Chris Jones = #1 priority?

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

According to Dave Telep it sounds like Chris Jones is the far and away the highest prospect MU is in on.  Top 50 out of high school.  Where is he now?  Top 20 if he were counted with the 2013 class?  Possibly flirting with top 10???

It's surprising with the love fest for Nunn when Jones is by and large dismissed.  The 2013 starting PG position is up for grabs and there are only 2 guys on board with a PG label behind their names.  It can be easily argued that another PG is a need.  If he wants to follow the JUCO path at MU it is looking good......and he would be hard pressed to find a better situation.

Take a moment and read Dave Telep's thoughts:
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/dave-telep/tag/_/name/marquette-golden-eagles

And the ESPN top 100:
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/playerrankings

Telep has Jones in the mix with Anthony Barber at #11 overall....and Barber is top 10 in other rankings.  Can he hang?  1 of 3 freshman that were 1st team JUCO all-america.  32-2 record en route to national runner ups.  Chris Jones is a winner.  If you think Buzz isn't all over him you are delusional.....and MU's success with JUCO guy's should be a factor.  (BONUS: MU is ALWAYS mentioned with him!)

His weakness is being overly competitive.  That is also his strength.  110% effort guy.  HE HAS MU WRITTEN ALL OVER HIM.  Read his coaches comments on him.....and tell me Buzz doesn't see him as a priority.  It sounds like he would be the highest rated recruit MU has had in decades if he were counted in the 2013 class.  It also sounds like he would be coming into a PERFECT situation at MU.  Nunn would be great,   but Jones would have a greater impact....at least in 2013.....which could be......AMAZING.

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

"He is the 'straw that stirs the drink,'" explained Forbes, about Jones has meant to this year's team. "He's been a facilitator for others and has made big baskets for our team throughout the year. His passion and his will to win has rubbed off on the rest of our team. It's always a blessing when your best player is your hardest worker and he is our hardest worker."

Forbes also spoke about Jones' development: "His greatest strength, being highly competitive, has in the past been his biggest weakness. He has learned to manage the highs and lows that take place throughout a season, a game and a practice. He's learned to become more consistent with his effort on and off the floor."

"We recruited him to be a starter from Day 1," Forbes said. "He possessed the DNA to compete and contribute as a freshman in the SEC. In my mind, he would have been in the upper half of the PGs in the SEC as a freshman. There's always a learning curve for freshman, but he had the passion, the poise and the purpose to compete at a very high level from the moment he (would have) stepped on campus at UT."

"I want to play with the best," Jones said. "I want to get paid to do this when I'm done with college. I need to play at the highest level possible. That's why I workout every day at 6 a.m. It keeps me going."

When asked who was recruiting him, Jones said, "Everyone in the country." Enough said.

http://www.slamonline.com/online/other-ballers/junior-college/2012/04/juco-spotlight-chris-jones/

"Whoever ends up signing Chris will get the best point guard in the country, there's no doubt in my mind," said Forbes. "And I'm talking about the whole country. I know there's no junior college guards that are as good as he is, and I doubt any high school kids can offer what he can offer."

Another glowing article:  http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/raiders-51307-steve-commodity.html

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

18 points with just over 4 assists and 4 rebounds for what was the #1 JUCO team in the country before losing in the championship.  His coach calls him "the straw that stirs the drink,"  but he is no Cadougan. He routinely put up 40 in HS.  And 42% from 3 on the JUCO level.  To me he sounds like a Aaron Hutchins 2.0........a scorer and outside threat at the PG position in 2013.  MU is already loaded. Jones would  be an embarrassment of riches.  I think MU would be the odds on favorite for the championship.  Where is there weakness???  And yes,  I realize the crazy talk.  But the level of talent Buzz is building is equally crazy.

[4everwarriors]

TheBuzzsaw=Chris Jones' father?

[MU82]

18 points with just over 4 assists and 4 rebounds for what was the #1 JUCO team in the country before losing in the championship.  His coach calls him "the straw that stirs the drink,"  but he is no Cadougan. He routinely put up 40 in HS.  And 42% from 3 on the JUCO level.  To me he sounds like a Aaron Hutchins 2.0........a scorer and outside threat at the PG position in 2013.  MU is already loaded. Jones would  be an embarrassment of riches. I think MU would be the odds on favorite for the championship. Where is there weakness???  And yes,  I realize the crazy talk.  But the level of talent Buzz is building is equally crazy.

I'm sure the NCAA would cancel the tournament and just televise our ring ceremony instead.

[GGGG]

Steve Forbes and Buzz Williams were on staff together for two seasons at A&M.

[Knight Commission]

Steve Forbes and Buzz Williams were on staff together for two seasons at A&M.

Im surprised Steve Forbes hasnt been offered a job at MU yet.

[GGGG]

He can't.  He has a "show cause" penalty because he lied to the NCAA when he was on Pearl's staff.

Not sure when that ends though.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Don't really know anything about this kid. Why didn't he end up at UT? Something with the Pearl issues?

[GGGG]

No he didn't qualify academically.  He went JUCO last year, and has to finish up this year and earn his associates degree to get two years of eligibility. 

[bilsu]

Don't really know anything about this kid. Why didn't he end up at UT? Something with the Pearl issues?

He did not qualify.

[Dawson Rental]

I really like Chris Jones as a player, too.  But, I have to strongly advise The Buzzsaw to cut off all coffee consumption after noon for the time being.  When you make so much noise that you wake up 4ever at 4:30 in the morning that's saying something.

[4everwarriors]

Was just hittin' the crib, Murray.

[🏀]

I really like Chris Jones as a player, too.  But, I have to strongly advise The Buzzsaw to cut off all coffee consumption after noon for the time being.  When you make so much noise that you wake up 4ever at 4:30 in the morning that's saying something.

4ever was just returning from the bathroom after this 3rd trip that night.

[bamamarquettefan]

Excessive though it may have been - really enjoyed every bit of buzzsaw laying it out with enthusiasm. Hard to argue with his conclusion.

[GGGG]

Not in his final five... Baylor, Okla. St, Louisville, FLA St, & Kansas.

[Knight Commission]

Not in his final five... Baylor, Okla. St, Louisville, FLA St, & Kansas.

Why were even in with this kid when those programs were in his Final 5?  Get the blinders off fellas.

[brewcity77]

Why were even in with this kid when those programs were in his Final 5?  Get the blinders off fellas.

That makes no sense whatsoever. Why, because some of those schools might pay for players (cough, Baylor, cough)? Well, before payments come, you begin with a standard recruiting process. So no reason we wouldn't be in. Because some of them are fairly elite (Louisville and Kansas) and we can't compete at that level? Well, Buzz has been in on a lot of guys early that ended up "elite" like McGary, so why wouldn't you recruit them?

Buzz is always recruiting. He is always looking for top-level talent and trying to uncover guys that might be missed elsewhere. Some of them are discovered by others fairly early on and shoot up the rankings, some see their price tag go up, and some make it through the cracks and end up here anyway. But in none of those cases would you not go after the best players you can from the start.

Again, no sense whatsoever.

[TedBaxter]

Not in his final five... Baylor, Okla. St, Louisville, FLA St, & Kansas.

Do you have a link?

[GGGG]

Do you have a link?

Evan Daniels twitter...

https://twitter.com/EvanDanielsFOX

[Dawson Rental]

Why were even in with this kid when those programs were in his Final 5?  Get the blinders off fellas.

I'm sure that Buzz's relationship with his JUCO coach, Steve Forbes, (they were assistants together at Texas A&M) and Buzz's success with JUCO's were both factors that got MU involved in his recruitment.

[strotty]

RT @ebosshoops: @PaintTouches Don't think Marquette ever got that serious with him. I know they liked him a lot, but are looking for more of a two w/size

on Chris Jones....makes sense.

[Otule's Glass Eye]

Damontrae "Tre" Jefferson is Looney's teammate at Hamilton and is ranked the 76th best player on rivals for 2014. 5'8 150 lb PG with a lot of handles. I've seen him touch the rim on the highlight videos. Nice stroke from outside. Scored more than Looney on some occasions. Missed half of the last season with bad grades however. Should Buzz consider him? Maybe he'd have to go JUCO with his grades though.