Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Preview: #3 Terrence Jones
#3 Terrence Jones
6’8 244
Sophomore-Power Forward
Jefferson High School
Portland Oregon
Last Season
PPG: 16.5
RPG: 8.9
FG%: 44.2
FT%: 64.6
3-PT%: 32.9
Terrence Jones started his freshman career at Kentucky on a bit of a sour note. During his college decision day he chose the hometown team of Washington over the Cats in a highly anticipated dramatic signing event. Many saw Jones as the key to John Calipari’s recruiting class and Big Blue Nation was disappointed when he did not pick the blue hat.
He reconsidered and after a few more weeks of indecision, he finally came to Lexington. Even after he became a Wildcat, many fans just saw him as a supreme talent that was a lock for the NBA Draft at season’s end.
Out of the four players from last year’s team that could have gone pro early, Jones was considered widely to be the most likely to bolt for the NBA. As we watched Doron Lamb stay while Brandon Knight and DeAndre Liggins headed for the draft, all of Big Blue Nation was waiting with bated breath to see what Jones would do.
He shocked us all. Jones decided to forego the NBA in order to come back to Kentucky and try to improve his game and to improve his team’s Final Four appearance and turn it into a national championship. The individual once dubbed as a “selfish (expletive)” by his own coach, took a step back from the millions of dollars he could have earned and stuck with the college experience that he loves so dearly.
He has earned a spot in our hearts as the kid that could have left Kentucky but stayed loyal to the fans and to the school. Terrence has a lot of people rooting for him this year and is set to be the dominant player that we have seen glimpses of in the past.
Change We Can Believe In
At the beginning of the 2010 season, Jones seemed to be the focal point of the offense. For the first 10 games he averaged 18.9 points a game, leading all scorers up until that point. As games went on Jones continued to score at high rates until all of a sudden his point totals started dropping, besides a 35 point showing against Auburn and three games over 20 points during conference regular season play.
Many fans were shocked to see his numbers drop and many of them started getting upset with Jones, but the fall off was not his fault. At the beginning of the season point guard Brandon Knight was still learning to run the offense. He struggled scoring and finding open men under the basket. Jones was the #1 option in the offense and a great deal of the plays were run through him under the basket.
As Knight became more comfortable with Calipari’s system, the ball went more through him. We saw Jones with the ball less and less as Knight took control of the team and other players, including Josh Harrellson, DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller, started being more aggressive.
Jones changed from a scorer to a rebounder, defender and assist man. The turning point in his game happened against the University of Louisville. Knight was clicking on all cylinders and had arguably his most complete game at point guard up until that time. Pitino also made it clear that Jones was not going to beat them and drop 30 or more, so he was doubled most of the game.
Instead of forcing the ball, Jones dished it off to an unguarded Josh Harrellson, which led to the big man having a monster double-double in the utter beat down over the Cards. Jones’ stat line for that game read 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 1 steal and 12 points. A very well rounded box score indeed. The change began and continued throughout the season.
Now, that being said, Jones had some single digit games near the end that are really inexcusable. He disappeared in 3 games, scoring 7, 7 and 8. That is something that is not expected to happen this year.
What to Expect this Year?
Word around the Craft Center is that Jones has returned as a more dedicated player than a year ago. John Calipari said that Jones is finishing in first place during wind sprints at practice, he has bulked up and has embraced his roll as a leader on the team. This will be Darius Miller’s team, but Jones could be the bad cop to Miller’s good cop, an enforcer if you will.
He also is listed on just about every publication’s and website’s All-American team and is a contender for the John Wooden College Player of the Year Award. The sky is the limit this year for Terrence and a lot is expected out of him.
Look for him to be open a lot more under the basket. With all due respect to Josh Harrellson, teams did not fear or respect him the way they will fear and respect Anthony Davis under the rim. The extra attention shown to Davis should free Jones for some big time scoring games. If they choose to guard Jones, then Davis and whoever is playing the small forward position will be set to shine.
Also look for Jones to recommit to playing defense, blocking shots and defensive rebounding like he did at the end of the season. His all around game is what will set him apart nationally. He isn’t just a scorer, he is a triple-double waiting to happen during any game.
Jones was also a threat behind the arc and is not afraid to shoot the three. His shot should be improved from that position as well as from the free throw line. With the speed, size and length of this team, Jones could have ample opportunity to find himself open for jump shots all over the perimeter.
He is also playing for a top 5 pick in the NBA Draft. Coach Cal has also said that Jones could be the #1 overall pick if he worked hard enough for it.
I know the coach said that Doron Lamb is the best player on the team, but I have
to give it to Jones. To me, he is the most talented and is the most important piece of the puzzle besides the point guard position.
Calipari on Jones
“A light went on and he wants this and he’s chasing it. He wants to be special.”
Jones on Jones
“I feel like we have a lot of players that are interchangeable. I just like playing basketball. It doesn’t matter what position I’m at.”
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