Recruiting Report: Jared Jones (2019)
Power forward Jared Jones built his college option list to include over a dozen high major programs and several IVY League options. After playing with AOT and Game Elite, Jones is now taking some time to let an outstanding four months of 17u basketball sink in. Then, visits will be taken as recruiting hits full steam.
“The summer went pretty good, it could of went better but I learned a lot as a player so I can’t complain, it was overall a really good learning experience,” Jared told Prep Hoops. “The year showed me a lot about what I need to work on to be a better player.
“Playing with AOT, my improvement was more of a mental thing, and I really improved a lot. (My) rebounding and running the floor with AOT improved greatly. Then with Game Elite it was more about playing freely, playing aggressive. More than anything it was about improving my aggressive mentality how I was attacking things the whole time I was on the floor.”
In EYBL play Jones was credited for making 69 percent of his field goal attempts and then with Game Elite out of Florida, Jared shot 53 percent from the floor giving a talented team eight points and six boards a game. One of the top moments for Jones was scoring 18 points against Team United making all eight of his field goal attempts and then in Las Vegas Jones showed some face-up skill dribble separating against somebody sending them to the ground before finishing at the rim.
Jared’s improvements as a player have led to offers from Auburn, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Harvard, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Penn, Tennessee, UNLV, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, and others. For Jones to be a standout at the next level there are items in his game he wants to improve.
“I am in good shape right now but for the college level I need to be in elite shape,” Jared said. “It’s a grind to play a college game and to play a whole game and some overtime, I want to be in the right condition to play through that. Also, I want to learn to take what the defense gives me.”
Jared has the offer list he is looking for, now he needs to take the next steps towards figuring out his college future.
“As far as recruiting goes I am just trying to narrow down my list as well as figure out which school fits my style of play and which school fits what I am looking for in terms of academics,” Jones said. “Academics is as important to me as basketball. I’m going to school to get a degree in psychiatry. I want to help people, help them through depression.”
What schools are showing Jared the most interest at this time?
“Georgia is showing me a great deal of interest, Arkansas, Ohio State, Mississippi State, Northwestern, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, LSU, and others,” Jared said.
The Minnesota staff offered Jared after several views during the first open period at the Peach Jam.
“Minnesota is showing a lot of interest actually, I mean a lot of interest,” Jones explained putting an accent on a lot. “A great deal of interest. I hear often from assistant coach Rob Jeter mostly. I don’t know a lot about the Minnesota program yet but I know about Coach Rob Jeter. He came from UNLV. I like Coach Pitino and their staff but I still need to study up about them but I really like the area there in the Twin Cities.”