Terrence Jones picks UW, but Kentucky still a factor
Words. Austin Burton
Terrence Jones
In a press conference held Friday at Jefferson H.S. (Portland, Ore.), All-American guard/forward Terrence Jones and fellow senior wing Terrence Ross both committed to Washington.
Only it wasn’t that simple. While Ross, decked out in a UW sweatshirt and hat, signed his letter of intent right at the table, Jones only verbally committed, and later appeared unsure about his decision following a phone call from Kentucky coach John Calipari. Jones was deciding between UW, Kentucky, Kansas, Oregon and UCLA. This is from Seattle Times UW reporter Percy Allen’s blog:
Almost everyone has left the Jefferson High gymnasium, however, Terrence Jones is huddled with his parents in the corner of the gymnasium and folks are keeping their distance. Seems like a major pow-wow.
I spoke to Jones and I can tell this recruiting stuff hasn’t been fun for him. On what is supposed to be a joyous occasion, he sighed heavily and said he was happy that it was over.
Unlike Terrence Ross, who was decked out in Husky purple and said he made his choice a month ago, Jones didn’t know where he was going until the moment he picked the UW hat.
I believe that.
It also looks as if he needs a little more time to make sure he made the right decision.
Nearly an hour after making his choice, Jones still hasn’t signed his letter of intent to Washington. I posted on the Live Chat he didn’t have a LOI to UW, but that information came from his aunt and it was incorrect.
There is a UW letter of intent here and it’s unsigned at the moment.
And there’s more.
Kentucky coach John Calipari called Jones after his announcement and Jones was on the phone for a very long time. About 15 minutes. Reading body language, Jones seemed pained.
(Jones) told me, “You hurt thousands of people just as much as you make people happy.”
Jones’ mother said if he hadn’t chosen Washington, he was going to pick Kentucky.
UPDATE: In a follow-up blog posting earlier today, Allen wrote: “I erred in the previous post when I wrote Calipari called Jones. I don’t know who called whom. I know Jones was on the cellphone for a long time and a Jones family member told me he was talking to Calipari.”
Calipari did not call Jones. Most recent reports indicate Jones called Calipari to talk after the press conference.
The Seattle Times write clarified that he did not know who called whom in a later article. If the facts are not known, don’t create a whole story fabricating the situation.
Hopefully Terrence will be happy with his final choice when he signs a Letter of Intent.
It’s not important who called whom. What IS important is the contact was made between Jones and Calipari.
What it measn to me is that after all this heartache and trevail over his decision, Jones is still unsure where he wants to go.
This indecision is good for Kentucky, they’re still in the hunt for a premier PF to replace Patrick Patterson.
If Jones decides to change his verbal committment and go to Kentucky, not only does the SEC have to start shakin’ in its boots, the nation will have to start doin’ it as well.
Nobody knew which college Terrence Jones would attend? How could his mother know that he would have gone to Kentucky? is it’s true why did he almost picked the Kansas hat? Is it’s still possible that he goes to oregon or Kansas ?
If this kid has a “change of heart” and ultimately attends Kentucky, can you imagine all the talk, blame, bad press, etc that Calipari will receive. It doesn’t matter to me where he goes, just make a decision and stick to it!
jones go to the uw u will be a starter and the huskies will be picked to be in the final four and mabye win a title but with kentucky they will do wat they did last year