Curtis Jones, 2016 combo guard, picks Indiana – Indianapolis Star
Indiana’s 2016 recruiting class doubled in size Saturday morning, with the commitment of Huntington (W.V.) Prep guard Curtis Jones, a longtime target for the Hoosiers.
Jones announced his commitment via Twitter.
Having recently trimmed his list to four schools, Jones was also considering Cal, Georgetown and Oklahoma State.
He took his official visit to Indiana at the end of August, but the Hoosiers’ pursuit dates back further than that. Five-star Huntington Prep teammate Miles Bridges is also a priority target for Indiana in 2016, and he took his official with Jones. The Hoosiers are one of three suitors remaining in Bridges’ recruitment.
Jones, who also plays his AAU basketball in the same Boo Williams program as current Hoosiers Rob Johnson and Troy Williams, will be expected to add depth to a back court that loses Yogi Ferrell, Nick Zeisloft and perhaps James Blackmon Jr. (to the NBA) after this season. Jones is as reputed for his shooting ability as he is for his ball handling, and he projects to impact with both at IU.
Working at that position under IU coach Tom Crean was a motivating factor for Jones.
“The biggest thing with Indiana is coach Crean’s history with guards of making them better,” Jones told The Star’s Kyle Neddenriep this summer. “He’s made average guards into pros and great guards even better. That is a major reason and also the possible chance to play early.”
According to the 247Sports Composite, Jones is seen as a four-star combo guard, No. 83 overall and No. 10 at his position. He joins Crown Point guard Grant Gelon in Indiana’s two-man recruiting class.
The Hoosiers have two more spots open in their 2016 class, but that number could grow, depending upon professional options available to several players next spring.
Saturday’s news marks Indiana’s second commitment from the prestigious Huntington Prep program in as many years. Thomas Bryant, a 2015 McDonald’s All American, also went to Huntington.
Jones is originally from Virginia.
Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
