Transfer Portal Deep Dive: Gardner Webb Ace Talbert
Giving my personal thoughts on Gardner Webb guard Aaron "ACE" Talbert.
As the Transfer Portal, SearchSZN, and all of the other offseason festivities comes to an end. It’s time to start looking forward, WHILE also looking back as we dive into some of the new players for ALL 9 Big South teams.
For analysis: I will pick 3 games, 1 game that stood out as a GOOD game, 1 game that stood out as a BAD game, and 1 games that was average.
(If I can’t find 3 games, I will then go to portal film/shot charts and analytics)
Ace Talbert Background:
Coming from Combine Academy, by way of the Knox School in NY, Talbert began his career at St Francis PA under Rob Krimmel seeing good playing time as a freshman averaged over 8 PPG as a freshman.
Coach Krimmel was very high on Ace as he began his college career saying this,
“Aaron is a strong, quick point guard who has a great feel for the game. He is excellent in the open court with his ability to score the ball and make the right reads. Aaron is a very good shooter who can also play off the ball if needed. He is an aggressive defender who can impact that game on both ends.” - Krimmel on Talbert.
After a solid freshman season, Talbert expected a Big Sophomore season but that be came unraveled with a season ending injury. Now Talbert is onto a new home, Gardner Webb University.
Ace Talbert Game Notes/Review:
Ace Talbert “Good” Game: 2/10/24 vs Stonehill
Stats: 21 points (8-11 from the field, 5-7 from 3), 5 Assists and 4 Rebounds
Notes:
Seems very well composed when dealing with the press, doesn’t seem in a panic.
Really quick shooter, can’t give him any spaces or that ball is GONE.
Really good eyesight and passing ability, goes along with the press comment, just has to arm to zing it past defenders/up court.
Can play almost too fast for his own good, gets caught out of position when doing too much on defense.
Can finish with multiple defenders around him, really stronger drive to the rim, keeps that ball secure and tight to him body.
Ace Talbert “Average” Game: 2/17/24 at FDU
Stats: 10 Points (4-10 from the field, 2-4 from 3), 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Notes:
Can try to play bigger than he is, and at 5’10” it is a real issue if he commits to it. (i.e. playing bully ball when attacking/playing the paint on defense)
Not a good inbounder, mostly due to his size.
Really good shooter, steps into his shots off the dribble.
Really fast, same way Buddy was always pretty quick.
May not be the first pass to a score, but always seems to be involved in scoring plays.
Can force passes, but with his speed on the passes, usually doesn’t good bad, but REALLY bad habit to have.
Ace Talbert “Bad” Game: 1/21/24 at Le Moyne
Stats: 5 points (2-6 from the field, 1-2 from 3) 1 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 turnovers
Very fluid motions, does almost everything in one motion.
Really fast player, again as mention Buddy Simmons esque.
Does tend to cut under screens, even on shooters.
Can tend to get himself in trouble with low percentage shots, turnovers and just simply stupid fouls (i.e. Reach around defender and moving defender out of the way)
Ace Talbert Analytics/Shot Chart Review:
Good Anayltics:
(Note: Since Talbert only played 5 games in 24-25, we will use both 23-24 and 24-25 stats.)
Good Scoring Analytics:
72nd percentile in 3PT Shooting Percentage (23-24)
78th percentile in 3PT Shooting Percentage (24-25)
22nd in Free Throw Rate in NEC (23-24)
Bad Scoring Analytics:
11th percentile in 2PT Shooting Percentage (23-24)
19th percentile in True Shooting Percentage (23-24)
Good Playmaking Analytics:
70th percentile in Assist Percentage (23-24)
69th percentile in Assist Ratio (23-24)
72nd percentile in Assist/Usage Ratio (23-24)
77th percentile in Usage Rate (24-25)
Bad Playmaking Analytics:
18th percentile in Turnover Percentage (23-24)
18th percentile in Assist/Turnover Percentage (24-25)
5th percentile in ORB Percentage (24-25)
Good Defensive Analytics:
59th in DRB Percentage (24-25)
59th in Block Percentage (24-25)
Bad Defensive Analytics:
18th percentile in PF Efficiency (23-24)
13th percentile in Steal Percentage (24-25)
10th percentile in PF Efficiency (24-25)
Shot Chart Review:
(For comparisons sake, and my own sake, I chose to compare Talbert’s 23-24 season to most comparable 23-24 GWU player)
Comparison Notes:
As is seen in the shot charts. both Nicholas and Talbert are very good ATB 3PT shooters but not amazing corner shooters (both were lower volume corner shooters).
While Talbert was a substanially worse shooter inside (actually very comparable to Buddy’s 23-24 season that regard), they both were below average in every shooting zone besides the ATB 3’s.
Both Talbert and Nicholas held around a 45% True Shooting percentage.
On/Off Analytics:
On/Off Notes:
The GLARING note, St Francis PA was WAY better when Ace was on the court, only two stats dropped with him ON the court.
Defensive Turnover Percentage
Defensive FT Attempt Rate
Those two stats are in my opinion are WAY out weighed by the 4 stats in the 80th percentile of difference from an On/Off view point.
Ace Talbert Final Thoughts:
I really like the addition of Talbert, after losing Buddy Simmons (and 9 other players) to the portal/graduation, getting a young guard with Talbert’s skillset is a good first step of rebuilding a roster.
Do I think Talbert will be Buddy Simmons? No, not at all. I think he has Simmons esque skills but Simmons was a Top MM guard and if Talbert can be that level, Gardner Webb should be thrilled with that.
If I don’t think he’ll be Simmons esque, what do I think will happen?
After looking at everything, Simmons really reminds of a former Big South guard from last season, Jordan Marsh. They both have first step breakaway speed, pretty good shooters (though Marsh loved his mid range shots, and Talbert loves 3’s).
Talbert might be a Big South All 2nd Team/HM contender, as long as he is 100% and healthy from his injury, and doesn’t regress with the slight jump in competition.