Less than 24 hours after Terrence Jones verbally committed to the University of Washington during a press conference that drew more than 25,000 fans to the OregonLive.com site, the Internet is humming with rumors that Jones is now considering Kentucky.
Percy Allen of the Seattle Times reported that the 6-foot-8 Jones left Friday’s press conference without signing his National Letter of Intent, while teammate Terrence Ross did sign his NLI to Washington.
Of course, Kentucky recruit Brandon Knight committed to that school without signing an NLI, so Jones could opt to do the same with Washington.
Ross updated his Facebook status twice to say that he wasn’t certain what Jones was doing.
“U Dub fanz, lol stop askin me about tjones i know jus as much has ya do…lol”
He later added: “Well at least u dub has this Terrence sstill comin…lol”
It also remains unclear whether Kentucky coach John Calipari called Jones or whether Jones called Cal after the press conference. That still seems unclear according to Allen’s reporting.
Still, the whole situation was enough to cause Dave Telep of Scout to Tweet: “T-Jones basically had a wedding, consulted a divorce lawyer and began dating again all in the same day.”
I’ve texted Terrence Jones, his mother and Portland Jefferson coach Pat Strickland, but haven’t gotten any responses.
When we learn more, we’ll update it.
–Alex Kline and Adam Zagoria
(Photo courtesy Seattle Times)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter.
TJ / May 1, 2010
Cal & Jones did speak per reports. Jones called Cal after he did other interviews (which he seemed unsure about UW) and its confirmed by reporters there. The kid should have just said he wasnt ready to announce. He got emotional talking about his friends & Ross and chose UW.
Just like its always been its only a 2 horse race between Kentucky & Washington
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kujayhawk08 / May 1, 2010
sketch ball cal
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buchammer / May 1, 2010
The program killer strikes again and never pays for his crimes (Umass and Memphis)
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tsmooth / May 1, 2010
It hasn’t always been that way, actually. UCLA and Oregon were in there pretty good in the fall, but both leveled out. It became UK or UW after TRoss transferred back to Jefferson.
Right now, from what I am being told, it’s like 51-49 UW.
He decided pretty much at the podium last night when he choose his hat, like you said.
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tsmooth / May 1, 2010
That’s going to have UK fans up your ass….
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OldTerp / May 1, 2010
Maybe UK is better for his chosen major????
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blasphemy / May 1, 2010
I’m too busy with yo….. Damn, wrong forum again.
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blasphemy / May 1, 2010
Well, Cal was going to stay at Memphis and Umass, but both times a guy named buc hammer came……. and Cal ran for his life, and his ass.
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blasphemy / May 1, 2010
He’s not sketching yet, he still lacks pen and paper.
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blasphemy / May 1, 2010
Ts, since you saw Cal for so many years. What would you say his teams seemed to lack the most? 3-shooting, free throw, other?
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MuchLuck / May 1, 2010
You think he wants to major in banjo????
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trapjohn / May 1, 2010
As a fellow Memphis fan, I’d say that Coach Cal’s teams’ main weakness was in-game adjustments. The Mizzou game in the tournament in 2009 was a great example. Also look at UCLA in the Elite 8 in 2006, and both regular season games against Texas a few years back.
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ratlifj / May 1, 2010
MuccaLuck & OldTerd apparently need to make fun of people from Kentucky to cover up a personal lack of education or anatomical deficiency. As for the rest, sticks and stones baby. UK took Kanter and hopefully we’ll take Jones too.
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Conman / May 1, 2010
For startersI read these comments quite a bit, but rarely post. It seems that for every 10 posts, there may in fact be an intelligent comment. Everyone is ragging on the programs and the real culprit in my opinion is TJ’s parents. They may be fine people, but they are dropping the ball here. In no way should they have let him participate in this presser wo/ knowledge of his decision, and making sure he is comfortable and confident in it. From the outside it appears that the kid, and yes he is still a kid, is not at all at ease with all the attention, but yet he continues to tweet about his torment. Someone in his life needs to step up for him. Simply tell him to take a week and clear his head. Turn your cell phone off, stay away from all computers, and just be a kid. Do not talk to ANY of the coaches (college, AAU, HS ANY!) and decide what is best for you. I really hope that he is happy where he ends up and does what is best for him. He is creating a TON of pressure for himself wherever he goes.
As for Coach Cal, the haters out there will always persist. That’s OK. Just be sure that you are A- accurate and B- remotely fair. Whatever you feel of his past endeavors, he’s done nothing wrong on this one. What was he supposed to do, hang up on the kid? Read this quote from Percy Allen in the Seattle Times:
“— Not sure why so many folks are bagging on Calipari. He’s competing. That’s what he expects of his players and that’s what he’s doing. It’s what coaches do. I remember Pete Carroll competing to keep Mark Sanchez the day the USC quarterback announced he was turning pro. Carroll got killed for it by the media and fans, but so what. Coaches tell their players to compete until the final seconds of a game and Calipari is acting accordingly. I believe he spoke to Jones yesterday, but only a handful of folks know what was said.”
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blasphemy / May 1, 2010
A fair comment, from a fair person.
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jhawk4 / May 1, 2010
i disagree. the kid committed that means leave him alone in my book. If jones reopens it himself its fine, but if cal urged him to do it that is wrong
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blasphemy / May 1, 2010
I will have to respectfully disagree on this one. For my reasoning we will ignore the fact that Jones was still unsure even before Cal called, and made a VERY last second decision. Ignoring all of that, I still think, assuming the kid hasn’t signed the LOI papers yet, it is ok to still recruit the kid.
Reasons:
1) Virtually* every college football coach at the D1 level still recruits verbally committed players. So much so that the “soft verbal” is very common. Btw, it’s not against any rules which brings me to my next point,
2) It’s not against any rules! If you have a problem with it in basketball, where is the outrage in football?
3) I think they should have a signing period in the fall for football aswell, and that basketball should have an additional spring signing period for the soon-to-be seniors. (this pertains nothing to my reasoning, but I’ve been wanting to get this off my chest for a while)
There you go. Don’t have to agree with them. Just my reasoning.
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freespeach / May 1, 2010
I’m sure most of you posting on here have already found Cal guilty of trying to change this kids mind. The fact of the matter is, NONE of you were privy to the phone conversation between Terrence and Cal, and as far as I know, it was Terrence who made the call. To me, that says he values the relationship he had built with Cal, and in turn values his opinion. I for one hope that he takes the time to make sure the decision that he makes is the right one for him. Not the right one for his mother, father, friends………whomever. He seems like a kid that is extremely confused about his future. Some of you people who post on here forget that these are 18 year old kids. These decisions are some of the biggest they will ever make, give them some slack. They have people pulling them in every direction, a lot of them sadly probably don’t have the athletes best interest in mind. I agree with Con from the post earlier, shame on his parents for not doing their job. Help him with this, but don’t push him either way. Where ever he ends up, I hope that he feels comfortable there and it is because HE decided that is where he needed to be.
And as far as you Cal haters reading this. Marcus Camby was the only one at UMASS who broke a rule. Coaches can’t hold the players hand 24-7, they can only warn them of such things and hope they listen. Rose at Memphis was CLEARED by the NCAA. What more can any coach ask for?
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Conman / May 1, 2010
When your book gets published I am sure that we will try and pay more attention to what it says. But again my only point is that in this instance none of the coaches have done anything wrong that I can see. I’m sure there are others, but off the top of my head I can remember Eric Gordon and presently Austin Rivers. Happens all the time. Not to this degree of scrutiny, I admit that, but happens all the time. Until you put a down payment on a car/ house and sign the papers, it isnt sold. Until you put a ring on her finger, she’s single.
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blasphemy / May 1, 2010
To freespeach and conman (aka, people I’ve never seen before): Get away while you still can. I used to come here and defend Cal. Now, I’m an addict. I come here, looking for people bashing UK and or Cal. Now I find it hard to turn down an argument. I live for the next argument. Infact, that is why I am still here……… Get away! Save yourself!
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
Blasphemy, I would have to agree with trapjohn, but shooting was always a weakness of a Cal team, which is one of the main reasons he pursued Lamb so heavily.
He seems to have realized that adjustments need to be made since he switched to zone like 5 times this year. lol.
Free throw shooting wasn’t that evident until Memphis made a run to the Final Four.
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
LOL!!
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
Recruiting players that are verbally committed happens everywhere. This is getting a lot of scrutiny because over 25, 000 people watched his commitment live.
I have to agree with both you and blasphemy.
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
Just ask fearthephog…LOL.
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Conman / May 2, 2010
Like I said I read it all the time. Just try and stay quiet. It’s amusing. I’m not really not trying to defend Cal though. (leave that for pastaboy) Just pointing out what looked clear to me. I try and not “bash” anyone. I respect everyone’s passion for their teams. It’s what makes us all love the games we follow. I consider myself a fan of all the teams. I am an unpaid assistant at a small college (baseball) and would not trade the memories and relationships for anything. I think that gets forgotten on these boards sometime is all. Most all of these coaches truly love the game AND their players. Self, Cal, Coach K, Miller whomever.
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fearthephog25 / May 2, 2010
Hey hey, who is talking about me while I was gone. LOL
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fearthephog25 / May 2, 2010
Does anyone ever wonder if cal was calling TJ tell him to keep his recruiting promises and practices under wraps? TJ obviously must of knew who he was going to pick, because there was only one hat on the table that matched his tuxedo. LOL
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
I have no idea what you’re talking about. LOL
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
that was a total coincedence. He didn’t know the color of the hats. His coach went out to a local store and bought the hats the day of his commitment.
As of now, there is still speculation as to who called whom, and what was said. The last part will forever be kept under wraps.
Seems like KU and Memphis are getting into a few recruiting battles: Adonis, Perry, Winston, Shabazz, LJ, and one more that I have forgotten
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
What can I say, you left a lasting impression on me…
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fearthephog25 / May 2, 2010
CHOI?
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fearthephog25 / May 2, 2010
Thats weird, because I always shop in Portland. And never once have I found a KU hat, they are hard to find on the Westcoast. So I always have to stock up online for KU gear. The UW hat was the only stylish flatbill new era hat, and the others were old school short rounded bill hats. IDK Just saying. LOL
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
No, not Chol. Damn, I forget. I’m texting my people as I type this. Will have an answer in the morning
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
LOL. IDK where or how he found it, that’s just what I’ve heard.
If you noticed, UK and UW were the only flat-billed hats. Just conspiracy talk
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blasphemy / May 2, 2010
I hear conspiracy talks are especially popular this time of year.
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fearthephog25 / May 2, 2010
I was just calling it as I seen it. Maybe if I ever see him one day after a game in Hec Ed Pavillion, I will get enough nerve to ask him what was said in his phone conversation. I am sure inquiring minds want to know inside recruiting tips of uk, Oregon, Zona, UCLA, and KU. Oh, and Oklahoma. Being that capel is already in trouble with NCAA.
TJ should just shock everybody and go to Portland State, he is one and done anyway. PSU made it to The Big Dance in 2008. This whole particular recruiting process of TJ reminds me of that old show Johnny Be Good. (That was football though) Anybody remember that show? LOL
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DiamondbackRuss / May 2, 2010
Are we sure Cal called Jones and not the other way around? A Seattle reporter wrote that Jones called Calipari. And if that’s the case I have no problem with Cal trying an 11th hour attempt to land a kid.
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
Especially when UK is involved
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
Jefferson AD says Jones is headed to UW
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TheFinger / May 2, 2010
i’m sure if miller came in and convinced lamb to reconsider his options these uk fans would have a different opinion on tampering. tampering is tampering no matter how it’s sliced. it isn’t against the rules, but it is unethical and ethical coaches as miller don’t tamper. says a lot about coach cal though doesn’t it? what goes around will come around.
and conman, if your girl isn’t wearing your ring you’d be okay with her receiving phone calls from her ex-lovers asking her to reconsider and come over for a booty call? thought so. i was on the fence prior to this on whether coach cal was a sleazebag … not on that fence any longer.
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jhawk4 / May 2, 2010
I know what you all are saying, and for the record, i don’t like how football recruits back out of their commitments more often than not it seems like. I have a problem with that too.
I understand why you UK fans defend him. It’s fine. I would do the same thing if I was a UK fan. But think if this happened to you. What if Pitino called Marquis Teague at his press conference and guilt tripped him into reconsidering. You all would be singing a different tune then.
I know its not illegal,that is not my beef with the situation. but couldn’t he at least have waited till the next morning and not ruin what should have been a celebration for the kid?
Again, Calipari didnt do anything against the rules (seems like a familiar theme…) but this was still kind of a crappy thing to do, even if UK fans will never admit it.
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
Good points. Recruiting is very much a business now, and sometimes you have to do some unethical things to succeed. This is what John Calipari has always done. It’s not against the rules, but it’s frowned upon by other coaches. Of course, Cal has broken rules, but none so bad that his programs got the death penalty.
It’s still not known who called whom, but a reporter for a Seattle radio show said that when he was standing next to Jones after his announcement, TJ’s phone rang and later he said that it was Calipari on the phone.
Take it for what it’s worth. Just relayin’ info
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blasphemy / May 2, 2010
Jhawk, Cal didn’t guilt trip him. It’s now known as a fact. That was a misconception. One which I would have frowned upon myself, but it is not the case, per the own guy who wrote the article. Also, as I posted earlier, from Kentuckysportsradio.com, Jones called Cal. The second source may not float your boat enough, that is fine. But beyond that, it’s still up in the air.
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blasphemy / May 2, 2010
No, you are hearing funny little people in your head tell you UK did it. It’s all in your head…… lol
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blasphemy / May 2, 2010
What NCAA football team do you root for, so you can send them a letter on why they should stop recruiting verbally committed players.
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blasphemy / May 2, 2010
Btw, you were never “on the fence.” I think the other readers will agree with me.
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MuchLuck / May 2, 2010
Actually, the making fun of KY fans is definitely a personality defect on my part. See, I’m lazy……and it’s the easiest thing to do. Far be it from me to complain when you provide a quarry of “sticks and stones” for the rest of the basketball world.
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
Leave Jenbob and Joseph out of this!! lol
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
yep
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OldTerp / May 2, 2010
ratlifj
I wasn’t ragging on UK or Kentucky – just on the whole premise that these guys are actually going to a college for educational purposes. The NBA imposes the rule about making them be one year removed from high school before they can be eligible for the draft. Stupid rule. Many of these kids have taken school for granted their entire lives and coaches, schools, parents are all to blame – as are the players. For every kid that makes it to the NBA & gets that big contract, there are hundreds and thousands of others that have nothing to fall back on.
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tsmooth / May 2, 2010
Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever agreed more with a post on here. “Student athletes” only have to go to the first semester of school if they plan on being a one and done. If they stay for more than one year, they just need to meet the required GPA of 1.8. The NCAA is hypocrisy at its finest.
You hit the nail on the head, OldTerp
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blasphemy / May 2, 2010
I agree and disagree. Honestly, IMHO, the ultimate goal of sports in the NCAA should be to provide funds for research and/or contruction and/or scholarships for other students. I think the Idea of “Student Athlete” Should be abolished. Only the NCAA can do something about it. The disagreement is kind of implied, given that I’m saying they shouldn’t really have to go to school if the don’t want to. Simply my opinion, feel free to disagree.
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