Bobby Jones

POSSIBLE VISIT IN MID OCT ?

10/8: "The last article written on him said that there’s a chance he waits until the spring to make his decision. Jones left Compton Dominguez this year and will spend his final high school season at Long Beach Poly." - Blue Chip Hoops

9/25: well, that one never panned out . . . - Mike Ryan (5 to 1, inactive)

9/10: There is a rumor from a good source about a possible visit from Jones. This will be confirmed in the next day or two. - Mike Ryan (2 to 5)

9/6: "A third recruit with a scheduled official on-campus visit -- 6-6 forward Bobby Jones -- has already achieved the requisite test scores. The Los Angeles native, described as one of the best "athletes" on the west coast, is due to pay a visit Sept 19. As for moving 3,000 miles from home, he seemed tepid, telling one outlet over the summer that, "I wouldn't mind going away. Not too far away, but far enough." He already has terrific defensive skills and he averaged 15 points a game his junior year at Compton-Dominguez H.S. where he played alongside 2001 NBA draft pick Tyson Chandler." - Norwich Bulletin

9/4: "All Bobby Jones can do is wait. The former Dominguez High (Calif.) small forward, who appeared primed to attend Lynwood High (Calif.) until his former coach, Russell Otis, withdrew his name from consideration for the coaching job at Lynwood, will likely know where he will attend his final year of high school later tonight. Jones, who averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and four steals per game last season while playing in the shadow of Tyson Chandler at Dominguez, will base his decision on who is hired as the Lynwood coach. “Tonight I’ll find out if Coach Otis gets the job (at Lynwood),” says Jones, who is currently registered at Long Beach Poly High (Calif.). “They’re having an emergency meeting and will vote. I think he’s going to put his name back in because I know they wouldn’t have an emergency meeting for nothing.” Otis was let go by Dominguez last season because he lacked the proper teaching credential. The decision came shortly after he was acquitted of sexually molesting one of his players. Otis, who led the Dons to five state titles in the last 13 seasons, was one of five candidates for the job at Lynwood before he withdrew his name last week. Other candidates include last year’s co-coaches at the school, Les Mobley and Willie Pittman. Jones and teammates Keion Kindred and Darius Sanders have said they will play wherever Otis lands. Sanders is already playing football at Lynwood, according to Jones, while Kindred and Jones are waiting to see the outcome of tonight’s meeting. “As of right now, I’m registered at Long Beach Poly,” says Jones. “But if (Otis) gets the job, I’m probably going to check out and check into Lynwood.” Lynwood began classes today, while Poly is scheduled to start on Wednesday. - SchoolSports.com

8/24: "Bobby Jones will attend his first day at Lynwood High (Calif.) next week, and the former Dominguez High (Calif.) senior will be bringing along a couple of high-profile teammates with him. Jones, a 6-foot-7, 187-pound small forward who played in the shadows of 7-footer Tyson Chandler last season, will follow his former coach, Russell Otis, to Lynwood. Otis is the new basketball coach at the school, which is located about 10 miles from Dominguez, where he was fired from last season. In April, Otis was acquitted of sexually molesting one of his players. According to Jones, fellow seniors Keion Kindred and Darius Sanders will also make the switch, as will a couple sophomores who received limited playing time at Dominguez last season. Former USC standout Mack Calvin will take over head coaching duties at Dominguez. "It's nothing against him," says Jones, who averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and four steals per game last season. "He's got a lot of background info, but I am just being loyal to my coach. It all comes down to loyalty." Jones was also considering transferring to Long Beach Poly High (Calif.) until it became official earlier in the week that Otis was hired at Lynwood. Jones will have a chance to shine this season. His strength is penetrating and slashing to the basket and also playing tough defense. He has already qualified to play as a freshman in college with a 3.7 GPA and an 870 on the SAT. He is still somewhat open, but has a list that is headed by UConn and also includes New Mexico, CINCINNATI, Stanford, Oregon, Wyoming and Pepperdine. Jones will visit Wyoming on Sept. 16 and UConn on Sept 19. Jones also says the perception that all of Compton is infested with crime and gangs is inaccurate. "Compton isn't as bad as many seem to think," he says. "My neighborhood is just as nice as most. It's just a stereotype." - School Sports

8/23: "Bobby Jones, 6-6 SR SF, Compton (Calif.) Dominguez, had a good July, and has college coaches from across the country recruiting him as a result. According to Jones, New Mexico, Pepperdine, Oregon, Connecticut, CINCINNATI, and Wyoming are the schools recruiting him that he’s most interested in. "I don’t have a favorite right now," Jones said. "But New Mexico, Pepperdine and Oregon have offered." - Pac West Hoops

8/21: "In terms of sheer athleticism, they don't come much better than Bobby Jones. The 6-6 WF, who is transferring – along with teammates Darius Sanders and Keion Kindred – from Compton (CA) Dominguez to Lynwood (CA) High, has earned a spot among the nation's top 60 seniors based primarily on excellent quickness and leaping ability. And that's what makes him so intriguing; if he should make big strides in his perimeter shooting and ball handling skills, then he could emerge as a truly elite player from the senior class. He outruns and outjumps nearly everybody in transition, and his quick defense on the wing may be the best in the nation. Bobby has been a high-major target for a long time, and now he's ready to host some of his favorites for in-home visits. "I have an in-home with Wyoming on September 16, and UConn on September 19," Jones told PrepStars.com. "I'm also thinking about CINCINNATI, USC, New Mexico, Oregon, Pepperdine and Stanford, but I'm still open." Visits aside, Jones doesn't expect to make a decision anytime soon. "I'm probably going to wait until the spring to decide," he said. "I want to see who jumps in after I have a good season. If a school wants me now, then they'll probably still want me after the season is over." - PrepStars

8/16: "Jones said that he has scholarship offers from USC (where his father Bobby, Sr. played), Pepperdine, Texas, New Mexico and Loyola Marymount. He said that Connecticut and Cincinnati are also showing serious interest." - PT Connect
http://www.ptconnect.com/archive/sports/0801/16/spo01a.asp#jones

7/30: Jones again mentions Cincinnati as a school he is interested in. They have not offered yet tho." - RivalsHoops

7/28: "Without a doubt, one of the most explosive wing athletes in Vegas is Bobby Jones. Jones, a 6-6 WF from Compton (CA) Dominguez, is a first-rate leaper who loves to dunk on bigger guys underneath the basket. His jumpshot hasn't been as effective here as it was at the Peach Jam, but his form and touch have improved over the past year. With a better shot and more refined ball handling skills, look out.
At this point, it's hard to say where he'll showcase his athleticism in college. "My top schools are New Mexico, UConn, CINCINNATI, USC, Pepperdine, UMass and Kansas," Jones told PrepStars.com. "I'm looking for a program with a lot of tradition. I used to think that I wanted go somewhere that plays up-tempo, but maybe that wouldn't develop my overall game as well, so now I'm kind of looking for a mixture of styles. Jones added that coaching stability will be critically important in his decision. When asked, he said that he grew up a big fan of Temple and Florida, but he made clear that he's also very flattered by those who have shown interest. PrepStars.com ranks him the nation's No. 61 rising senior." - PrepStars

7/27: "UTEP head coach Jason Rabedeaux was watching CA SF Bobby Jones. Steve McClain was also on hand watching him as well." - Blue Chip Hoops

7/14: "Schools are beginning to accept him for what he is and fall in love with him. Jones has now proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can 1) get to the rim; 2) finish with athleticism and 3) defend. He shot 58 free throws in five games. Now, on the flipside, he does have problems shooting from the perimeter. However, as a prospect he’s heating up." - Blue ChipHoops

7/14: Listed as the 66th best player in his class - RSCI Consensus

7/14: "If there's a better wing defender in the Class of 2002 than Bobby Jones, then we haven't seen him. The 6-6 WF from Compton (CA) Dominguez did what no one has been able to do in North Augusta – shut down Rashad McCants. McCants, who had blistered several opponents for the Charlotte Royals, ran into a defensive buzzsaw in Jones, who used his height advantage and quick feet to take the life out of Rashad's offense. For the night, McCants finished with only five points and managed very few attempts against Team Select California's ace. The result was a critical win for Select as they aim to advance into the tournament rounds.

Defense and athleticism being the givens, offense is what Bobby must improve to make the jump into the ranks of the elite. His jumpshot isn't awful (he did hit one three against the Royals), but it doesn't bother most opponents for him to have an open look from the perimeter. Jones' decision-making and ballhandling also need refinement; he sometimes over-penetrates into turnovers and must get rid of the ball when heavily pressured. But those are things that he should be able to improve over the next couple of years. His natural quickness and leaping ability, which is outstanding, are the physical tools that have attracted a bevy of West Coast schools and select programs from the East." - PrepStars

7/11: "I saw Jones a few times while his high school team went through the playoffs on the way to the State title. Jones is very athletic and plays above the rim. He was much more interested in slashing to the hoop than popping jumpers. He's an elite player, not quite as good as say an Evan Burns, but he needs to work on his outside shot. He has a big upside and I think he'll have no trouble developing an outside game." - unknown post-er on EliteHoops mssg board

7/10: "There are those who would say that 6-6 Compton (CA) Dominguez WF Bobby Jones is nothing more than a ferocious dunker and defensive specialist. Don't think for a second that he isn't aware of it and that he doesn't carry a bit of a chip on his shoulder. "People just call me a dunker. So I am really working on my mid range game to show there's more," Jones told PrepStars.com. "When people talk about my defense, I take it as a compliment. I mean, college coaches probably want you to play harder on defense than offense. Also, if people keep disrespecting my offensive game they will back off of me and make it even easier to score." In Indianapolis, Jones is just starting to see the results of his hard work. Not only has he demonstrated reliable finishing capabilities on the break, Jones also has shown off some of that mid-range game that he's been working on. In fact, he has even stroked a few three-balls and he is beginning to look more comfortable on the wing. In addition, he has also been all over the court and a terror on defense. Jones says that he is still wide open and he gave us a list of CINCINNATI, Kansas, UConn, USC and Texas. When asked for a timeframe on his commitment, Jones said that he was willing to take his time and that " I don't think I'm going to commit early, unless someone does something to catch my eye." - PrepStars

7/10: "Bobby Jones grew up around the corner from University of Kentucky senior forward Tayshaun Prince in Compton, Calif. He attended the same Emerson Elementary School, though "Tayshaun was three or four years older, of course," said Jones. Also like Prince, Jones has grown into a pretty good player at Tayshaun’s alma mater, prep super power Dominguez High. Yet as the 6-6, 186-pound Jones begins his senior year there, he has been actively recruited by almost everyone but Kentucky. "Right now, it’s CINCINNATI, Kansas, Southern Cal, Texas and UConn," said Jones during a break in play at the Nike camp. But I don’t have any favorites. I’d love to hear from Kentucky. I’ve gotten a couple of letters and Tayshaun’s called a few times since he’s been there. But that’s about it." Playing much of his career in the shadow of Tyson Chandler, the No. 2 overall pick in last month’s NBA draft, Jones’ numbers haven’t been overly impressive. But his athletic ability has at times been amazing at the Nike camp, everything from deep 3-pointers, to rim-rattling dunks. "I’ve still got lots of weaknesses," said Jones. "My halfcourt game, squeezing off the jumper, overall defense. Right now, I’m a slasher. Pretty much just up-tempo play." And if the opportunity presented itself, he would seriously consider the Cats. "The way I see it," said Jones, "if it worked for Tayshaun, it could work for me." - Cats Pause

7/9: Listed as the 61st best player in his class. - PrepStars

7/4: "Sky is the limit. He has attended a USC football game this fall and was at several basketball games during the season. Big-time defender and finisher, still needs to keep developing his jump shot. How he plays in July will determine what kind of interest schools have. He said he has an offer on the table from USC and Wyoming." USCHoops.com

6/26: "is one of the best athletes on the west coast and probably the best defender, regardless of position. Oozing potential, Jones is getting some good recruiting attention, and will probably get more as a result of the summer evaluation period. "Right now, USC and Wyoming have offered," said Jones, who averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds a game for Dominguez last year. "I'm also hearing a lot from Portland, UNLV, Texas, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymound and Minnesota. Those are the schools that called me on the first day you could call." When asked if he had any favorites, he said, "I don't even have a top ten yet. It's too early. I'm still trying to find out about the schools and don't even know who is really going to be recruiting me yet." Are there any schools he'd particularly like to hear from? "Florida or Kansas." Looking at his list, it didn't seem like staying close to home was a big priority. "My parents want me to stay, but I don't care. It really won't have a big impact on my decision. I wouldn't mind staying, but wouldn't mind going away either. Not too far away, but far enough." Jones, who will attend the NIKE camp at the beginning of July, also said he doesn't expect that he'll commit early. "I'll probably wait and weigh all my options. I'll take at least a couple of trips. I don't even have a list of schools yet. I'll probably make up a list in the middle of the summer." A good student, Jones said he's carrying a 3.5 GPA. He just took the SAT in June and hasn't received his score." - PacWest Hoops

6/15/01: Dominguez finished their season as the #8 team in the country. They won their third consecutive CIF Division II championship. They finished 31-4. Jones' teammate was the NBA's Tyson Chandler - USA Today

6/2/01: "Anyone who’s seen Dominguez small forward Bobby Jones play understands this basic concept: the kid can flat out leap. He’s one of those guys who explodes to the hoop and can seemingly take a quarter off the top of the backboard. He’s helped Dominguez achieve tremendous success nationally but he’ll be ready to standout as an individual at the Nike camp in July. Jones is anxious to see his recruitment pickup. “Right now, besides regular junk mail, nothing big has picked up,” Jones said. Hopefully, it’ll pickup after Nike.” On June 2, Jones will take the SAT for the first time since he took it as a sophomore. He’s an honor roll student at Dominguez. He missed the Memorial Day tournament in Bloomington, Ind., because he was sick. Normally, he plays with California Team Select and was a standout at the April Boo Williams Invitational. So far, he’s received preliminary interest from UCLA, Southern Cal, Temple, Georgetown and Connecticut. He says that Kansas is starting to recruit him a little but so far Southern Cal is his lone offer. Once July comes, things will certainly change, as athletes of Jones’ stature are fairly uncommon. Jones has a good idea what he’s looking for in a school. “Of course basketball history is important and it has to be a good program. They’ve got to have good academics and pay attention to players to make sure they are taking care of business in school. Location doesn’t matter and I wouldn’t mind staying home but I would prefer going east.” Jones said he’s added an inch to his frame and is now 6-7." - Blue Chip Hoops

1/2/01: "The Dominguez highlight came when forward Bobby Jones and (Tyson) Chandler had a 2-on-1 break opportunity against (Ousmane) Cisse late in the quarter. After shading towards Chandler on the fast break, Cisse found himself the victim of a nasty dunk -- a face job, by the talented Jones." - Sporting News