LR Parkview's Jones makes commitment to Razorbacks

MARTY COOK
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Forward Michael Jones of Little Rock Parkview orally committed to Arkansas on Thursday.
Jones, 6-81/2 and 180, chose the Razorbacks instead of UALR and Arkansas State. He is the Razorbacks' first oral commitment and will sign his letter of intent at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Parkview.
"I get to be away from home and close to home at the same time," Jones said. "I like the style of play. I like to run the court, and everybody gets to play every position. There's not a regular position for anybody."
Jones averaged 10 points and five rebounds as a junior at Parkview after transferring from Jacksonville. He turned heads after averaging 20 points and eight rebounds for the AAU Wings this past summer.
"I think about that every day," Jones said of his meteoric rise. "Sometimes I'm in class or in my room, I find it hard to believe people are talking about me. I've come a long way from when people didn't know who I was or what school I went to."
Parkview Coach Al Flanigan said Jones played well this summer and should only get better.
"When he transferred over here, he hadn't played on a varsity before," Flanigan said. "This is a tough conference, and everything was tough for him. He's just learning.
"I don't know how good he can get. It all depends on Michael. He has good work habits. It's just mental now. If he decides to apply himself in the right way, I think he can be a good player."
Jones said another positive about Arkansas is his family will be able to see him play because of the television coverage the Razorbacks get.
"My mom and dad wanted me to be a Razorback," Jones said. "My grandma doesn't watch me play [in person] because she gets nervous when it comes to crunch time. She said she wouldn't mind seeing me on TV."

This article was published on Friday, November 5, 1999

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