Tennessee Player Spotlight: '24 Guard Jett Montgomery
On the Hardwood
Jett Montgomery is a 5-foot-10 guard from Thompson Station, Tennessee, and his stock on the court is steadily rising in the state. Montgomery started his story with Hoopseen last fall at our Tennessee preview camp, and we have been keeping tabs on him ever since.
He had an awe-inspiring season playing with Independence High averaging 23 ppg, 1.7 stl, 2.7 rebs, 2 ast making him a notable name to be aware of this summer.
As a sophomore, Montgomery reached new highs with his game-breaking mark of a thousand points while shooting 46% from the field and was selected as AAAA Mr. Basketball nominee. He was also named to the 12AAAA All-District 1st team and a part of the Region 6 All-Tournament Team.
We reached out to Montgomery to get his take on what could be called a phenomenal season.
“I feel like at times I played great, but I had to learn how to score while being face-guarded a lot as the other teams focused on stopping me,” he said.
He stated that this season was very successful and that he felt that he got better with his playmaking, providing outstanding leadership by being more vocal on the floor. Montgomery also feels that he became a better rebounder and stepped forward with attacking the lane finishing through contact.
Montgomery is a fantastic shooter, whether it’s from the mid or three, his shot is truly flawless. He plays with a lot of heart and gives his all on both ends of the floor. He has a nice little floater and uses his speed to slash past defenders. Montgomery plays with a massive chip on his shoulder and sets out to prove that his game is elite.
He says that for the summer he plans to work on all aspects of his game, particularly on getting stronger, ball handling, and defense.
Recruiting and the Summer Grind
As a sophomore, Montgomery has definitely put himself on the radar of college coaches. We asked him if there were anything he would like coaches to know about him on and off the court.
“First of all, I will outwork my opponents, and I think I'm a great teammate; I want my team to succeed,” he said. “I am a great shooter, and that's what people know me for, but I can also shoot the mid-range and take it in.”
Montgomery also stated that he can score on all four levels and has the ability to draw attention to open up his teammates. And even though he is undersized, he can be a threat playing defense and rebounding.
As for what he is looking for in a college, the most important thing is finding a place that best fits him. As for personnel, he wants a team that loves to play fast and shoot the three. But when it comes to the size of the school, he is open to all and wants to continue playing the game.
Montgomery says that he wants to put on 10-12 lbs of muscle this summer, get faster, more explosive, and overall get better in all aspects of the game.
“I have great coaches and mentors that are helping me prepare mentally to run a team,” he said.
Getting to Know Jett
When asked about some of the players he looks up to, he mentioned some fantastic players and some that matched his personnel as a player.
“My favorite NBA player is Ja Morant, but I mostly look up to Stephen Curry (for his off-the-ball movement and screen setting) and Trae Young for his ability to create space as an undersized guard,” he said.
Before every game, he likes to listen to all sorts of music to get locked in. Some of his favorites include Polo G, Lil Baby, Lecrea, Uzi, and Kayne, to name a few.
Off the court, he enjoys watching sports, hanging with his siblings, and listening to music, and he is a huge roller coaster enthusiast.
He wants everyone to know that he is a Christian and he is a really hard worker and fierce competitor.
To get a better look at Montgomery on the court, check him out playing for the Nashville Stars Premier 2024 team.
We asked Montgomery what basketball has taught him thus far.
“Just to persevere and enjoy the journey,” he said. “Every game is different and throws different problems at me, and when life gets tuff put your head down and figure it out and grind it out, God will take care of the rest.”
