Portal In: Rubin Jones
Michigan Men's Basketball scooped up a commitment from their first portal target of the offseason, University of North Texas G Rubin Jones:
North Texas transfer Rubin Jones has committed to Michigan, per his Instagram. He’s a 6-5 guard who can get to the basket and shot 41.6 percent from 3 last year. Michigan’s second commitment of the day, along with Justin Pippen. pic.twitter.com/v7mgLFFv5A
— Austin Meek (@byAustinMeek) April 19, 2024
We had heard some rumors about a mystery portal target who Michigan was in the advanced stages of discussions with, but hadn't been leaked publicly. That appears to be Jones. A four year player at UNT, Rubin Jones was a contributor over all four seasons he's been there. As a freshman he was a relatively inefficient reserve on a UNT team that upset Purdue in overtime of the NCAA Tournament. Jones played much larger roles in his sophomore and junior seasons, before moving back into a 6th man role as a senior, although he was still high usage when on the floor. Seth graphic:
For his career, Jones is a .364 three point shooter, a relatively poor .426 from two, and a decent .734 from the free throw line. Listed 6'5", Jones has the ability to guard multiple positions and that versatility makes him a logical fit for Dusty May. Of note, Jones and May have a lot of adversarial experience, as both Florida Atlantic and North Texas were in the Conference USA prior to this past season, when both programs moved up to the American Athletic Conference. That familiarity likely played a role in Dusty's identification of Jones as someone he wanted for his team and also probably played a role in the successful courtship.
We will have a more detailed rundown of Rubin Jones early next week, when Matt posts a Hoops Hello. There is no content after the jump.
So we have a basketball Jones?
That bassaball was like a bassaball to me
"I need someone to set a pick for me on the free throw line of life."
Doesn't get any better than that.
I'll add to the string of great lines....
"I even put that bassaball underneath my pillow, maybe that's why I can't sleep at night."
"I can slam it from center court with my toes, I can jump on top of the backboard and take off my clothes."
"I can dribble behind my back. I've got more moves than ex-lax."
Sending a green wave to you sir - welcome aboard Rubin. Hope you meet your Charisse in AA!
On the way to having a fun team to watch
I think Dusty May cares about culture.
Teammate CJ Noland: "He's a tremendous person one, and a tremendous player second — having him back on the court for our team means a lot. I mean, he's the leader, he's the voice, he's everything for the team. Having him back is just that extra strength and that extra big brother out there that you'll see on the court out there fighting with you."
UNT coach Ross Hodge: "He has always had such a heart for other people. He always celebrates other people so well. It's only fitting because of how his heart is rooted in serving other people. It's only fitting that he's the all-time winningest player here. He's made his career about helping other people."
[...]
Teammate Jason Edwards: "Rubin's leadership means the world with so many new players. He thinks like coach Hodge and is like a guide to everything. His voice carries a lot of weight. He's been a part of championship teams and knows how to win. It's been a blessing for me to have Rubin, who plays the same position, in my corner."
Teammate Aaron Scott: "Rubin is one of the smartest players I have ever played with. He always knows what's going on. When I need help with something, I go to him."
UNT coach Ross Hodge: "That's what makes Rubin's story so awesome. In the world of college athletics, you don't see many players come in, stay four years and go through the natural evolution of growing from a role player to a starter to an impact player and then a fringe all-league player."
I could see him becoming my favorite player on the team.
April 19th, 2024 at 10:16 PM ^
Here we go with that culture shit which is code for NIL wasn't a factor. Michigan has turned me into a cry baby ass fan. We went 8-24 doing Wardes way.
All Michigan does is talk about changing their NIL but they clearly aren't.
April 19th, 2024 at 10:31 PM ^
Huh.
April 19th, 2024 at 11:30 PM ^
I don’t think Michigan “turned” you into a cry baby ass fan. You were born that way.
April 20th, 2024 at 12:06 AM ^
Nothing turned you into a cry baby ass fan. You just are one.
Ffs man, you've been bitching for days about not getting commits and the team gets two today and you are still bitching. Give it a rest my man.
Listen man this guy could be the 8th man on the roster you never know. A solid player is all we are looking for right now. When we hit 13 scholarship players then you can cry but for now be glad we are filling a roster. This guy took 1 of our 2 unused roster spots from last season. Perfect!
Then why don't you put your money where your mouth is, sweetheart
I have some sympathy with your nervousness. We'll see soon enough. Without a massive, steady infusion of funds what we may get is a bit of an uptick, and then more of the same.
Speaking of “culture”, of the many things that brought a football championship to M, culture was chief among them, and of the many things that doomed Howard’s bball tenure, culture was high on that list too.
This is thinly veiled racism. But worse--perhaps--it's outright claptrap. You had guys talking about how they'd run through walls for Juwan during the first couple of years. The Fab V turning out in support even during this year's hard times. Everyone grew dispirited toward the end, that's absolutely true. But a far cry from any notion that he was instilling some kind of inimical "culture." The guy loves the hell out of Michigan, and was heartbroken. His son is still on the team. Hunter loved Juwan, but couldn't get any MONEY here.
I know that people who know nothing just say shit to say shit--hey, that's sports. But this is crap. Think before you drivel.
He was a 6th man but played nearly 30 minutes a game. Shoots 41.6% from three. Versatile defender…can we get two of him? Seems like a great pickup and the kind of guy that was missing from the locker room this past season.
Doesn't matter if you start what matters is are you on the court in crunch time!
Absolutely love what teammates said of Jones. That is high praise. Wish he could stay more than a year.
Totally! He sounds like future coach material, maybe he will stick around in another capacity
Welcome!
April 19th, 2024 at 10:06 PM ^
We got a coach. Coaches. And we're getting a team. Feels good.
April 19th, 2024 at 10:33 PM ^
This is crazy. Do we want May to be successful? May has his players that know his system and one just so happens to be one of the best guards in college basketball. Yet here goes Michigan bargain bin shopping, again.
Instead May has to settle fore the 250th best player in the portal to play guard because he will require no NIL whatsoever.
I just don't think it's fair to May and it's definitely not his first choice. The benefit of having transfers that no your system cannot be understated.
I hate that Michigan BB has made me so negative but I supported every move they made delusionally to the point I actually was on here trying to convince people we'd be better without Dickinson because no ski mask n culture, blah, blah. I vowed never to be that dumb again, sorry Michigan.
April 19th, 2024 at 11:08 PM ^
Just log off, man. Take a breath. Take a walk.
April 19th, 2024 at 11:23 PM ^
We all hate that you're so negative, too.
April 20th, 2024 at 12:09 AM ^
I don't hate that they are so negative, I just hate them.
April 20th, 2024 at 12:09 AM ^
Jesus you are insufferable.
Your vow to never be that dumb again is routinely broken every time you post.
Bro, doesnt mean we still arent going to get the FAU guys. We need 9 or 10 guys.
April 20th, 2024 at 10:51 AM ^
He can't force Davis to come here, can he? And maybe he wants too much $. We have to buy alot of players, it's not like we have a full team. And maybe May wants somebody else.
April 19th, 2024 at 10:38 PM ^
So...defense, 3-point shooting, character guy, strong and versatile hair game. Let's do it.
Player comps are never perfect but he reminds me a bit of upper class MAAR or a slightly wingy-er version of him. Big combo guard, can shoot from outside, gets to the rim, playmaker for others, great at D. Good at a lot of things but more of a glue guy.
Can guard 1-3 and will probably be our best on ball perimeter defender next season. Love this pick up.
April 20th, 2024 at 11:42 AM ^
I think MAAR was much better getting to the rack.
Welcome Rubin! Go Blue!
247 says he is a combo guard rather than just point or shooting. It feels like May is going after a lot of guards that can play multiple spots, which is how FAU was described.
The guys start to be interchangeable; my ability to care slips. I admire people's enthusiasm here, but wonder how long it lasts? Are the guys better players, in truth--on this team being assembled in haste--than the players that Juwan and co. were choosing, being scrutinized and derided so heavily, last spring?
At least now we have more players than Duke.
April 20th, 2024 at 10:55 AM ^
Juwan brought in some good individual talent but it was Hoke-esque with 9 guards and no OT, with his roster. I guess had Collins stayed it may have worked.... And Love, Shannon, etc.
And most all his players ALL DEPARTED. So what is May supposed to do? Just blow all the NIL on Dug and Reed? He is doing Exactly what Beilien would do in this NIL environment. Perhaps you prefer getting one and done guys. Or.. Maybe you're having trouble seeing how a foundation has to be built, while competing at the same time. Every move so far has been stellar, and 95% of people paying attention would agree.
I like Dusty a lot; I hope you're right. (Two seven-footers, now! Wow!) I don't see that he's being given the resources to do it right. And I don't think it's terribly untoward to say that when the players shuffle in an out annually, you start to lose a certain sense of attachment to them.
There's a reason why John left. He didn't want to play the game under these conditions. I've been watching, closely, since 1974; I was nuts about John, and Juwan. I worry that we get a bump, and then. . . either the school gets behind the team or we crater once again. (The schools, who make the money, placing the onus on fans to pay up, is another feat of prestidigitation, with fans--mostly--too dazzled by the commotion to remember where the ball is.)
Again, we will see.
April 20th, 2024 at 10:52 AM ^
Team guy with good offensive skills and the twitch, size, length and smarts to play D.
April 20th, 2024 at 11:27 AM ^
6’5 guard , 41% from 3….uhh yes please
April 20th, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
Not pooping on this guy, but just a comparison:
- TWill - 33mpg, 12.3ppg, 4.4reb, 1.4ast, 43/40/77
- Jones - 29mpg, 12.1ppg, 3.2reb, 3.7ast, 40/41/76
Kind of looks like a guard version of TWill, statistically.
To be fair, the extra 4 minutes per game doesn’t seem like much, but Jones is more productive than Williams on a per minute basis.
TWill was also playing in the Big Ten, so maybe a little tougher opposition. Again, not shitting on either guy -- it's just interesting how an incoming guy is perceived vs an outgoing guy. Personally, I'd take either or both. Solid role players.
April 21st, 2024 at 11:29 AM ^
Jones was the Conference USA DPOY. T-Will is nowhere near as good as him on defense. Jones can guard 1-3 and fit in whatever lineup it needs him to be which is valuable.
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