Jones makes it public

Four-star 2011 prospect Chris Jones burst onto the national scene last summer with his prolific scoring for the Memphis Stallions. As expected, Jones has now gone public with his intention to play in the SEC.

"Chris has known that he wanted to go to Tennessee since the fall," said Jones' high school coach, Jermaine Johnson of Memphis Melrose High School. "Ever since he went up there this fall for a football game, he has known Tennessee is where he wanted to go. He also went to the elite camp. So he's been up there twice and had a blast both times."

Jones, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound point guard, is doing much more than just scoring for his 21-1 team. He is averaging 19 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals per game.

Johnson expects him to be nothing less than an impact player in the SEC.

"He will be an impact player and program changer," Johnson said. "He is just what Tennessee needs. He can distribute and defend. He is used to playing pressure defense for us and will fit into what Tennessee wants to do. And he can always impact a game as a scoring guard."

Jones, the No. 36 ranked prospect in the Rivals150, joins five-star guard Kevin Ware in Tennessee 2011 recruiting class.

Tennessee currently owns the No. 4 nationally ranked recruiting class in the 2010 class.