The Most Impactful Kentucky Wildcat Basketball Players (1981-1982-Present): #14 Terrence Jones

 #14 Terrence Jones

2010-2012

Jefferson High School Portland, OR

We all remember that Terrence Jones almost wasn’t a Wildcat. The 6’9 power forward was ranked as a top 10 player coming out of high school. He was Mr. Basketball in Oregon, he was a Parade All American and a McDonalds All American. And John Calipari wanted him bad.

During a press conference called by Jones, he sat at a table with a University of Washington hat and a Kentucky hat in front of him, among others. Jones reached out and grabbed the purple and black of Washington. Big Blue Nation went into a frenzy, but little did they know that Jones was agonizing over his decision and his heart was not at Washington.

The story goes that he called John Calipari not long after his decision and told the Wildcat coach that he had made a terrible mistake. Jones later backed off of his verbal commitment to Washington and became a Kentucky Wildcat.