Levi Jones Is Close To Decision
Levi Jones, a 6-11, 245 pound sophomore center from Minneapolis Community and Technical College in Minneapolis, Minn., could be close to signing with the University of Pittsburgh this spring.
JUCO Junction caught up with Palm Beach Head Coach Jay Pivec this week, and he explained that Jones will not be attending Oklahoma State in the fall.
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Pivec said that after visiting Oklahoma State earlier this year, Jones was offered a scholarship and accepted, only to see that offer pulled off the table this month.
"It's the most unbelievable thing that has happened to me in 25 years," MCTC Head Coach Jay Pivec said. "It's never happened like that before and I don't know what happened."
Jones will meet with Pitt Head Coach Ben Howland in Minneapolis on Monday, Apr. 15, and if all goes well, he will probably ink with the Panthers. If not, the recruitment could get thrown wide open again.
"Ben Howland said he would take the kid in a New York minute," Pivec said. "I think he is going to end up at Pittsburgh, but I don't know for sure just yet."
"He is what he is -- he's a 6-11, 245 pounder with good hands and good feet," Pivec continued. "He's not going to be a number one guy but he will contribute to any team."
A native of Minneapolis, Minn., Jones began his college career at Division I South Carolina State. He red-shirted there in 1999-2000 before playing sparingly for the MEAC program during the 2001-2002 season.
Jones averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and four blocks per game this past season at MCTC. He shot 57 percent from the field and 71 percent from the foul line.
"His best basketball is ahead of him," Pivec explained. "He's not a [former MCTC/current Gopher] Jerry Hollman, a 3-4-5 combo, playing at the front of the press, jump and run -- he's a post."
Jones visited Oklahoma State for its game against Colorado back on Jan. 26 and Pittsburgh on Dec. 8 when the Panthers squared off against Penn State.
Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota all came in to take a look at Jones this winter before deciding to go in other directions.
Should Jones make a decision early next week, we will let you know.