ISU adds a 6'8" PF

[lightsout]

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/colleges/post/_/id/3194/illinois-state-lands-barbados-jones

[Braves4Life]

This sounds like a tremendous pick up for ISU. I know we'd be turning cartwheels at BU if we landed someone like this. Let's see if he honors this commitment if he "blows up" and has the big boys start calling.

[cpacmel]

Let's see if he honors this commitment if he "blows up" and has the big boys start calling.

He starts summer school at ISU tomorrow.

[Da Coach]

Here is a brief YouTube video of John Jones-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmq4k4RYimo

And an article from the Bloomington Pantagraph-

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/article_10796b04-ab33-11e0-b477-001cc4c03286.html

I know we'd be turning cartwheels at BU if we landed someone like this.

Actually, Bradley has landed late recruits like this, and they have not always turned out so well.

Someone who has seen Jones play says he is very "raw". He could maybe develop into a player like Dinma Odiakosa, but then he could develop into another Saihou Jassey or Andrew Davis.

[tornado]

"Jones also plans to compete for ISU’s track and field team in the spring, throwing the shot put, discus and javelin."

wow -- very interesting as the training and exercises needed to compete in those sports are quite different from basketball...it'll be interesting...

better than 50-50 he redshirts as ISU already has a big post guy coming off redshirt and 7 new players for 2011

[PTownHawkeye]

Sounds like a great pickup. I have been very critical of ISU's recruiting over the past few years...and have been right on most accounts...but this class looks like it has 3-4 really good players in it.

I agree that we would be turning cartwheels if we had landed this kid.

[Beninator]

He starts summer school at ISU tomorrow.

I hope that he remembered to bring his frisbee.

[SFP]

"Jones also plans to compete for ISU??™s track and field team in the spring, throwing the shot put, discus and javelin."

wow -- very interesting as the training and exercises needed to compete in those sports are quite different from basketball...it'll be interesting...

better than 50-50 he redshirts as ISU already has a big post guy coming off redshirt and 7 new players for 2011

T - how is training for the shot put, discus and javelin going to impact his overall basketball training? I'd have to believe the kid is very explosive and I wish we had someone on our team that would just step under the basket and dunk the ball. I would have to believe an all around training regiment will be a benefit for him in both sports.

[Da Coach]

An athletic trainer could better answer this question, but training for track and field, especially strength events like shot put, discus, and javelin, is much different than it is for a basketball player.
Maybe that is why it is extremely rare to see a D1 basketball player who also competes in track. Many years ago it was quite common for basketball players to participate in track and field in the offseason. Now, many basketball coaches at all levels refuse to allow their basketball players to participate in other sports.

[tornado]

FWIW -- everyone is different but training for shot put and discus is more like training for football -- and there are a lot of examples where good, talented basketball players became less effective in basketball once they played a season of football in college and their completely different training to build raw strength and bulk was the reason --
One perfect example was Everette Pedescleaux who was more highly rated coming out of Minnesota than Eric Coleman who were both big PF's...
Coleman went on to a fine career in basketball at UNI while Pedescleaux went to Minnesota to play football, then tried to transfer back to UNI and play basketball afterwards and was unable to even get any significant playing time.

Even high schoolers often talk of having to work to get rid of their "football legs" and try to get their "basketball legs" back...

[TheGuy]

Donovan McNabb played better in his second year of basketball at Auburn even though football was obviously his main sport. There are a lot of people out there who think Lebron James could be an excellent wide reciever if given enough time to train. Antonio Gates had a great basketball career at Kent State before becoming a San Diego Charger.

It all depends on the person for both ways.

[tornado]

Donovan McNabb played better in his second year of basketball at Auburn even though football was obviously his main sport.

First, Donovan McNabb went to Syracuse, and played two seaosns as a very deep backup guard...
He had a total of 2 baskets his freshman year, 3 rebounds and one assist.
He played slightly more his sophomore season but still averaged a miniscule 2 ppg, and 0.5 assists.

http://www.orangehoops.org/dmcnabb.htm

if you choose to use McNabb to make an argument then I think I have won this one -- as McNabb was nowhere close to being effective in any aspect of basketball.
If ISU's new recruit finishes his career at ISU with 41 total points and 20 rebs in 18 games, then I think his time there will be deemed a failure...

all the words being used here for Jones - raw, athletic, talented, dunker, etc...were also used for Ty Modupe

[CubbieBear]

This sounds like a tremendous pick up for ISU. I know we'd be turning cartwheels at BU if we landed someone like this. Let's see if he honors this commitment if he "blows up" and has the big boys start calling.

Although I really like Geno and our returning team & newcomers...I have to (and hate to) admit that it appears that our rivals over east of here are bringing in some **** good talent too And while I doubt either of us will realistically be able to go from worst to first or even compete for a top 3 spot in the Valley this season, I just pray we can snap our 5 game losing streak to those ISU son's a bitches

[TheGuy]

OMG -- seriously??
First, Donovan McNabb went to Syracuse, and played two seaosns as a very deep backup guard...
He had a total of 2 baskets his freshman year, 3 rebounds and one assist.
He played slightly more his sophomore season but still averaged a miniscule 2 ppg, and 0.5 assists.

http://www.orangehoops.org/dmcnabb.htm

if you choose to use McNabb to make an argument then I think I have won this one -- as McNabb was nowhere close to being effective in any aspect of basketball.
If ISU's new recruit finishes his career at ISU with 41 total points and 20 rebs in 18 games, then I think his time there will be deemed a failure...

He was a reserve on a team that went runner up for the national championship. He improved his second year. I am sure that if he decided to take his football career to a different college that didn't have as an effective basketball team, he would be a starter.

I didn't know this was an argument. Just saying that it is not the same for everyone. All depends on the individual. After all, training for things like Javelin, shotput and discuss could strengthen his passing ability as well as his ability to throw down some jams.

[LittleBrave]

Although I really like Geno and our returning team & newcomers...I have to (and hate to) admit that it appears that our rivals over east of here are bringing in some **** good talent too And while I doubt either of us will realistically be able to go from worst to first or even compete for a top 3 spot in the Valley this season, I just pray we can snap our 5 game losing streak to those ISU son's a bitches

Amen to THAT!

b.t.w. - interesting to see which word you decided to bleep out in your comment. Kind of funny actually.