I have never seen this kid, but feel fine about him joining us. IMO, he appears to have the athleticism and size to compete down the road in the BE. The recruitment of Max Hooper, on the other hand, had more to do with making JaKarr happy than potential. I know Max can shoot, but I just don't see him succeeding in an up temp style in a rugged league. Hope I am wrong on this. My gut tells me Jones will get the job done, if he is willing to wait his turn.
I REALLY have no problem with this type of kid as the 11th-12th-13th guy on the bench. His size and atheleticism helps the team, even if he never sees more than garbage minutes. How much faster would Mo and Gift and Amir have progressed last year if they'd had THIS kid with his size and bulk to bang against in practice all year, instead of Sam Sealy?
And I think folks are getting cofused with the "only had offers from Auburn and Ok State". There's no doubt in my mind those were his only major conference offers, not his only offers. There are over 350 Division 1 schools. I think, JUST based on the highlight clips, there are 175 of those that would be THRILLED to have landed this kid as their PRIMARY recruit.
Every year in the dance there's a low D-1 team that thows a scare into a top team, maybe even knocks one off. They do it with kids like this - under the radar kids, late developing kids. I remember Hampton making waves a few years ago with a three kids who'd gone under the radar. A big kid named Tarvis Williams led D-1 in shot blocking that year, PG Marsellius Brown, and SG Tommy Adams gave them an OUTSTANDING backcourt. A 15 seed knocked off 2-seed Iowa State. Those kids could have played for any D-1 team. Maybe not at 3 and 4 year starters, but as contributors.
There are TONS of GOOD ballplayers outside the "top 150" rankings. Just think about it. 350+ D 1 teams. 13 rides per team. That means there's a turnover of 3.25 players per team per year (yes, this is simplified math - not meant to be specific, just to give a general perception). In other words, there are nearly 1,200 scholarship-level D-1 players entering college EACH YEAR. At the top 50 schools alone, there are 162. If EVERY top 150 player in the senior class went to JUST that seasons NCAA tourney teams, those 68 schools would STILL have to find SEVENTY ONE more freshman to fill up their rosters - and that would leave almost THREE HUNDRED D-1 Schools to fill their entire quota's - nearly A THOUSAND additional d-1 scholarship non-top 150 players.