 15 points (7-for-7 shooting) and eight rebounds in 19 minutes on the court. He also had strong outings against BYU and UC Irvine, posting high numbers in points and rebounds and playing an important role for the Waves in both match ups. Thanks to his size, range, and ability to score under the basket, his presence on the court adds a dynamic scoring option for the Waves.

Most importantly, Jett Raines is a smart basketball player; he makes good decisions when the rock is in his hands, is an unselfish teammate, and will be a pivotal member of Pepperdine’s squad. Look for him to make some serious noise in the WCC and to take charge in the front court for the Waves.