I found this article on the [URL=”http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/index.php”]Portland Tribune[/URL] website about Kentucky recruit Terrence Jones and his play last night in the Nike Hoops Summit. Lets see what Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune has to say about Terrence Jones.
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Bob Cimmino is a high school coach in Mount Vernon, N.Y., so when he looked down his U.S. Junior National select team roster for Saturday night’s Nike Hoop Summit, he wasn’t thinking Terrence Jones is the next LeBron James.
“Honestly, I came in thinking he was a zip-code pick,” said Cimmino after Jones helped the U.S. to a 101-97 victory over the World team at the Rose Garden. “I’m leaving knowing he belongs here.”
Cimmino means he figured Jones, a 6-9 forward out of Jefferson High, wouldn’t have been included in the game featuring 20 of the world’s top high-schoolers if his hometown weren’t Portland, Or.
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I am surprised this coach didn’t know how good Jones was! I watched him on ESPN and wanted him so bad to come to Kentucky I couldn’t stand it. Oh yeah, I still want him to Kentucky and he just might very soon.
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Jones didn’t start for Cimmino’s U.S. squad, but he finished, knocking down four of six free throws in the closing minute to help seal the victory. The McDonald’s All-America and Oregon Class 5A player of the year had 15 points in 23 minutes, sinking 5 of 10 shots — including 1 of 2 from 3-point range — to go with four rebounds and three blocked shots.
“Live body,” said one of more than a dozen NBA general managers who were on hand for the game. “I like him. He can play.”
Cimmino agrees, now.
“Terrence has tremendous upside,” the U.S. coach said. “He was very open to coaching. I was very pleased to see that.
“He’s just good. He can do a lot. This experience was really good for him, knowing he belongs here.”
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Jones’ performance was overshadowed in the Bluegrass by Enes Kanter’s record breaking performance for the World squad. I am glad that he is open to coaching, because we all saw how Calipari turned high school players to lottery picks this season.
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I’m on record as saying Jones is the most versatile prep big man in the state’s history. He showed off most of his skills Saturday night before the crowd of 7,354, making a nice bounce pass to set up a teammate (who missed the shot but was fouled), hitting a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer at the end of the third quarter, blocking a shot of the game’s MVP, Enes Kanter, after a post move and going coast to coast for a driving layup after a rebound.
Cimmino employed Jones at the high post against the World team’s zone defense.
“Whoever got the ball in the middle is the one who was supposed to kick it out to the wings or the post and see the open guy,” Jones said. “That’s what Coach (Cimmino) wanted to use me for.”
Cimmino confirmed as much.
“We wanted someone who would catch the ball at the foul line,” Cimmino said. “Two of our four bigs would not look at the rim (with passes). Terrence was always willing to look at the rim. We needed that to open things up. He just made some good plays.”
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Jones and Kanter will hopefully have a chance to go at each other in the Craft Center everyday.
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As one of the tallest players on the U.S. squad, Jones spent most of his time on defense guarding the World’s bigs, including 7-foot Dejan Musli from Serbia.
“Tough job,” Jones said with a grin. “I used up four fouls on him.”
I hope Jones doesn’t get stuck playing inside in college. His ball skills and shooting range are such that he is a natural small forward.
“I think I’ll mainly be a small forward,” Jones said, “but I want to be used all around. I don’t want to play just one position.”
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Kentucky could be very big again and we will see how that effects the dribble drive again next season. Calipari said he was only running 30% of the DDM by the end of the season, and I look for more of the same if the Cats stay big. The Cats also need some shooting, and Jones could help in that regard as well.
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At what college will that be? Jones must be a great poker player, because his face didn’t reveal anything when I asked that question after Saturday’s game.
Jones is still considering Kentucky, Oklahoma, Oregon, UCLA and Washington. UW coach Lorenzo Romar was in the crowd Saturday night, but Oregon’s coach was not.
That’s because the Ducks don’t have a replacement for Ernie Kent — whom Jones liked.
He is holding off his decision in part because he wants to see who gets the job in Eugene. But he won’t wait forever.
“I’m going to announce my decision on April 23rd or 30th,” Jones said. “But I won’t wait past the 30th.
“I’m considering all my schools equally. I didn’t want to rule (the Ducks) out just because of the situation. I’ve kept my five schools the whole year. I just wanted to stick with them until I make my decision.”
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We all know where he is going!! Actually, I think it helps our chances if Oregon hires Billy G. Who would want to play for that nut? Also mark your calendars for the 23rd or 30th. One good thing is we will at least know before May. Jones could also go to the same college as his teammate Terrence Ross, who is also a Kentucky recruit.
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As for former Jeff teammate Terrence Ross, who is considering several of the same schools as Jones, “hopefully, he’ll go somewhere with me,” Jones said.
A package deal?
“That’s not decided yet,” he said. “He’s going to do what’s best for him. I’m going to do what’s best for me. But it’d be fun if we were together.”
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It would be a West Coast coup if Cal could pull off Kanter, Jones, and Ross. Kentucky is a national power who recruits nationally again and it couldn’t be a better feeling to have a shot at everybody, no matter where they live.
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There were a few players who stood out in Saturday’s game. Atop the list was the 6-10, 255-pound Kanter, a native of Turkey who played his senior year at Stoneridge Prep in Simi Valley, Calif. Kanter, who is Kentucky-bound, worked the middle for 34 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench — that’s right, he didn’t start.
“I’d like to see his birth certificate,” one NBA scout said, only half-kiddingly.
On the U.S. team, sleek Harrison Barnes, a 6-8 forward from Ames, Iowa, who is one of three headed for North Carolina (the Tar Heels will be back in ‘11), had a team-high 27 points and seven rebounds. Jared Sullinger, 6-9 and 260 from Columbus, Ohio, was 10 for 14 from the field and collected 22 points and eight boards before fouling out. He’ll stay in-town at Ohio State.
Other than that, Jones was as impressive as anyone in the game.
Only two of those on the U.S. team have yet to declare for a college. Jeff coach Pat Strickland told me Jones’ grades and SAT score are high enough that he ought to be cleared for admittance wherever he goes.
Somebody’s going to get a good one
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[URL=”http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=127096578101927600″]Entire Article[/URL]
Change that last statement. Kentucky is going to get a good one. At least I hope!
