Coastal Carolina transfer PG DeVante’ Jones Announcing Saturday
https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/1387165299833810947?s=21
Coastal Carolina transfer PG DeVante’ Jones tells ESPN he plans to announce his decision on Saturday.
Texas Tech, Michigan, Texas, Memphis among the schools involved. Was the Sun Belt Player of the Year.
Leader recently was felt to be Texas tech but he just had a zoom meeting with Juwan...so maybe there’s a shot for the good guys!
Franz hasn’t announced for the NBA yet, With Franz we’re at the max 13 scholarships (not counting Eli’s extra year). Unless Juwan knows for sure Franz is gone, or that someone is transferring, I doubt Jones picks Michigan if he’s announcing this soon.
Pretty sure guys who use the extra year of eligibility don't count against the limit. But I could be wrong.
Also, Franz is going pro.
This. Eli doesn't count.
He literally said "not counting Eli" so it would appear he knows this, and is, in fact, not counting Eli.
That's how I read it at least.
And still thought Franz would put them at the limit?
6 Incoming freshmen, Johns, Nunez, Hunter, Zeb, Terrence Williams, Jace get us to 12. Franz is 13. Eli doesn’t count. So either Franz has told the coaches he’s out and just hasn’t announced publicly yet or we have someone transferring out. Otherwise, we’re at the scholarship cap.
April 28th, 2021 at 10:04 AM ^
Franz doesn’t count.
April 28th, 2021 at 11:01 AM ^
Franz was just a sophomore - not a senior - this past year, so if he comes back (big if), he would count.
Shoot me. Thx.
Nunez bye bye
April 28th, 2021 at 12:44 AM ^
Nunez had been a joy to watch in the bench mob. Total team player who has obviously made peace with the fact that he’s not going to be a major player. He was promised four years and that’s what he deserves. Doesn’t owe us shit
This is 100% the attitude we should have. While I doubt we see a similar transformation these guy probably also wanted to run Austin Davis and Eli Brook out of town.
Jace can be a walk on. Juwan has an extra scholarship in his pocket.
April 28th, 2021 at 12:21 PM ^
This. It's easy enough to tell Jace, "You deserve a scholarship but since your my son, I'm just gonna make you a walk on and literally buy us an extra scholarship". He could even do the same with Jett once he arrives.
I honestly don’t think he is our plan A for pg this season.
Will gladly take him though.
Who do you think is plan A? I’ve only heard of this guy and the PG transfer form Georgia.
Mr. Jones would be a huge difference-maker for next year's team-he checks all the boxes.
I remember you, you’re the “I hope he’s plan C or D” guy.
April 28th, 2021 at 12:10 AM ^
He’s not a pg so yeah, plan C or D is about right imo. I know that opinion will drive the stat boys around here crazy. Oh well.
If he’s the best available, we take him though.
He's a PG too. If you need stats, look at his 2019-2020 assist numbers. Jones and Brooks are an NC caliber guard tandem. And guess what, he is not coming unless Juwan and his staff want him to come.
He is plan A. Not sure if you are one of the folks who seems to think Carr was ever an option (he was never coming here...).
April 27th, 2021 at 10:03 PM ^
Pretty sure he was holding out hope for Jalen Suggs.
Honestly, the more I look into him, the more I like Jones's fit on this squad. Best comparison point is obviously Mike Smith, who more or less aced the jump from the mid-major level, similar to what Jones will need to do.
What stands out most to me is the efficiency he showed at Coastal while having a significant offensive load. While his usage is down compared to Smith (~25% compared to Smith's ~30%), his improved offensive efficiency makes up for that (~115 ORTG vs Smith's ~105 ORTG), and while he wasn't a knockdown 3 point shooter at Coastal, neither was Smith (both around 33% shooters at their mid-major), and Jones's strong Free Throw shooting (~85%) leads me to believe that that should tick up when he is afforded better looks, which both Smith and Chaundee benefited from at Michigan.
Defensively, he projects better than Mike Smith thanks to his advantage in height, and should be able to hold up similarly at least against Big 10 competition, fingers crossed.
Looks like he has some playmaking skills as well, even if his Assist % went down last year, it was higher in his underclassman years. His junior year is also a good thing though, as it leads me to believe he can play as an off ball guy as well to pair with Collins or Zeb, if/when they wind up taking lead guard minutes.
Seems very promising to me. Assuming Juwan is doing his due diligence and making sure he's a culture fit for the team (which was what I think really made Smith and Brown succeed last year), he seems like a great guy to add to the mix should he pick Michigan. That's not to guarantee he performs as well as Smith, who was more than anyone really expected coming in, but he should have the tools to make a similar impact.
i'm hoping we snag this cat
Dogs > cats
Not on this blog
I’ve also recently heard Houston was the leader to land Jones and had been in the mix all along. Just a rumor, but something to keep an eye out for.
Edit: Seems like the same source who believed Houston was the favorite to land Jones now believes Michigan is the likely destination for Jones.
Is going pro off the table for him now?
He's a bad, bad saxophone man, that's all we really know.
Juwan can do it!
Any blue balls out there?
Yes. Several of us are married.
Hilarious comment. Not accurate in my case (thankfully) but still laughed out loud. Well done.
You know what they say about the braggers!
April 27th, 2021 at 11:01 PM ^
You’re right. I probably should have just laughed at the comment, upvoted, and moved on. BUT, there are some unmarried folks on here, some who have even recently asked for marriage advice, and they may appreciate knowing sex doesn’t have to die at the alter.
Give it some time, pal.
Username checks out
"Haha so true, amirite? Not for me of course I get laid all the time but statistically speaking that joke resonated with many!"
Look everybody, this guy has sex!
April 27th, 2021 at 11:29 PM ^
Jeez. You said it, and ain't it true.
Well done kind sir.
April 28th, 2021 at 12:52 PM ^
rice4114, You win the internet today. Well done sir.
Lol...
Now we have announcements for transfer portal athletes?
Will there be hats involved and the crazy drunk uncle who objects with his choice on live TV?
I hope so.
I mean it's no different that an actual recruit, possibly more important considering transfers are almost always instant contributors.
Someone suggested yesterday that Franz wanted to wait til classes end to make his announcement. The last day of exams is Thursday. If he announces Friday, Saturday would be a perfect time for Jones to announce.
Sam said Michigan thinks he’s coming.
Multiple Michigan sites have all started saying that they feel good about this one for Michigan. Expect a hello post Saturday.
I'm no genius, but I think Michigan may have a solid chance come Saturday.
April 27th, 2021 at 10:39 PM ^
Sam's gut = Matt EM's "solid chance."
I think people might be overestimating how many minutes Jones would take away from Collins/Jackson/Bufkin. I think he would be another good veteran presence and great for floor spacing.
Going small and playing 3 guards is quite common so bringing another guy into the mix, especially one who can shoot, should be good for the team all around. I think he is more of a 20mpg guy who helps space the floor than the 30mpg ball dominant PG some have him pegged as.
I wonder if he would end up being more of Just A Shooter in the Big 10. His athleticism doesn't really stand out even at his current level of play. He certainly isnt as quick as Smith. I think he would end up taking a lot of other 2's on slash attempts as opposed to getting to the basket and finishing.
I actually think this could ultimately help Collins as it gives someone else who can play off of him in the back court to alleviate a little bit of ball handling duty but also open up lanes for him to use his athleticism and make plays for himself and teammates.