Less than 24 hours after securing Tennessee big man Jaylen Carey, the first commit of the cycle, Dennis Gates has landed a massive commitment from Providence small forward Jamier Jones.
Jones was a top-50 recruit in last year’s high school class out of Orlando, and will *probably* have three years of eligibility remaining. Gates offered Jones early in his high school recruiting process, and with multiple Mizzou connections at Providence, this was a commitment that many had on the radar.
This is a key pick up for the program, as Jones can very likely turn into that Mark Mitchell, Swiss Army knife kind of player with time. However, Jones has rustled up some NBA draft buzz with his standout freshman season, but if he does not head to the league or transfer next year, we could be looking at the next Mizzou star.
While listed as a small forward, Jones functions more as a wing, finding the most success as a slasher. His perimeter game was solid from a small sample, shooting 38.7% from deep on just 31 attempts last year. I expect he will try to expand his perimeter and mid-range game next year, as it would make him one of the more well-rounded scorers on the roster.
What has been remarkable about Jones is his efficiency when he attacks the paint. At 6-foot-6 and 218 pounds, he has a sturdy frame that can finish through contact, shooting an excellent 57% from the field. Jones is especially adept at scoring in transition and off the dribble, seeking contact and working inside incredibly well.
Looking at his tape, I would compare him to Jimmy Butler or Christian Braun, both efficient wings that can bully their way into the paint and score in a variety of ways. Jones is not a lockdown defender by any means, but he can defend multiple positions successfully and is certainly a plus rebounder. Last year at Providence he played in 31 games, starting 19 of them, and averaged 11.9 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Another thing about Jones: the dude can absolutely fly. He is a rim threat almost any time he gets the ball, consistently finding his way into highlight reels for his ability to throw it down.
The only slightly worrying numbers on Jones are his turnover and foul numbers. He has an aggressive playing style on both ends of the court, which can lead to hasty decision making offensively and overplaying defensively.
He averaged 2.3 fouls per game last year, which is a bit disproportionate considering his minutes. Jones was also ejected from the infamous St. John’s – Providence game in February, where he two-hand shoved Zuby Ejiofor as he was going up for a layup. He has a tough mentality that will match well with the scrappy style of play Mizzou has embraced in recent years, so long as it doesn’t get out of hand.
On the passing front, his assist/turnover ratio is sub-1, but I would expect that to improve next year with some coaching and plenty of scoring options around him.
As the roster stands, Jones will likely compete for a starting forward position with incoming five-star Toni Bryant. In the coming weeks, I would expect Dennis Gates to add a starting and bench guard to fill in the position, and possibly a sharpshooter to fill out the role left by Jacob Crews.
With a little over a week remaining for portal entrants, Dennis Gates and company have cooked up an excellent start to transfer season.