It will be sad to see him go, but the decision has already been made for former Basha High School 6-foot-8, 220-pound rising senior post Torren Jones. Jones will be leaving the state of Arizona for his senior season - heading to the Mid-West to finish his high school career.
Jones, our #1 rated power forward prospect and the #2 overall prospect in Arizona's 2013 class, decided to transfer from Basha HS after the high school season, and also after the resignation of former Basha head coach Brad Pinter. Jones had planned to transfer to Mesa's Dobson High School where he would team up with relative and top-rated 2013 prospect Joran Hopkins and also 2014 star guard Kodi Justice (Arizona State commit). After hearing that he may have some problems becoming eligible this season by the AIA (Arizona Interscholastic Association), Jones decided to change his plans and attend a high school program in the state of Indiana.
Jones has transferred to La Lumiere High School, where he currently resides and will play his senior season. La Lumiere is located in Northwest Indiana, 25 miles west of South Bend, Indiana, and 60 miles east of Chicago, Illinois. Current enrollment at the school is just over 200 students. The school is governed by a Board of Trustees chosen from dedicated parents and alumni. It seeks to develop character, scholarship, and faith, while remaining both independently accredited and faithful to its Catholic heritage.
"I'm excited because of the opportunity it's going to bring for me," Jones told Rivals.com. "But I'm nervous at the same time to be leaving home and my family. Jones went on to say, "I'm trying to get ready for college, so it will be the perfect experience to that."
Jones played this spring and summer for the California Supreme AAU/club program, and took his college recruitment to the next level as a result. Jones' best performance came this summer in his team's big win over one of the nation's elite programs, the Oakland Soldiers, where Jones finished with a game-high 30 points in front of a large number of college coaches, media and spectators.
Jones is one of the top-rated prospects in the country and currently holds offers from Missouri, Washington, Washington State, Marquette, DePaul, Memphis, Oregon, Oregon State, New Mexico, UTEP and Colorado, and with many more schools looking to get involved. Jones has indicated that he is in no rush to make a college decision, and that he plans to wait until the spring before reaching his college decision.
Jones received a scholarship offer from the University of Arizona as a mere freshman - before he ever played a varsity high school basketball game at Basha HS. But that offer came from former U of A head coach and current Grand Canyon University head coach Russ Pennell.
Jones is a nice-looking prospect physically and has a striking similarity physically to the NBA's Kenneth Faried, so he has the potential to become a big-time talent for the future. His best asset is his motor which allows him to outwork other post players on the glass.
Where Jones will need his most focus will be in the classroom, as he will need to continue to work very hard to give himself an opportunity to become qualified academically.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Jones is a nice athletic talent with very good size on his 6-foot-8, 220-pound frame. An excellent athlete with a very good motor, Jones is still somewhat raw offensively but his toughness and athleticism allow him to overpower his opponents. Currently, he is a rebounding and shotblocking force that gets his baskets off put-backs, slashing moves to the basket and in the open floor. An improved jump shot and more efficient low-post moves will be important in his arsenal for the future. An excellent rebounder that is difficult to keep off the offensive glass. An active shotblocker. Runs the floor with vigor and is a very good finisher. A good low-post defender that is capable of guarding quicker players on the perimeter, but he needs development in his defensive principles. Capable of getting in foul trouble. A big-time talent with major upside as a player. With dedication to his craft, he has the physical tools to become a force in the future. Competes. Has a very good attitude on and off the floor.
