Pelicans @ Heat Takeaways
Chrissy Smith • January 3, 2025
Team Stats
(Pelicans @ Heat)
Final Score: 108-119
Rebounds: 31-38
Assists: 25-34
Blocks: 7-1
Steals: 4-6
Turnovers: 10-10
Stat Leaders
(Pelicans/Heat)
Scoring Leaders: Trey Murphy III, 34; Tyler Herro, 32
Rebound Leaders: Yves Missi, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Jordan Hawkins, Brandon Boston Jr., CJ McCollum, 4; Bam Adebayo, 9
Assist Leaders: Dejounte Murray, 7; Bam Adebayo, 10
My Player of the Game: Trey Murphy III
Chrissy's Takeaways:
- The New Orleans Pelicans have lost 20 of their last 21 games.
- The Pels have also lost 11 games in a row.
- In this game against the Heat, the rebounding was divided up evenly among six players, which was a strange thing to see in the stat sheet.
- Trey Murphy III is turning into a full-blown starter for this team and it's great to see. He's not just a three-point shooter anymore.
- Yves Missi is SPECIAL!! This guy has a legitimate shot to win Rookie of the Year. It's rough to think about how good the Pelicans might have been this year if everyone would have been healthy plus the team has a ROY center.
- What could have been....time to focus on the special spots of the season.
Follow The Kneaux on X, and follow me there too @SportsChrissy.
A quick share helps us a lot!
This Facebook widget is no longer supported.
RB 
Jake Randle @JakeRandle22 
Jake Randle is a versatile running back from the Class of 2026, known for his speed and agility. Standing at 5-10 and weighing 190 pounds, he has a compact, athletic build suited for the position with potential to add more muscle in college. 
Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, Randle attended Isidore Newman School, a program with a strong football tradition. He comes from a family of football players, which has influenced his development on the field. 
In addition to football, Randle is a multi-sport athlete with experience in track and field, where he recorded an 11.48-second 100-meter dash and a 23.36-second 200-meter dash as a sophomore. 
During his senior year in 2025, Randle transitioned to quarterback for his team, showcasing his adaptability and team-first mentality. 
Scouting Report: 
Speed and Athleticism: Clocked a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, a 37-inch vertical, and a 10-foot-1-inch broad jump at Tulane’s camp. His top-end speed reaches 21.53 mph, making him fastest on his team. Track background enhances his burst and long-speed. 
Versatility and Hands: Excelled as a receiver out of the backfield with reliable hands and lateral quickness. His successful switch to quarterback in 2025 demonstrates adaptability and football IQ. 
Vision and Elusiveness: Shows good patience and cut-back ability, averaging over 9 yards per carry in his junior year. Effective in open space and as a third-down back. 
Work Ethic and Leadership: Never missed a weight room session, served as team captain, and thrived under pressure in big games and position changes. 
Upside: Multi-sport profile and family football background suggest high developmental potential. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
RB 
Jaylin Lucas- FSU @jaylinlucas1 
Hall is rebuilding the attack around tempo, a passing game, pro-style elements (heavy tight end usage), more speed, and big-play explosiveness. He created the “Super Back” position specifically for versatile, mismatch-creating weapons like Lucas and Maurice Turner: “Mo and Jaylin will be our ‘X’ factor,” Hall said. “They’ll line up in the backfield, in the slot, everywhere. (Think Percy Harvin Role) 
They’re Darren Sproles, Reggie Bush, Christian McCaffrey-type players. Hall calls it the Super Back position.” 
Hall explicitly plans to deploy Lucas the same way Reggie Bush was used at USC, motion, screens, receiving, and explosive runs. 
In spring ball, Lucas has already flashed: “You’ll see him everywhere. Screen, passing game, he caught a hitch on the first day.” His twitch and speed were immediately noticeable, aligning perfectly with Hall’s vision for an entertaining, big-play offense. Lucas’s career production backs it up: 719 rushing yards & 4 TDs, 456 receiving yards & 2 TDs, plus elite special teams (1,420 kickoff return yards & 3 TDs, plus punt returns). He instantly upgrades both the backfield and return game after Tulane lost specialists. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X