Jones’ decision to have huge impact regardless of final outcome

Posted Mar 11, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Mar 11, 2010 at 09:52 PM

Will he stay or will he go? That’s the most important question surrounding the USF men’s basketball program.

Junior guard Dominique Jones told the New York Post on Wednesday that “the NBA is not going anywhere, so I’ll take my time to make my decision.’’

When Jones played his way onto the national radar earlier this season by averaging 37 points during a four-game Big East winning streak, the NBA questions began surfacing.

Most top college basketball programs face this situation every season with their best players. But this isn’t the norm for USF, a program that will play its first postseason game in eight years next week.

The Bulls have a chance to be really good next year if Jones returns.

If he leaves, Coach Stan Heath will have a gaping hole to fill.

When asked last month about his thoughts on his NBA options, Jones had this to say:

“I won’t leave South Florida if I’m a loser,’’ Jones said. “I want to leave here a winner I feel like I owe this school that. As of now, we haven’t won enough. Some people think that the NCAA Tournament is enough, maybe it might be.

“That might be the thing that we need to boost this program up, or maybe we might need the Sweet 16. Those [NBA] options are just something that is open to me after the season.’’

After losing to Georgetown in the second round of the Big East Championship on Wednesday, the Bulls’ NCAA hopes faded to black. They are headed to the NIT instead.

Heath had this to say last month when asked about his advice to Jones: “Finish the mission. Stay right here; stay glued to what you need to be doing, because those things take care of themselves.
“He’s just got to stay here, and he will.’’

Every team in the NBA had scouts at this week’s Big East tournament, and while they are not permitted to be quoted about non-seniors, Jones was one of the underclassmen scouts were most intrigued by.

Most draft projections have him going late in the first round or early in the second round.

One NBA scout told the Post that Jones is “high-volume scorer, has a knack for scoring. Not every athletic, not very fluid; shoots a lot of contested shots.’’

Another scout said Jones “has a toughness about him. Has point-guard size, be he’s probably going to have to be a third-guard type guy.’’

Heath clarified his stance on Jones’ future on Thursday via text message, saying:

“I don’t have any expectations on Jones returning to school,’’ Heath said. “Until all the information about the draft and his most accurate status within the draft is available – I will not have an expectation nor will I advise him on what I feel is best.’’

While Heath certainly hopes Jones returns, he knows there are a lot of factors out of his control that will determine Jones’ final decision.