Saw Jamail Jones play today.

[strobl2]

My local highschool was hosting a fundraising tournament all day today, and Jamail Jones' team, Montverde, was in it. His game was the last of the day, and it was a great game between his team and Winter Park who has Austin Rivers on the their team. Jamail had a very good game and I think he was the leading scorer for his team. All in all he probably had 20 of their 52 points. Jamail and Austin Rivers were guarding each other most of the game. I thought Jamail did a pretty nice job on defense. On one play he had a great block off the backboard when a Winter Park player was going in for an easy layup. He also has a really nice stroke and hit two threes, plus two really smooth pull up jumpers in the lane. When his team was down 5 with about 1:30 to play he got the ball on a fastbrake and threw down a tremendous dunk.

His team ended up losing 55-52 though.

I am really excited to see him playing at MU next year!

[VegasWarrior77]

Thanks for the info.  Please keep us updated!

[HoopsMalone]

I am really excited for Jones.  He sounds like he is an all around great player who can fill up a stat sheet. 

I see him playing one year behind Jimmy and then he and DJO battling it out for a starting spot during his soph year with the other being 6th man. Junior and Vander in the backcourt, DJO/Jones at the 3, Maymon at the four, and a true big man at starting center.  Ewill and Reggie Smith off the bench.  That is a squad, and Buzz can still add talent.

Jones is coming into a great situation having a player like Butler as a senior who can mentor him and really kick his butt in practice and show him the ropes of being the new Wes/Jimmy in the offense. 

[Badgerhater]

Having a freshman behind a senior is the ideal situation for a program to maintain a high level and avoid the "rebuilding" year.  We all knew this year was going to be a rebuilding year because the cupboard was bare and it had to be refilled with people would would have to contribute immediately.  There are indeed a number of frosh who can immediately contribute, but as a wholesale plan, it is not a recipe for success. 

I really like having Jones come in with Butler as a senior.  He will learn under that unquestioned leader of the team at that time.  I anticipate as Buzz brings in his classes, there will be few if any empty ones and MU can maintain and grow from year to year.

[susie90]

I know this is a little off topic, but are we recruiting any 3-5 star centers?  Wow, that could really put us over the edge for the next several years!

[g0lden3agle]

I know this is a little off topic, but are we recruiting any 3-5 star centers?  Wow, that could really put us over the edge for the next several years!

Not to be rude, but a quick search of the boards will yield many posts on the topic.  Long story short: Centers are the most sparse position in terms of actual quantity of players in the 3-5 star range. After the "top programs" in the country (Duke, UNC, UK etc etc), there simply is not that much talent to go around. Personally, I'm in the camp that says let's not count out Mbao just yet (he's only been here for half a year after all), and hopefully we will get another project either this year or next to step in after a (fingers crossed) successful run from Mbao and Otule comes to an end.

[bma725]

I know this is a little off topic, but are we recruiting any 3-5 star centers?  Wow, that could really put us over the edge for the next several years!

There aren't any left.  All of the 4 and 5 star centers on both Scout and Rivals are already committed.  Scout has 1 uncommitted 3 star center, but he's a lock for Pitt.  Rivals has a few, most of whom aren't really centers and don't really deserve that ranking.

Any help coming in the form of a post player will either be a power forward, or a guy that most haven't heard of.

[bs4173]

I know this is a little off topic, but are we recruiting any 3-5 star centers?  Wow, that could really put us over the edge for the next several years!

Wasn't Mbao a 3-star?

[bma725]

Wasn't Mbao a 3-star?

Yep.  3-Star on Scout and Rivals. 

[VegasWarrior77]

Jamail Jones' 32 points powers Montverde

ESPNU 100 forward Jamail Jones exploded for a game-high 32 points on 12-of-20 shooting as Montverde rolled over Dudley (N.C) 82-65 on Saturday at the City of Palms Classic.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/school?schoolId=269&page=briefingroom&season=2010&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncb%2frecruiting%2ftracker%2fschool%3fschoolId%3d269%26page%3dbriefingroom%26season%3d2010

[Jay Bee]

Jamail today in 23 minutes:
32 points on 12/20 shooting (5/10 3pt FG), 3/3 FT, 4 reb (2 off reb), 2 stl, 1 blk

Next highest scorer for Monteverde was Nova-bound James Bell with 13.

Up next is Westchester (LA, CAli) on Monday night around 8:15pm central. 

Poor quality live streaming available for these games at cityofpalmsclassic.com

On Wednesday at 8:30 Central the final is on ESPN U.  Monteverde needs two more wins...

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

I believe SF Jamail Jones had a part in Maymon's departure.....

[Josey Wales]

I believe SF Jamail Jones had a part in Maymon's departure.....

if its a battle for the 3-spot... Jones >>>>>> Maymon imo

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

Jones is a prototype 3.  He is going to be very good.

[chapman]

I believe SF Jamail Jones had a part in Maymon's departure.....

Nah, Maymon was going to be in the NBA before Mellow even got on campus.    

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

The thing I really find most interesting about Jamail is his transfer to Montverde Academy.  It had nothing to do with academics and everything to do with developing his skills on the court.  By all accounts,  he is a good student that moved to help develop his basketball game.  It is an interesting story and I think it will be very beneficial for him.

[77ncaachamps]

I believe SF Jamail Jones had a part in Maymon's departure.....

Who?!?

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

Who?!?

Who played more games......Maymon or Berkowitz?

[Jay Bee]

In the second round, Montverde beats Westchester 62-47.  At half, the California team was leading 23-18 after an awful first half of shooting by Florida squad (24%).   Montverde came back to handle things in the third quarter and shot 63% in the second half.

Future-Villanova baller James Bell had a good second half and dropped in 23 points for the game thanks to 5/8 3pt fg shooting.

Jamail was 4/12 (0/5 from 3pt range) and 4/5 from the line for 12 points.  He grabbed 10 boards (3 offensive) and had 2 assists and 2 blocks. 

Next up for Jamail's team is Paterson Catholic (NJ), a 61-60 come-from-behind winner last night.  That game is tonight around 8:30pm central time.  6'4" Seton-Hall bound Fuquan Edwin led Paterson with 24 in Monday night's victory.  If Montverde wins, they will be on ESPNU Wednesday night. 

[JWags85]

Who?!?

Mike Jones

[damuts222]

ESPN posted a story on him yesterday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=4761288

[Markusquette]

ESPN posted a story on him yesterday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=4761288

Look who is right underneath 

[wadesworld]

Look who is right underneath 

**Cough** That's Aaron Brown, NOT Bowen.

[Jay Bee]

Damn.  Montverde loses in overtime to Paterson Catholic, 63-51. 

JJ was 5/13 from the field (3/8 3 pfg) for 13 points, 3 boards, an assist and 4 TO's.  Myles Mack(good shooting little guard - 2011 class) had 21 and Fuqhed Edwin (6'6" wing - Seton Hall) scored 17 for Paterson. James Bell of Montverde was the only other double figure scorer in the game with 14. 

Foul troubles abound for Montverde (Bell fouled out, Big Papa, Clyburn and Palsson with 4)

Tonight around 6:30pm they'll battle St. Benedict's (and Aaron Brown, who for some reason mbao_toMU09 thinks is the same as Aaron Bowen) on ESPNU for third place. 

[damuts222]

With our roster ever changing what do people think our starting lineup will be by the end of next season?

My thoughts:

C   Otule     Mbao
PF  Butler    Fulce
G/F  DJO     EWill, Jones
SG  Blue      Buycks
PG  Junior    Smith

A young team no doubt, but we will be exciting to and hopefully Otule progresses as he did over the last year. It will probably be a 3 guard lineup again depending on the progress of EWill and Jones, either way we will have a deeper team than this year and it will be the first time in a while that has happened.