With the recent announcement of Jared Martin transferring to Prolific Prep (CA) for his senior season, now Chandler High School's gifted 6-foot-6, 200-pound senior wing prospect Tevian Jones will also be leaving the state for his senior season. Arizona Preps caught up with Jones on Saturday and learned of his plans for the future.
While I had been hearing rumblings that Jones may be leaving the state for his senior season, this weekend Jones and his mother confirmed it while he was participating in the TR3 Hoop Summit event at Ironwood High School. Jones advised me that he will be attending Culver City High School in Culver City, CA, for his senior season.
It is still unclear as to exactly why Jones has decided to leave the state for his senior season, but he did play his last two club seasons for the Nike-sponsored Cal Supreme (CA) program.
Jones had his best effort and performance that I have ever seen from him on Saturday in the Top 20 All-Star game in the TR3 Hoop Summit event. In the event's final game, Jones scored better than 50 points in the contest, as his team lost by 30 points. Jones scored from everywhere on the floor, and showed a much-improved offensive attack.
Chandler HS head coach Ed Gibson is a hard-working and focused coach, and has does an excellent job trying to build the Chandler program. It will be a major loss for his program this high school season, as Jones is currently rated as our #3 overall prospect in Arizona's 2018 class, but has tremendous upside as a player and for the future.
Jones currently has scholarship offers from Cal, USC, UNLV, San Diego State, Nevada, Grand Canyon, Pepperdine and Rice. Jones still has some work to do in the classroom, and, if he can qualify academically, look for many more college programs to pursue him.
While the state of Arizona is seriously on the rise with basketball prospects, as a result of the tremendous level of talent being brought in by local prep schools, and a few other recent transfers to the state, the loss of Jones and Jared Martin from Arizona's 2018 class is big. It is very unfortunate that club teams and schools from outside our state continue to pluck our kids, but it is up to basketball leaders in the state to raise our level of basketball opportunities for Arizona's top prospects. I really believe things are happening for the better through the recent addition and development of our local prep programs, but it could continue to be difficult for AIA member programs to land and retain top prospects.
We will continue to follow this story and also the future recruitment and development as a player of Tevian Jones, and bring you any updates as they continue to develop.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: A very long and athletic wing, Jones is a serious high-major division-I talent with loads of upside for the future. He has really developed a great deal over the past year and has proven to be a serious national prospect. Tevian is able to take players off the dribble using his long stride, while also being able to use his superior athleticism to finish over/around or dunk on defenders. He also has a very smooth release on his jumper - able to knock down mid-range jumpers and also extend well past the 3-point line. He also has a solid handle of the basketball, and is able to push the ball in transition and finish. He has solid court vision from the wing position and has a good ability to find the open teammate on the floor. He is also able to put smaller defenders on the block, in half-court situations, and post them up with a solid set of post moves for a wing, although he does not do this enough. On the defensive end, Jones uses his tools, such as his length and athleticism, to block/change shots, get his hand in the passing lanes, due to his quick defensive reads, and cause overall issues for players who are trying to get into their own offensive rhythm. Jones is oozing with upside as a prospect, as his frame is very long. His best years are well ahead of him.