Post by elp525 on May 9, 2011 5:17:17 GMT -5
May 8, 2011
By Dave Hickman
The Charleston Gazette
MORGANTOWN -- Kevin Jones isn't going anywhere, at least not for another year.
West Virginia's senior-to-be forward on Sunday night withdrew his name from the pool of players eligible for the NBA's June draft. Instead, he will return to West Virginia and play his senior season for the Mountaineers.
The school confirmed the news shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday, less than four hours from the NCA deadline for Jones to do so and retain his eligibility.
"This was a good experience for me to go through the process and gain valuable feedback for my goal of playing in the NBA," Jones said. "I'm excited about coming back to West Virginia and playing with my teammates for my senior season."
Jones took part in a workout of college players in front of NBA general managers and scouts Sunday in northern New Jersey, then left for his home in Mount Vernon, N.Y., to discuss his future with his family. A few hours later he decided to return.
"Kevin went through the process in a systematic and professional manner by exploring his options," said WVU coach Bob Huggins. "He was able to gain feedback from NBA professionals that will help him in the future. We're pleased that he will be a Mountaineer for his senior season."
For West Virginia, the decision by Jones was the second bit of good news in as many days. On Saturday, 6-foot-10 Aaric Murray signed a letter of intent with the Mountaineers as a transfer from LaSalle. He will be permitted to practice with the team next season, but won't be eligible to play until 2012-13 and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
The return of Jones, though, is much more significant for WVU's immediate future. The Mountaineers are already losing five seniors from a team that made it to the third round of the NCAA tournament and his departure would have meant the team was losing four of five starters and six of its top nine players. The only other player returning who was a starter at the end of the season is senior-to-be Truck Bryant at point guard.
With Jones back in the fold, though, that means the Mountaineers are returning two starters and two of the top three reserves. In addition to Bryant and Jones, juniors Deniz Kilicli and Dalton Pepper will be back next season.
Also returning is freshman center Kevin Noreen, who is expected to receive a medical redshirt. Noreen played in seven games last season, but underwent knee surgery in early January and sat out the remainder of the season.
The rest of the 2011-12 roster will be made up of six incoming freshmen and a junior college transfer.
Jones averaged 13.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a junior and was a two-year starter. His numbers declined slightly from his sophomore season, when he was a starter on the first WVU team to reach the Final Four in 51 years.
Jones entered his name into the NBA's list of draft-eligible players late last month but did not hire an agent, which meant he had the option to withdraw and retain his college eligibility. The NCAA's deadline for doing so was midnight Sunday.
Jones was one of 44 players who worked out at the New Jersey Nets' practice facility Saturday and Sunday in front of general managers and scouts from most of the NBA's 30 teams. The vast majority of those players were considered borderline prospects to be taken in the June draft.
By Dave Hickman
The Charleston Gazette
MORGANTOWN -- Kevin Jones isn't going anywhere, at least not for another year.
West Virginia's senior-to-be forward on Sunday night withdrew his name from the pool of players eligible for the NBA's June draft. Instead, he will return to West Virginia and play his senior season for the Mountaineers.
The school confirmed the news shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday, less than four hours from the NCA deadline for Jones to do so and retain his eligibility.
"This was a good experience for me to go through the process and gain valuable feedback for my goal of playing in the NBA," Jones said. "I'm excited about coming back to West Virginia and playing with my teammates for my senior season."
Jones took part in a workout of college players in front of NBA general managers and scouts Sunday in northern New Jersey, then left for his home in Mount Vernon, N.Y., to discuss his future with his family. A few hours later he decided to return.
"Kevin went through the process in a systematic and professional manner by exploring his options," said WVU coach Bob Huggins. "He was able to gain feedback from NBA professionals that will help him in the future. We're pleased that he will be a Mountaineer for his senior season."
For West Virginia, the decision by Jones was the second bit of good news in as many days. On Saturday, 6-foot-10 Aaric Murray signed a letter of intent with the Mountaineers as a transfer from LaSalle. He will be permitted to practice with the team next season, but won't be eligible to play until 2012-13 and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
The return of Jones, though, is much more significant for WVU's immediate future. The Mountaineers are already losing five seniors from a team that made it to the third round of the NCAA tournament and his departure would have meant the team was losing four of five starters and six of its top nine players. The only other player returning who was a starter at the end of the season is senior-to-be Truck Bryant at point guard.
With Jones back in the fold, though, that means the Mountaineers are returning two starters and two of the top three reserves. In addition to Bryant and Jones, juniors Deniz Kilicli and Dalton Pepper will be back next season.
Also returning is freshman center Kevin Noreen, who is expected to receive a medical redshirt. Noreen played in seven games last season, but underwent knee surgery in early January and sat out the remainder of the season.
The rest of the 2011-12 roster will be made up of six incoming freshmen and a junior college transfer.
Jones averaged 13.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a junior and was a two-year starter. His numbers declined slightly from his sophomore season, when he was a starter on the first WVU team to reach the Final Four in 51 years.
Jones entered his name into the NBA's list of draft-eligible players late last month but did not hire an agent, which meant he had the option to withdraw and retain his college eligibility. The NCAA's deadline for doing so was midnight Sunday.
Jones was one of 44 players who worked out at the New Jersey Nets' practice facility Saturday and Sunday in front of general managers and scouts from most of the NBA's 30 teams. The vast majority of those players were considered borderline prospects to be taken in the June draft.
