Former Shadow Mountain High School graduate, 6-foot-8, 240-pound sophomore forward Isaiah Jones has really done well for himself since moving on to the collegiate ranks. After signing and playing for Biola University last season, Jones decided to transfer schools this spring in an attempt to play at the division-I level. Since leaving the program, he now has two different division-I offers on the table for himself.
Jones sat out his freshman season at Biola as a red-shirt, but made up a great deal for lost time last season as a freshman. Jones would turn in very impressive numbers - averaging 18 points and 11 rebounds per/game, while also being awarded the Pac-West Freshman of the Year award, and also the Pac-West Honorable Mention award as well.
Rather than come back for his sophomore season though, Jones instead decided to leave the program and elect to follow the lure to play division-I basketball. As a result, Jones transferred schools and landed at Connors State Junior College in Oklahoma, where he will spend his sophomore season.
The move has already paid off for Jones also as he has already reeled in two different scholarship offers from division-I programs, as Oral Roberts and Albany have both extended offers to Jones early in the recruiting process. For Jones, he will be unable to give a verbal commitment early or even take a college visit to a program until the spring semester, so many more college offers could come in over time.
A native of Austin, Texas, before he moved to the state of Arizona, Jones is a wide-body post prospect with excellent size and girth to his large frame. What he is right now though is a force in the paint that uses his wide-body and lower-body physical strength to gain excellent inside post position for rebounds and offensive put-backs. Jones' commitment to playing inside the paint also makes him a nice target for penetrators to the basket, resulting in easy low-post baskets for his team. He also is physical and uses his large body to his advantage - something many post players aren't able to do with prowess these days.
Jones is an excellent post prospect for a low to mid-major division-I college program, and also is a good overall sleeper prospect. Jones will lok to build his resume this junior college season, and look to build on his short list of division-I suitors. He currently has loads of division-II interest already.
I look for Jones to build on his success from last season, and garner much more recruiting interest for hismelf this junior college season - a great move for Jones who is looking to make a name for hismelf among division-I programs.
I will continue to follow Jones' recruitment closely, and bring you any updates as they continue to develop.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Jones is a wide-body post prospect with excellent size and girth to his large frame. What he is right now though is a force in the paint that uses his wide-body and lower-body physical strength to gain excellent inside post position for rebounds and offensive put-backs. Jones' commitment to playing inside the paint also makes him a nice target for penetrators to the basket, resulting in easy low-post baskets for his team. He also is physical and uses his large body to his advantage - something many post players aren't able to do with prowess these days. Jones is an excellent post prospect for a low to mid-major division-I college program, and also is a good overall sleeper prospect. Jones will need to improve his ability to shoot the basketball from longer ranges and also become more consistent in his ability to make shots to maximize his potential as a player on the court. He also needs to continue to run the floor harder to get easy baskets in transition, while also becoming an even better finisher inside against bigger defenders. A nice sleeper prospect.