MaxPreps examines 10 high school seniors that will prove to be impact performers in next year’s field of 65.
Perry Jones
File photo by Keith Owens
Throughout the month of March, MaxPreps.com will highlight 10 high school seniors sure to make a splash in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
No. 9 Perry Jones
6-11 / 220 / Forward
Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas)
Headed to: Baylor
2009-10 season: Consistency has always been tough to bottle for Jones and his senior season was no exception. He has the ability to look like a future No. 1 NBA Draft pick one night (27 points, 17 rebounds against Irving MacArthur on Jan. 2) and completely disappear and be a non-factor the next (three points against Dallas Carter Dec. 28). Jones averaged 13.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, leading the Panthers to a 21-13 record. He was held to single digits in the scoring column 10 times, which is hard to believe given his talent but also has something to do with a cold-shooting Duncanville squad that gave opponents the opportunity to collapse on the big man.
Next-level analysis: Why all the optimism for a player who underachieved at the high school level?
(1) He’s the most athletic and talented post player in the 2010 class.
(2) Scott Drew.
Two players with nearly identical frames – Michigan transfer Ekpe Udoh (6-10, 240) and former Houston Yates star Anthony Jones (6-10, 195) – have started all 32 games for the Bears this year, so he clearly fits Drew’s vision of a Baylor big man. Anthony Jones posted very similar numbers (13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds per game) to Perry Jones as a senior at Yates. Josh Lomers, a 7-footer who has also started all 32 games and averages nearly 27 minutes per game, is graduating, so that could open up more playing time in the paint.
Baylor, a No. 3 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament field, will be a force in the Big 12 and beyond as long as Drew remains in Waco. He has an eye for talent and Jones is the highest-rated recruit he has signed, so expect him to put the talent to use.
Also see: No. 10 Cory Joseph
