Junior-college wingman Mason Jones orally committed to University of Arkansas, Fayetteville basketball Coach Mike Anderson on Saturday during his official visit that started Friday.
Jones, 6-5, 202 pounds, of Connors State College in Oklahoma picked the Hogs over a scholarship offer from the University of Central Arkansas. BYU and Washington were showing interest along with numerous others.
He was being recruited by Anderson and assistant TJ Cleveland.
"The Arkansas campus is beautiful, and I really love the coaches and know that I am just a great fit for their system, and this was how this was supposed to come together," Jones said. "Coach Anderson said that I could come right in and play."
Jones, who has three years of eligibility left, averaged 15.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game this season as a freshman. He shot 42.9 percent from beyond the three-point line, 51.5 percent from the field and 77.4 percent from the free-throw line.
He played his senior year at Triple A Academy in Dallas and attended Lincoln Prep a year before junior college.
"I know I am now ready to play at this level," Jones said. "That wasn't always the case. I only played basketball my senior year in high school, then went to a prep school and felt like I needed to continue to grow as a person, and that's why I went to junior college this year."
His brother, Matt, was a guard for Duke from 2013-2017. His sister, Jordan, was a guard for Texas A&M from 2012-2016.
Jones is expected to help replace guard C.J. Jones and forward Darious Hall, both of whom announced last week their intentions to transfer. He's expected to ink with the Hogs during the upcoming signing period that starts Wednesday.
Sports on 04/08/2018