Indiana University men's basketball coach Tom Crean has announced that Verdell Jones III, a 6-4, 180-lb. guard from Champaign (Illinois) Central High School has signed a national letter of intent to attend IU and play basketball for the Hoosiers beginning next fall. He was the Champaign News-Gazette Area Player of the Year and an All-State choice as a senior.
"Verdell is an excellent addition to our recruiting class," said Crean. "He is a great floor leader with a tremendous ability to direct an offense and he also has the ability to make plays on his own. His wingspan will make him a tough defender and we like the fact that he has played in so many big-game environments in high school and AAU ball that he will be able to compete for our program right away. We are very excited about his upside."
A three-year starter as a prep, he averaged 17.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists for Coach Scott Davis as a senior and led the Maroons to the Class 3A semifinals as they fell to two-time defending champ Chicago Simeon 51-46. He was named to the Associated Press Class 3A All-State first team after leading his squad to a 25-8 mark and a third-place finish in the Class AAA Tournament. He shot 46.8% from the field, 31% from three-point range and 75.3% from the free throw line. He finished his career with 602 assists, ranking him sixth on the state of Illinois' all-time list. As a junior, he averaged 18.6 points, nine assists and four rebounds and earned All-Area and All-State mention.
He chose Indiana over Kentucky, Arizona and Minnesota. He also once earned national acclaim as an eighth grader for making an 80-foot shot in helping his middle school to an eighth grade state title.
He is the fifth player to accept a scholarship to play for the Hoosiers joining forward Tom Pritchard (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edwards), guard Matt Roth (Washington, Illinois), guard Devan Dumes (Vincennes/Indianapolis) and guard Nick Williams (Mobile, Alabama/LeFlore). He faced Roth's Washington squad in the third place game at the Illinois State Championships and also played against Williams' LeFlore squad in a regular season tournament in Missouri.
He played his AAU ball for Ft. Sooy No Limit where he was coached by his father, Verdell Jones, Jr. ESPN.com had him ranked 28th among senior point guards nationally, while Scout.com ranked him as the 30th. He was rated as the 127th best prospect overall in the country.
