After first appearing that Cuonzo Martin had kept at least one of Bruce Pearl’s highly-touted recruits, it appears now that Chris Jones will not be playing for Tennessee.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that Jones will play for former UT assistant Steve Forbes, instead.
Excerpt:
Tennessee signee Chris Jones will play for former Vols assistant coach Steve Forbes at Northwest Florida State College this fall, Melrose High coach Jermaine Johnson said Wednesday.
Forbes, hired as head coach at Northwest Florida this month, was let go as an assistant at Tennessee in March following an NCAA investigation into alleged recruiting violations by former Vols head coach Bruce Pearl. Forbes was in Memphis on Wednesday.
Jones (5-10, 180), whom Rivals.com rates the No. 39 overall prospect in the Class of 2011, had asked for his release from Tennessee after Pearl and his staff were let go last month. However, newly hired Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin apparently convinced Jones earlier this month to follow through on his commitment to Tennessee, saying Jones no longer wanted his release.
Wow! A top 40 recruit to what sounds like a Jr. College. What a coup.