John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

(AP photo)

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader on Terrence Jones coming to Kentucky:

Jones led Jefferson High School to an unprecedented three straight Oregon Class 5A state championships. He averaged 32 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and three steals during his senior season. Brick Oettinger, a longtime analyst for the Prep Stars recruiting service, considered UK’s incoming class to be outstanding even before the addition of Jones.

Percy Allen of the Seattle Times on UK’s glitz and glamour that lured Jones to Lexington:

Kentucky 2, Washington 0. The Wildcats reached across the country and into the Pacific Northwest, snatching yet another heralded recruit away from the Huskies. Last month it was Turkish-born Enes Kanter, the five-star prospect, who verbally committed to UW in November. On Wednesday, it was multiskilled Terrence Jones, the 6-foot-9 McDonald’s All-American forward from Portland’s Jefferson High, who pledged his loyalty to the Huskies on April 30 during a news conference at his school.

Nick Daschle of the Oregonian on the Jones’ 95 percent commitment to Kentucky:

But Jones indicated that he is “95 percent certain” he’ll stick with the Wildcats, saying coach John Calipari leaving the school is the only reason he would back out. Calipari has been rumored to be in the mix for several NBA coaching jobs, most notably Chicago. Unlike a letter of intent, which binds the player to the school, Jones is free to sign a financial aid agreement with other schools, if offered. Asked if there was a chance he might sign one with Washington, Jones said “it could be possible, but it’s not likely.”

Sporting News recruiting blog ranks Kentucky’s class at No. 3 with Jones:

3. Kentucky. The Wildcats got a late bump when Jones decided he’d play at Kentucky. Though not as strong a class as the Wildcats’ 2009 group stacked with one-and-done stars, Jones highlights a group that includes PF Enes Kanter and G Brandon Knight.

My column saying kids like Knight and Jones are doing the smart thing:

I haven’t seen enough of the Fort Lauderdale guard’s game to judge his basketball IQ, but I know Knight is smart. Not from what he’s done, but what he did not do. He didn’t sign a letter of intent. After committing to play for Calipari and Kentucky, Knight bypassed the traditional letter to instead ink a financial-aid agreement. That’s a non-binding agreement. It means Kentucky must provide Knight with a full scholarship next season. It does not mean Knight has to attend UK. Ditto for Jones.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports writes that Wizards rebuilding will start with John Wall:

Wall has a chance to be a superstar, and rest assured that the Wizards will work harder than ever to find a trade for Arenas. It won’t be easy with the $80 million left on Arenas’ contract; they’ll have to take back someone else’s issues. Philadelphia’s Elton Brand(notes), perhaps? Nevertheless, the Wizards will give Wall a locker on one side of the room with Arenas completely across the way.

Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal says the Jones saga might finally be over:

After several days of speculation, the Portland, Ore., forward signed financial aid papers with the University of Kentucky on Wednesday night. He picked UK just a few weeks after giving a commitment to Washington. The 6-foot-9 Jones didn’t sign a letter of intent or financial papers during a news conference April 30, when he said he would play for the Huskies. Soon after he said he needed time to be sure of his decision before signing.

Mike Miller of msnb.com says Kentucky’s class is once again ridiculous:

The Maui Invitational should send Terrence Jones a gift basket or some kind of “thank you.” He just made their 2010 tournament the must-see event for college basketball’s first month. Jones, a 6-9 forward, spent the last few weeks trying to choose between Washington – where he verbally committed on April 30 – and Kentucky. Wednesday night, he picked the Wildcats, signing a financial aid package and thereby turning any Kentucky-Washington game next season into perhaps the season’s most intriguing game.

Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger on Josh Harrellson’s play in China:

Kentucky senior Josh Harrellson continued his impressive play for Sports Reach Wednesday by scoring 20 points in an 84-80 loss to the Bayi Rockets in Qianjiang, China. Harrellson was 9-for-15 from the field, including 1-for-3 from 3-point range, to lead Sports Reach in scoring. He also had a team-high 14 rebounds along with two blocked shots, two steals and one assist.

Steve Tressler of Armchair Quarterback says Calipari should think twice about the NBA:

Let me tell you the Kentucky basketball version of a Greek tragedy. It goes like this; a once great basketball program had slipped out of the stratospheric heights of Mt. Lexington and fallen to earth as a mere mortal program. They had become a commoner in college basketball. This was unacceptable to the masses that worshipped the program. They needed help.

Adam Zagoria on Terrence Jones joining the Wildcats:

Terrence Jones completed one of the more stunning recruitments in recent memory Wednesday night when he signed with Kentucky after initially making a verbal commitment to Washington. “We chose Kentucky,” Linda Mashia-Jones, Terrence’s mother, wrote by text at 11:37 p.m. She later added that Terrence just signed financial aid papers, not an NLI.

Wildcat Blue Blog says John Calipari is truly the master of his domain:

Good things come to Kentucky fans who wait. For the third year out of the last four, Wildcat fans were riveted by a recruiting battle that drug on into the final hours of the signing period. First, it was Patrick Patterson. Last season was John Wall. And last night, Terrence Jones made it official. The Bluegrass was rewarded for their patience, and Kentucky fans can start thinking about a run for national title number eight.

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald on Jones’ switch from Washington to UK:

Terrence Jones kept the University of Washington men’s basketball program waiting. And then he broke the Huskies’ hearts. According to a report on Scout.com, the 6-foot-9 McDonald’s All-American who verbally committed to UW on April 30 decided Wednesday night that the University of Kentucky was the place for him.