Ole Miss lands Arkansas small forward

t's a big year for talent in the state of Arkansas, but not all of it can end up in Fayetteville. Monday, Andy Kennedy and his staff at Ole Miss locked up some of the state's talent for their own when they got a commitment out of Jamal Jones.

IA 6-foot-8 small forward at Searcy (Ark.) High who played for Team Arkansas in the summer, Jones is a potential sleeper.

"He told me that the first thing that came through and felt right, he wanted to get it done early,"said Jones' high school coach Jimmy Summers. "His trip to Ole Miss, he was absolutely estatic about it and he loves the coaching staff."

A long and rangy athlete with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Jones is a heady, versatile player who will play all five spots for his high school team. Having recently gone through a growth spurt, he's got good ball skills from his days as a point guard. He will need to add some bulk to his skinny, 180 pound, frame. But, he's an SEC level athlete with considerable promise.

"He can really handle it for a 6-foot-8 kid and his passing is his greatest attribute," said Summers. "I really think he's the best open floor player in Arkansas. To be 6-foot-8 and able to grab a rebound and take off like he does, he's the only player in the state who can do that."

A three-star prospect, Jones joins combo guard Ladarius White and power forward Aaron Jones in the Rebels early recruiting class.