Introducing Simmie Jones III (2019)
Simmie Jones III took the road much traveled. Several times this off-season players elected to cross the stateline and join a Memphis high school basketball team.
“I decided to transfer to Whitehaven during this summer,” said Class of 2019 G Simmie Jones III. “I had to leave Center Hill because things didn’t work out with the eligibility.”
Simmie’s transfer from Desoto Central to Center Hill was problematic.
“I transferred there, but they wouldn’t let me play basketball there,” said Simmie Jones III. “I was at Desoto Central. I transferred in the district and they weren’t going to let me play until my senior year.”
A couple of schools popped up as quality basketball opportunities.
“I was looking at Whitehaven. I was looking at Germantown. I was looking at Collierville.”
The benefits of joining a loaded roster are many. Jones III is already getting ricochet recruiting from college scouts.
“Most of them that come are looking for Cam, Cameron Jones (PHT #16),” said Simmie Jones III. “They come and evaluate him, but they watch all of us.”
Head Coach Faragi Phillips’ Whitehaven Tigers boast a sizable senior frontline, but also feature Matthew Murrell (2020 Watchlist).
The 165-pound point guard Simmie Jones III wisely acknowledges the value of having college coach eyes on his game heading in to his junior year.
“It is good playing in front of college coaches,” said Jones III. “I really never played in front of this many before. I am getting used to it and I am kinda liking it.”
After running with Memphis Prep AAU, and proving his college quickness, Jones III is poised for a breakout year.
Can Whitehaven challenge Memphis East’s stranglehold on the city?
“It is going to be tough, but Whitehaven is a real gritty team,” said Jones III. “We play hard and hopefully playing hard will get us where we want to go. We got close to them last year.”