4 Star Phil Jones "orally commits" to Kentucky

[DCWildcat]

I didn't find this knowledge myself--credit AndyPopCat and Matt57 for digging this up, and golflender for providing the link. I'm merely posting it here because it's kind of stuffed away in an ill-read post in recruiting, and it seems like big news that all of us should know, esp. given the bitterness on this board right now (including me).

This isn't an "official" verbal commitment. This is what Jones said the other day on WLAP (you can listen to it herre: http://www.wlap.com/cc-common/podcast.html , go to the right where it says "Basketball Recruit"). I think you can figure out his intentions pretty easily yourself. I'll post the relevant dialogue here. If you want some background info on him, scroll to the bottom of the page:

Andy Cutler (WLAP): Where does Kentucky stand right now?
Phil Jones: Well, Kentucky's in...pretty good shape.
Andy Cutler: So obviously the million dollar question for people in Kentucky is, how do we get that to "very good" shape?
Phil Jones: I mean, nothing really...I'm going to make my decision soon...[pause] ok, what I'm about to say, is this going to get out nationally?
Andy Cutler: No, just to Kentucky
Phil Jones: Alright...when I make my decision, I think Kentucky fans will be happy with the decision I make
Andy Cutler: Ok, cool.
[some useless dialogue about how big he is, how long he's been playing ball, etc. He says Tim Duncan is his favorite pro player, which is cool. But he does admit that if he gets to be lottery pickable early in his college career, he'd strongly think about jumping to the NBA]
Andy Cutler: Ok, well you sound like an outstanding young man. Anything else we should know about your basketball game?
Phil Jones: No...just...y'all will be able to see it when I came to Kentucky.

Background: Phil Jones is a 6'10", maybe 6'11" 250 lb. C, 16th ranked in the class of 2006 (meaning he'd join our next-year class of Jodie, Perry, Michael and Derrick) recruit from Brooklyn. He knows Ramel; from his tone, he sounds like they're friends. He's a 4-star recruit (3 star at Rivals, but they haven't updated in a while and some of their figures are pretty far off) who has shot up the ratings recently because he trimmed his weight down from 280ish to 250ish in a short amount of time while in prep school in North Carolina (where he is right now). He's also drawn interest from, among others, Tennessee and UConn.

Scout lists his strengths as Low Block Scorer, Size for Position, and Values Structure. The last one seems key, as he seems to be a quiet guy (bordering on awkward from that interview), but definately goal-oriented and a hard-worker. A decent but not exceptional rebounder, but a good scorer. His listed weaknesses are Athleticism and Defensive Presence. He also says himself that scouts criticize his passing, though he believes himself to be an excellent passer.

[Classof93]

DCWildcat wrote: I didn't find this knowledge myself--credit AndyPopCat and Matt57 for digging this up, and golflender for providing the link. I'm merely posting it here because it's kind of stuffed away in an ill-read post in recruiting, and it seems like big news that all of us should know, esp. given the bitterness on this board right now (including me).

This isn't an "official" verbal commitment. This is what Jones said the other day on WLAP (you can listen to it herre: http://www.wlap.com/cc-common/podcast.html , go to the right where it says "Basketball Recruit"). I think you can figure out his intentions pretty easily yourself. I'll post the relevant dialogue here. If you want some background info on him, scroll to the bottom of the page:

Andy Cutler (WLAP): Where does Kentucky stand right now?
Phil Jones: Well, Kentucky's in...pretty good shape.
Andy Cutler: So obviously the million dollar question for people in Kentucky is, how do we get that to "very good" shape?
Phil Jones: I mean, nothing really...I'm going to make my decision soon...[pause] ok, what I'm about to say, is this going to get out nationally?
Andy Cutler: No, just to Kentucky
Phil Jones: Alright...when I make my decision, I think Kentucky fans will be happy with the decision I make
Andy Cutler: Ok, cool.
[some useless dialogue about how big he is, how long he's been playing ball, etc. He says Tim Duncan is his favorite pro player, which is cool. But he does admit that if he gets to be lottery pickable early in his college career, he'd strongly think about jumping to the NBA]
Andy Cutler: Ok, well you sound like an outstanding young man. Anything else we should know about your basketball game?
Phil Jones: No...just...y'all will be able to see it when I came to Kentucky.

Background: Phil Jones is a 6'10", maybe 6'11" 250 lb. C, 16th ranked in the class of 2006 (meaning he'd join our next-year class of Jodie, Perry, Michael and Derrick) recruit from Brooklyn. He knows Ramel; from his tone, he sounds like they're friends. He's a 4-star recruit (3 star at Rivals, but they haven't updated in a while and some of their figures are pretty far off) who has shot up the ratings recently because he trimmed his weight down from 280ish to 250ish in a short amount of time while in prep school in North Carolina (where he is right now). He's also drawn interest from, among others, Tennessee and UConn.

Scout lists his strengths as Low Block Scorer, Size for Position, and Values Structure. The last one seems key, as he seems to be a quiet guy (bordering on awkward from that interview), but definately goal-oriented and a hard-worker. A decent but not exceptional rebounder, but a good scorer. His listed weaknesses are Athleticism and Defensive Presence. He also says himself that scouts criticize his passing, though he believes himself to be an excellent passer.






It is Alan Cutler. This interview was about a week ago. Thought you should know.


You really had me pumped, I thought something official had occurred.

[wildcat74]

Not another project center, I hope...

[kipper265]

6'10 and 250 is certainly better than 7'3" and 15 ounces....project or not ;)

wildcat74 wrote: Not another project center, I hope...

[Athens2005]

wildcat74 wrote: Not another project center, I hope...

Well, there are not excactly a lot of refined 18 year-old 7 footers out there.

Gotta take what you can get.

[golflender]

wildcat74 wrote: Not another project center, I hope...


I don't think this guy is a project at 6'10" 260 he may need some refinment, but this guy is a space eater ---just what the doctor ordered....for us.

[Coldstream]

wildcat74 wrote: Not another project center, I hope...

The term 'project' is overused and taken out of context too often. Project is reserved for players who need to learn basketball skills. Phil is not a project.

[Will Lavender]

Strong-armed space munchers and long-armed athletes.

We need them both.

P. Jones and T. Smith fill those roles. They'd be very big for us, Smith moreso than Jones.

[wildcat74]

Coldstream wrote: wildcat74 wrote: Not another project center, I hope...

The term 'project' is overused and taken out of context too often. Project is reserved for players who need to learn basketball skills. Phil is not a project.



Right on, coldstream. I refer to those like shag and woo, who seem to have learned to play ball while at UK. We cant afford any more of those types, it seems from the consensus around here that this guy isnt like that.

[Buddah]

rivalshad him at three stars. i would put him in the project catergory but with more of an upside than shag or woo had. even though rivals haven't up dated in a while, there list of people recruiting him, wasn't very impressive. who knows ?

[UderricKY]

I'm thinking I read he can step out as far as 20 feet and knock down the jumper....

If true...that'll be very, very nice.

[Wildcat Larry]

Just curious. Has anybody seen him play, and if so, how about a report.

[AndyPopCat]

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=48&p=8&c=1&nid=2015431

Rated 4 stars with offers from UK, UConn, Providence, Marquette, Clemson, Miami and St. John's according to Scout.

[DCWildcat]

Buddah wrote: rivalshad him at three stars. i would put him in the project catergory but with more of an upside than shag or woo had. even though rivals haven't up dated in a while, there list of people recruiting him, wasn't very impressive. who knows ?

It's also pretty clear that Rivals has half-assed its assessment of him, though; his weight is wrong, he's unranked, and they provide no otther information.

[Will Lavender]

Buddah wrote: rivalshad him at three stars. i would put him in the project catergory but with more of an upside than shag or woo had. even though rivals haven't up dated in a while, there list of people recruiting him, wasn't very impressive. who knows ?
UCONN was the other big school on Jones' list in the last two months.

[T75]

Jones is not going to help usin the next year or two if he comes to UK. But he'd make me feel better---just seeing someone in the warm-ups who looks like a power forward.

[hoosierhateruklover]

UderricKY wrote: I'm thinking I read he can step out as far as 20 feet and knock down the jumper....

If true...that'll be very, very nice.



Sounds like Sims, Perry, and sometimes Sheray.

[bret1555]

Will Lavender wrote: Strong-armed space munchers and long-armed athletes.

We need them both.

P. Jones and T. Smith fill those roles. They'd be very big for us, Smith moreso than Jones.



Anyone,

What's the word on Smith. . . I haven't heard anything about him since we exhibited our need for him on Senior Day.

[Classof93]

Smith is taking his time and waiting for the coaching carousel to stop before he commits anywhere. He was burned bad last year when he commited to UT and they didn't let him out of it after Peterson was fired. So he is gun shy to commit too early. The word is that it is between us and Memphis.

[wyldkatzky]

He has to take his ACT or SAT whatever to know he has the grades to be able to attend at UK. So far that is the only reason I have heard for the hesitation.

[poodoo]

Classof93 wrote: Smith is taking his time and waiting for the coaching carousel to stop before he commits anywhere. He was burned bad last year when he commited to UT and they didn't let him out of it after Peterson was fired. So he is gun shy to commit too early. The word is that it is between us and Memphis.


Hmmm. I, too, had wondered about Tyler Smith. Reading your comment, Classof93, makes me remember reading that Tubby's concern about the negativity and "fire Smith" talk was only how it could cause recruits to question whether he would be here. I didn't put much into that remard when I had heard it, as most everyone knows Tubby will be back here this season, but your post makes Tubby's comment make sense. :(