Jones hoping to hear name called

[Brad]

Dayton Beach  News-Journal

Jones hoping to hear name called

By TONY JONES

Staff Writer

Solomon Jones can remember his high school days at Mount Dora. For Jones, those were the days when playing professional basketball was nothing more than a fleeting thought.

He was an undersized power forward back then, a skinny jumping jack who'd yet to find his true niche on the court. The potential was there, everyone from opposing players to college scouts could see it. But the refinement wasn't. By the numbers

On Wednesday night, during the NBA draft, those days of yesteryear could resemble a lifetime.

Jones, who played at DBCC before starring at South Florida, has raised his stock as much as any player in the nation in postseason draft camps. He's sought out the best competition, and he's played well under difficult circumstances. As a result, there's a good chance that Jones will hear his name get called in the second round.

"This is a night that everyone in my position looks forward to," Jones said earlier in the month at the Orlando pre-draft camp. "I've had a good chance to showcase my talent, and I'm pretty confident that I'm going to hear my name called. This could be a dream come true to me."

If Jones gets drafted, there's no telling where he will go since the second round is always known as a crapshoot. But, Jones has a number of things in his favor.

First, after tearing it up at Portsmouth, Jones came back with a solid performance in Orlando. That means more because Jones was playing against better competition in Orlando.

Secondly, Jones is 6-10 with a long wingspan and he runs the floor like a guard. Last, but certainly not least, Jones has tremendous upside, a fact that endears him to the scouts. He's not a timid player and he's a shot blocker, the type that NBA scouts drool over.

"He proved that he could play at the Orlando camp," said Magic General Manager Otis Smith. "He runs the floor well, and he plays with intensity. He's still pretty raw, but I think he has a chance."

In today's NBA world, going undrafted wouldn't be the worst thing that can happen to Jones. Even if he's passed over, he'll most certainly sign on with a team as an undrafted free agent. And even if he has to spend some time in the NBDL or overseas, the prevailing thought amongst NBA brass is that Jones is going to be able to play in the league.

"If you scan NBA rosters, almost every team in the league has at least one undrafted free agent on their team," said Chris Ekstrand, an NBA scout and consultant. "Jones is definitely a player the league is intrigued in."

More than his showing at the pre-draft camps, Jones has hinged his fortunes on his individual team workouts. He's worked out for roughly half the league, not uncommon for a projected second round pick.

But, as NBA super scout Marty Blake likes to say, it only takes one team to like you. On Wednesday night, Jones is hoping that statement applies to him.

tony.jones@news-jrnl.com

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[Herman_Momart]

Drafted or undrafted this will not be the last we hear of Solomon Jones.  

But, as NBA super scout Marty Blake likes to say, it only takes one team to like you. On Wednesday night, Jones is hoping that statement applies to him.

Maybe find himself in a position like Udonis Haslem, who I believe was undrafted.  

[Herman_Momart]

A perfect scenario would be if Sol was drafted or signed by the Phoenix Suns.  His size and the way he runs the court, with Steve Nash.  Could be a nice fit.  Suns could use another big man next to Amare.  

herm - suns fan  :-/