Jarin Stevenson

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Jarin Stevenson

| image = Jarin Stevenson.jpg

| alt =

| number =

| team = North Carolina Tar Heels

| position = Power forward

| league = Atlantic Coast Conference

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|10|15}}

| birth_place = Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 11

| weight_lb = 215

| high_school =

Northwood (Pittsboro, North Carolina)
Seaforth (Pittsboro, North Carolina)

| college =

Alabama (2023–2025)
North Carolina (2025–present)

| highlights =

}}

Jarin Stevenson (born October 15, 2005) is an American college basketball player for the North Carolina Tar Heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He previously played for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Early life

Stevenson was born on October 15, 2005, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbadraft.net/players/jarin-stevenson/|publisher=NBADraft.net|title=Jarin Stevenson}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4873181/jarin-stevenson|publisher=ESPN|title=Jarin Stevenson}} His father, Jarod, played professional basketball in several countries while his mother, Nicole, played for the North Carolina Tar Heels.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/135957396/|newspaper=The News & Observer|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 16, 2023|author=Carter, Andrew|title=Jarin Stevenson spent two years as a top basketball prospect: Why he chose Alabama over UNC|page=A3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/135957467/ A4], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/135957486/ A5], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/135957503/ A6]}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer/135957535/|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 23, 2023|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer/135957592/ B3]|title=Basketball recruit Jarin Stevenson chooses Alabama over UNC|author=Carter, Andrew}} {{Open access}} He lived in South Korea for most of his childhood due to his father playing there, moving back to the United States in middle school. He attended Northwood High School in Pittsboro, North Carolina, as a freshman, and helped the basketball team reach the class 3-A state championship game.{{Cite web|url=https://ncstate.rivals.com/news/jarin-stevenson-understands-importance-of-adjusting|website=Rivals.com|title=Jarin Stevenson understands importance of adjusting|author=Zembal, Jacey|date=February 3, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://highschool.si.com/north-carolina/2023/06/22/jarin-stevenson-reclassifies-commits-to-alabama|website=Sports Illustrated|title=Jarin Stevenson reclassifies, commits to Alabama|author=Pruitt, Mark|date=June 22, 2023}}

Stevenson transferred to newly-opened Seaforth High School in Pittsboro as a sophomore, joining his father and mother, who were the head coach and assistant coach, respectively. In his first season there, he was named first-team all-conference and the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A Player of the Year with an average of 20.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.4 blocks and 2.4 assists per game.{{Cite news|url=https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/pittsboro/seaforth-hawks/athletes/jarin-stevenson/basketball/stats/?careerid=7uijdiuu89sue|publisher=MaxPreps|title=Jarin Stevenson's Seaforth High School Basketball Stats}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.chathamnewsrecord.com/stories/here-are-chatham-countys-2021-22-winter-all-conference-athletes,12740|newspaper=The Chatham News|title=Here are Chatham County’s 2021-22 winter all-conference athletes|author=Hensley, Victor|date=March 23, 2022}} As a junior, Stevenson was named the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year while helping Seaforth reach the second round of the state tournament, averaging 21.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 2.7 assists per game while making over 60 percent of his field goal attempts.{{Cite web|url=https://highschool.si.com/north-carolina/2023/03/16/jarin-stevenson-of-seaforth-named-gatorade-player-of-the-year-in-north-carolina|website=Sports Illustrated|title=Jarin Stevenson of Seaforth named Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina|author=Pruitt, Marc|date=March 16, 2023}} Stevenson finished his high school career with 1,230 points scored. He also played 16 games for Team United of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), averaging 12.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/37895367/5-star-power-forward-jarin-stevenson-play-alabama-2023|publisher=ESPN|title=5-star power forward Jarin Stevenson to play for Alabama in 2023|date=June 21, 2023|author=Borzello, Jeff; Biancardi, Paul}} Outside of playing, he excelled in the classroom and was second in his class with a 4.5 grade-point average (GPA).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/article274079165.html|newspaper=The News & Observer|url-access=subscription|title=End of prep basketball season means decision-making season for top NC hoops recruit|date=April 21, 2023|author=Carter, Andrew}}

=Recruitment=

Stevenson received his first athletic scholarship offer from the University of North Carolina, his mother's alma mater, prior to his sophomore season of high school. He became a highly-ranked college basketball prospect for two years and had an extensive recruiting process. His father said that "It's starting to seem like we have too many options," referring to all the different places recruiting Stevenson. By his junior year, he was ranked a five-star recruit in the class of 2024 and the top power forward nationally, as well as the 16th-best player overall, by ESPN. A 247Sports ranking placed him as the 10th-best player nationally and the top player in North Carolina.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/136072545/|newspaper=The News & Observer|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 21, 2022|author=Carter, Andrew|title=How a top high school athlete navigates the recruiting scene|page=A3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/136072667/ A4], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/136072690/ A5], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer/136072720/ A6]}} {{Open access}} Among his offers, he narrowed down his college choices to the Alabama Crimson Tide, Virginia Cavaliers and North Carolina Tar Heels.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4629702/2023/06/21/jarin-stevenson-alabama-recruiting/|website=The Athletic|title=Alabama lands 5-star forward Jarin Stevenson over UNC, Virginia|date=June 21, 2023|author=Smith III, Kennington; Marks, Brendan}} He ultimately chose to re-classify to 2023 and commit to the Alabama Crimson Tide, graduating from high school a year early and forgoing his senior season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/alabama/basketball/why-jarin-stevenson-reclassified-to-join-alabama-basketball-early|website=Sports Illustrated|title=Why Jarin Stevenson Reclassified to Join Alabama Basketball Early|author=Windham, Kate|date=November 3, 2023}}

College career

Stevenson enrolled at Alabama in time for the 2023–24 season.{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/article/top-25-prospect-jarin-stevenson-commits-to-alabama-211871571/|website=247Sports|title=Top-25 prospect Jarin Stevenson commits to Alabama, reclassifies|date=June 21, 2023|author=Branham, Travis}} He made his debut in the team's season-opening win against Morehead State, scoring 12 points.{{Cite web|url=https://www.waaytv.com/news/alabama-shines-in-season-opener-defeating-morehead-state-105-73/article_0a84f53a-7d2e-11ee-a983-b76d5346f5fe.html|publisher=WAAY-TV|title=Alabama shines in season opener defeating Morehead State 105-73|date=November 6, 2023}}