He has "IT" just like Lamar Odom has it. He is never going to be a Patterson or Chuck Hayes that will do whatever it takes to win, but he is going to be productive. He has the skill sets and athletic ability to be a solid NBA player and will be a top pick because of his potential. He is just as strong as Patterson was as a freshman. You are comparing junior Patterson to freshman Jones. Jones will get stronger the older he gets he is maybe 19 years old.

 

I disagree. The strength issue is "when" they enter the draft. His moves are too slow in the post too. Hey, you like his potential, I don't.

I don't think he is ready to go up against the good NBA 4-men just yet. He needs atleast another year. Mashburn, Walker, Mercer, etc. all stayed an extra year and I think these three and others are better than Jones as freshmen. The problem is these agents will swarm him as soon as the season ends or before and tell him how great he is and he has to go pro. He will see dollar signs and be tempted like anyone else would with millions dangling in front of them.

I think he is a first round pick, but not a top 10 pick right now. I can think of atleast 10 players I would pick before I would pick Jones. Maybe I am just hoping they all stay for next year and add next years class with the current and they could be GREAT!

I don't think he is ready to go up against the good NBA 4-men just yet. He needs atleast another year. Mashburn, Walker, Mercer, etc. all stayed an extra year and I think these three and others are better than Jones as freshmen. The problem is these agents will swarm him as soon as the season ends or before and tell him how great he is and he has to go pro. He will see dollar signs and be tempted like anyone else would with millions dangling in front of them.

No, they were not.

No, they were not.

 

I would agree with your sentiment concerning comparison to Walker and Mercer but I think Mashburn was at least the level of Jones his freshman year. Jones' stats might be a little better on average than Mash but there was a fluidity to Mash's game, even in his freshman year, that Jones has yet to show. I would also add that UK in '91 was a more balanced team in some ways than this year's UK team. (Not more talented by any stretch but more balanced in scoring and threats)

I would agree with your sentiment concerning comparison to Walker and Mercer but I think Mashburn was at least the level of Jones his freshman year. Jones' stats might be a little better on average than Mash but there was a fluidity to Mash's game, even in his freshman year, that Jones has yet to show. I would also add that UK in '91 was a more balanced team in some ways than this year's UK team. (Not more talented by any stretch but more balanced in scoring and threats)

 

I'll take Mashburn as a freshman over Jones as a freshman any day of the week. Mercer & Walker, not so much.

I would agree with your sentiment concerning comparison to Walker and Mercer but I think Mashburn was at least the level of Jones his freshman year. Jones' stats might be a little better on average than Mash but there was a fluidity to Mash's game, even in his freshman year, that Jones has yet to show. I would also add that UK in '91 was a more balanced team in some ways than this year's UK team. (Not more talented by any stretch but more balanced in scoring and threats)

I will concede somewhat.. There is no comparison between the physical maturity of today's players, in this case Jones, compared to players from 20 years ago. For what Jones lacks in fluidity, he more than compensates for in human evolution.

I'll take Mashburn as a freshman over Jones as a freshman any day of the week. Mercer & Walker, not so much.

:thumb:

Is Jones ready for the NBA? Is Jones a top 5 pick?

 

These are two completely different and separate questions that people sometimes confuse and analyze as one and the same.