Dear Terrence Jones:
Today you will be making one of the most important decisions of your life: where to attend college. You’ve received offers from nearly every Division I powerhouse in the country, yet it’s still a complete mystery where you’ll end up. That being said, and all subtleties aside here, PLEASE COME TO OREGON!
I don’t mean to sound needy, but if you’ve followed Oregon basketball over the past two seasons you can understand my sense of urgency. You’ve received offers from top schools like Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, UCLA and Washington, but you still have Oregon on your list of possibilities.
This leads me to believe one of two things. One (the one I’m personally hoping for): You actually enjoy living in the Pacific Northwest and would like to stay in the area for your collegiate career as well. I can respect that. And with a brand new arena that’s sure to fill up when it opens next January, you’ve already got the local stardom in your back pocket before even setting foot on the court.Then there’s the other possibility. Maybe you’ve left Oregon on your list in hopes to avoid spiting those nearest to you. After all, having an entire state weigh in on your decision would make it that much more difficult. Still respectable, but that doesn’t mean I like it.
So to help ease your selection process, I’ve taken the liberty to list a handful of reasons why I think staying at Oregon will help you get the college experience you’re looking for.
1. Matthew Knight Arena. Start off with the flash and bang. It’s big and pretty and could honestly change the way Oregon fans view Duck basketball.
2. You’re the No. 3 power forward in the nation according to rivals.com, a position that really hasn’t been defined on the Oregon team in recent years. The door to the starting lineup is open, slip on in.
3. Head coach Dana Altman. Had you heard of him before his hiring at Oregon? Probably not, but that’s really not the point. The point is the style of play Altman brings to the table. He’s going to let you get out into open space where you’re the biggest threat and have the most freedom to shoot or facilitate, which you do so well.
4. Nike. Speaks for itself at this point. I mean, have you seen the Jaqua Academic Center for Student-Athletes?
5. Lastly, you could become the first high-profile player from the state of Oregon to sign with an in-state team since the Singler-Love snubbing a few years back. Oregon is hungry for high-quality basketball again. Feed them Terrence, feed them!
After all, these are just a few of the obvious reasons that emerge when you consider coming to Eugene. Standing north of 6-foot-8 and weighing in at 220 pounds plus, you’ve got the physical tools to make an impact for the Ducks immediately.
Ultimately you’ve been deemed the best player and prospect on the West Coast in the 2010 recruiting class, so why not stay around the place that got you there? I know John Calipari has probably been blowing up your cell (not literally, that would be some sort of recruiting violation I’m sure), but you’ve got the opportunity to do something bigger. If Oregon is able to lock down a heavily touted local player such as you, it could open the door for an entirely new era in Duck basketball.
The lack of ability to tap into the talent on the West Coast has hung over the heads of Oregon basketball supporters for long enough. It’s time to start a new trend. The trend starts with Terrence Jones soaring through the lane for a two-handed slam with a sold-out crowd at Matt Knight Arena screaming, “TERR-ENCE! TERR-ENCE!”
Sounds pretty good, huh?
[email protected]
Terrence: Imagine the possibilities!
Daily Emerald
April 28, 2010
0
More to Discover