I don't think Rico Gathers has all that much muscle on our guy Christian Jones. Kid is a bull...
http://twitter.com/STJ_Basketball/status/251313636872687616/photo/1
He doesn't have the same skill set, though, so we can use him as our hockey goon when we play Baylor. We can send him in to take cheapshots at Gathers.
I think his skill set is similar to Gathers. Bully on the glass and get dunks. Not saying he's as good as Gathers. Maybe we have a "poor man's" version, but both guys seem to bring the same type of game to the table.
Has anybody actually seen Jones game or skillset, other than that year and a half old highlight vid from his junior season (and in that, I don't see THAT much similarity to Gathers, other than both are playing as a PF). Can't remember any recruit with as much mystery surrounding his game since the pre-internet days...
Christian Jones 2k10 - 2k11 college recruitment reel
I'm in MCN's side of the argument. Both are bruising undersized power forwards who will do a lot of their damage close to the rim.
BTW Is anyone else really impressed from this video? Take away the competition and just look at his footwork, touch, and athletic ability. I think he'll have to be givin some time this year due to his strength alone.
The vid is why it's so insane there was ZERO info available about him his senior year. He was at a name school, known for big-time recruits. The vid seems to show decent quickness and speed (there's the one steal where he move out of camera range for a breakaway dunk). Seems to be able to hold his dribble thru traffic to the hoop. Again, just highlight reel, so of course he makes the shots, but I like that there's no hesitance in taking the midrange - seems to shoot it with great confidence (would REALLY like to know what his FT% is). Appears to make smart decisions with the ball - looks like a fairly high BB IQ. Obviously can jump, but REALLY like how quick his SECOND jump is going after misses. Seems to have good hands.
Again, real mystery how this kid fell under the radar.
Also, while a bit short, he's not really undersized for a COLLEGE 4. With shoes, calling him 6'7 230 seems about right. My Bruins got to 3 final fours with 6'7 225 Luc Mbah a Moute at the 4. Corliss Williamson won a title at Arkansas as THE power guy (Big Nasty) at 6'7 230. Kentucky won the title last year - At forward, MKG played 31 mpg, Darius Miller played 27 - both are 6'7 230ish... UConn won the year before with Roscoe Smith at the 4. That's Keith Faried, Kawhi Leonard size. (hey - not saying he can be that kind of player, only that he's got that kind of size)...