Hometown: Portland, OR
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 252
Position: Small Forward/Power Forward
Team: Kentucky
Class: Sophomore
Strengths
Left-handed… Jones was the top left-handed prospect in the class of 2010. Jones has a unique game. At 6'9", 230 pounds, he has solid body for a 4-man, but he possesses perimeter skills with some advanced ball moves and is a terrific passing big man. He has been measured in with a 7'3" wingspan… He is so dangerous on the offensive end because he can abuse low-post defenders on the perimeter with his dribble penetration, taking the ball to the rim or dumping down to an open teammate. In addition to his slashing, Jones has shown the ability to knock down mid-range jumpers with a high level of consistency, as well as shot-fake to get the defender off balance and lean into him to get to the foul line, or drive into the paint for a bucket. He always seems to have the ball in the paint with a scoring opportunity for his team. He uses his perimeter skills, slashing abilities and shot-fake to keep defenders off balance… Jones handles the ball very well in the open court, often times snagging a rebound on the defensive end and taking it the length of the court… With his size and athleticism, he can be a dominant rebounder when he wants. He has the body, skills and instincts to clear out space in the paint to grab an offensive rebound and go straight up, finishing strongly with a two-handed dunk. He is just as strong on the defensive end of the court, playing with a high-motor, chasing down lose balls or attacking the glass. He has all of the tools and mentality to be a shutdown defender… He can thrive playing in any type of offensive situation- running the transition or streaking down the sideline to finish the break or in the half-court setting as a pick-and-pop threat or as an inside-out weapon. His passing and ball-handling abilities make him even more dangerous to opposing defensive schemes…
Weaknesses
Jones is a bit of a hybrid 4, displaying nice abilities to score from both inside and out, but he seems to spend too much time on the 3-point arc. He settles too much for the long distance shot, and not enough in the post… His shooting mechanics may need a tinkering; while he has been successful from the perimeter knocking down shots, his release for the most part is inconsistent- he winds up with a slow release… He needs to spend more time in the low post, developing a go-to jump hook or baseline drop step….
