Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Nearly a week after he verbally committed to the University of Washington and put on a Huskies cap at a press conference, Terrence Jones‘ has still not signed his Letter of Intent and his future is still in flux.
“I think when he walked into the gym, he still didn’t know [where he would go to college],” Portland (Ore.) Jefferson coach Pat Stricklandtold Nick Dashel of The Oregonian. “He told me [Saturday] he wasn’t ready to make his decision, but I still think Washington is the front-runner.”
The 6-foot-8 Jones watched as teammate Terrence Ross, a 6-5 small forward, made his announcement for Washington after quietly signing a Letter of Intent days before. Alex Kline reported the Ross commitment April 26 on ZAGSBLOG.
Strickland said Jones may have just been caught up in the moment when he made his announcement at the high school.
“I know a lot of people in the [Jefferson] gym wanted Terrence to go to Washington, and he felt a lot of pressure,” Strickland told The Oregonian.
Linda Mashia-Jones, Terrence’s mother, has not returned phone calls or text messages seeking comment.
Jones reportedly spoke with Kentucky coach John Calipari after the announcement. The Oregonian reported that a Jones family member said Jones called the coach, not the other way around.
During a press conference Monday, Calipari indicated he wouldn’t try to sway a player who has already verbally committed.
“If [a player] made a verbal commitment … we just lay off until … the kid publicly says now I’ve decommitted,” Calipari said. “That’s just how I am. I don’t think it’s what you should do. There’s no rule against it. There’s no law against it if someone did do it. I just don’t do it.”
A year ago, big man DeMarcus Cousins initially committed to UAB and then Memphis before ultimately following Calipari to Kentucky.
The signing period ends May 19 and Jones has made his only public comment to Jerry Meyer of Rivals.
“I’m still not sure yet who I’m going to sign with,” he said.
(Photo courtesy The Oregonian)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Nearly a week after he verbally committed to the University of Washington and put on a Huskies cap at a press conference, Terrence Jones‘ has still not signed his Letter of Intent and his future is still in flux.
“I think when he walked into the gym, he still didn’t know [where he would go to college],” Portland (Ore.) Jefferson coach Pat Strickland told Nick Dashel of The Oregonian. “He told me [Saturday] he wasn’t ready to make his decision, but I still think Washington is the front-runner.”
The 6-foot-8 Jones watched as teammate Terrence Ross, a 6-5 small forward, made his announcement for Washington after quietly signing a Letter of Intent days before. Alex Kline reported the Ross commitment April 26 on ZAGSBLOG.
Strickland said Jones may have just been caught up in the moment when he made his announcement at the high school.
“I know a lot of people in the [Jefferson] gym wanted Terrence to go to Washington, and he felt a lot of pressure,” Strickland told The Oregonian.
Linda Mashia-Jones, Terrence’s mother, has not returned phone calls or text messages seeking comment.
Jones reportedly spoke with Kentucky coach John Calipari after the announcement. The Oregonian reported that a Jones family member said Jones called the coach, not the other way around.
During a press conference Monday, Calipari indicated he wouldn’t try to sway a player who has already verbally committed.
“If [a player] made a verbal commitment … we just lay off until … the kid publicly says now I’ve decommitted,” Calipari said. “That’s just how I am. I don’t think it’s what you should do. There’s no rule against it. There’s no law against it if someone did do it. I just don’t do it.”
A year ago, big man DeMarcus Cousins initially committed to UAB and then Memphis before ultimately following Calipari to Kentucky.
The signing period ends May 19 and Jones has made his only public comment to Jerry Meyer of Rivals.
“I’m still not sure yet who I’m going to sign with,” he said.
(Photo courtesy The Oregonian)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter.
