HoopsHype.com Rumors

Baylor coach Scott Drew said an NBA draft early-entry decision from Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller will come at some point this week after he sits down and meets with the families. If both were to return then the Bears would be one of the favorites again in the Big 12 and possibly a Final Four. ESPN.com

Draft, Quincy Miller, Perry Jones 

The entire college basketball world was holding their breath on Sunday. Early in the second half of the Elite Eight game between the Baylor Bears and Kentucky Wildcats, freshman phenom Anthony Davis went knee to knee with Perry Jones III. Davis landed awkwardly and the entire arena held their breath. Luckily, it looks like Davis escaped any serious injury. After sitting out for a couple minutes, Davis was able to return to the game, albeit with a slight limp. More than likely, it was just bone to bone contact and Davis avoided any possible damage. Rant Sports

Draft, Injuries, Perry Jones, Anthony Davis 

Expect NBA scouts to devour videotapes from today's matchup in the low post between Kentucky's 6-foot-10 Anthony Davis, a freshman projected as the top overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and Baylor's 6-11 sophomore Perry Jones III. But Jones, who has expressed interest in making himself available for the draft in June, downplays the significance of the matchup. "I feel like everyone is more worried about my draft stock," Jones said. "I could care less right now. I can't go in there thinking about any one-on-one matchups... I'm looking forward to playing team basketball." Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Draft, Perry Jones, Anthony Davis 

Still, there is a perception that his performance in the tournament has hurt his N.B.A. draft standing. “It doesn’t create pressure because I haven’t been thinking about it,” Jones said. “The last thing I’ve been thinking about is the N.B.A. I’ve just been trying to get my team to a national championship. I know if I worry about the N.B.A., then everything will turn around, and it will just be worse. Just don’t worry about it. Just need to focus on the games I’m playing right now.” New York Times

Draft, Perry Jones 

Chad Ford: Some guys who've helped their draft stock this week per NBA scouts: Perry Jones, Andrew Nicholson, Michael Snaer, Yancy Gates, Henry Sims Twitter

Draft, Perry Jones 

While Jones admittedly had an "up-and-down season," Baylor (25-6) tied a school record for regular-season wins. "This is pretty much redemption," Jones said after Baylor's practice at Sprint Center. Jones said he will take the same approach about returning for his junior season. "Maybe I come back. Maybe I won't," Jones said. "It's up to my family. We'll talk about it. We'll pray about it." Dallas Morning News

Draft, Perry Jones 

Now we know what motivates Perry Jones III. A Mohawk, for one. That's the radical haircut the father of Baylor's sophomore post has promised to get after watching the best game of his son's career Thursday at the Big 12 tournament. Twizzlers and Jolly Ranchers, too. Perry's mother Teri Jones was waving the candy from the Sprint Center stands like they were bones for a dog. That's where the Perry Jones story gets complicated. It shouldn't take a 20-year old NBA prospect's favorite candies to get him going. That, and the word "dog" has been associated with Baylor's 6-foot-11 forward on more than one occasion this season. "I really don't know," Teri Jones said Thursday when asked about her son's inconsistency. "I know he does pray. Then I send him Bible verses and he has the team to motivate him as well. He tries to get on the court and think about just playing basketball. I know when he comes off the court his mind is going." CBSSports.com

Draft, Perry Jones 

But for one afternoon all the crap Baylor and Jones have been through this season was forgotten. If these Bears play to their potential -- a big if -- they could do some damage in the NCAA tournament. That 2-3 zone, that massive back line that looks like it can stretch defensively sideline-to-sideline. With Jones in the middle of it, Baylor looks, well, motivated. "I don't worry about the draft and what's going to happen after this season," Perry III said. "I just worry about winning a national championship in college." The statement sounds genuine. If Jones has good reasons for stiff-arming the NBA to this point, you have to believe him. For a brief moment we were able to see why those pro scouts are drooling over him like they're working on a Jolly Rancher. "He loves them," Teri reminded. CBSSports.com

Draft, Perry Jones 

Either way, when North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes, Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger, Kentucky’s Terrence Jones, Connecticut’s Jeremy Lamb and Baylor’s Perry Jones chose to spend their sophomore years on campus – and join other potential one-and-done candidates such as Connecticut’s Andre Drummond, Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Florida’s Bradley Beal and Baylor’s Quincy Miller – it created a situation in which teams on the back end of the lottery could still pluck quality talent. That is, of course, if all of those players declare for the draft. “It’s a good year to be in the lottery because it’s one of the safer lotteries,” the scouting director said. “If you have a pick around the top 14 or 15, you might get a top five or top seven talent, just because of the amount of guys who went back. Some people make the argument that some of those guys might’ve contended for one. You’re going to get a higher quality player in whatever range you’re picking in the first round than you normally would.” Washington Post

Draft, Harrison Barnes, Terrence Jones, Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb, Andre Drummond 

And anyone who questions Jones' mettle obviously forgets that he passed up an opportunity to be a top-5 NBA draft pick last summer because he didn't feel he was ready. If it isn't tough to know who you are and turn down millions, what is? Perry Jones is soft, they say? His story suggests he's anything but. Jones begins his tale and then stops. "This is stuff," he says, "that I've never told anyone before." ESPN.com

Draft, Perry Jones 

"I'm sure he feels a lot of pressure," Terri said. "People have told him, 'If you go to the NBA, you can do such-and-such for your mom or your family. You can help their pain, and you won't ever have to worry about money again.'" All indications were that Jones would've been a top-5 pick in the 2011 NBA draft had he chosen to leave Baylor after his freshman season. But when he hinted he was thinking about returning to school, Terri was quick to offer support. "Don't worry about the money," she told him. "We can't miss what we've never had. It's your decision. If you want to stay, I'm behind you 100 percent." ESPN.com

Draft, Perry Jones 

Even more important is the decision regarding the NBA that Jones will face once again. He'd like to come back to school, but Terri's condition has worsened. Some of the country's top physicians that specialize in her condition work at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif. Terri's local doctors have suggested she seek treatment there when possible, but plane flights and hotel rooms are expensive. Jones could certainly help defray the costs with his NBA paycheck. "I don't think he's going to stay at Baylor another year," Terri said. "I think he's more ready than he was a year ago. Last year we never talked about making the transition to the NBA, but this year we've discussed it a couple of times. I still don't think he's made a decision, though." ESPN.com

Draft, Perry Jones 

Hoopshype.com has the Suns selecting ninth and taking Baylor's Perry Jones III, a 6-foot-11 sophomore small forward. What's up with Baylor and IIIs anyway? Hoopshype.com notes that Jones is considered by some to be a possible No. 1 overall pick with "jaw- dropping physical attributes," but he lacks intensity. Great. Arizona Republic

Draft, Perry Jones 

Chad, one thing I always wondered was, is your draft big board your big board or more of a representation of how people you talk to are feeling? If it's the latter, is there any player that you personally disagree with how NBA scouts/GM's view him? Chad Ford (1:55 PM): It's a consensus from what I'm hearing from NBA scouts/GMs and this year, I'm talking to a few more team stat heads as well to include that dimension in the rankings. Do I personally disagree with some of the rankings? Of course. But I think the Top 10 is pretty solid right now. My personal rankings would be close. I'm probably a bit higher on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist that some scouts/GMs are. They're probably higher on Perry Jones than I am. ESPN.com

Draft, Perry Jones 

(Thomas) Robinson has really impressed scouts with his added face the basket skills. With a huge wingspan, the junior has played with great energy all season. Showing the ability to consistently knock down mid-range shots, as well as get to the rim off the dribble has elevated his stock to a likely Top 10 pick, according to scouts. He's got the consistent motor and fire that seems to be lacking from fellow Big 12 forward prospect Perry Jones. HoopsHype

Draft, Perry Jones, Thomas Robinson 

10. Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin - Smart point guard led the country in assist-turnover ratio, but I can’t get his awful NCAA tournament out of my mind: 8-for-35, and he was terrible in a loss to eventual runner-up Butler (four turnovers, five missed free throws). 9. Tyler Zeller, North Carolina – I maintain that if Harrison Barnes hadn’t been 3-point trigger-happy (2-for-9) in the Final 8 last year, Zeller (9-of-12, 21 points) would have beaten Kentucky. Zeller needs 15-20 shots per game. 8. Anthony Davis, Kentucky - John Calipari coached Marcus Camby about 15 years ago. Camby took UMass to the Final 4 and was the National Player of the Year. Calipari said Davis is a little ahead of where Camby was as a freshman. 7. Austin Rivers, Duke – Enamored with his game, insanely curious whether or not the likely 1-and-done star guard will fit into Coach K’s system. 6. Perry Jones, Baylor – He’ll lead Baylor to the Big 12 title. Note: I thought Kansas State would usurp Kansas last year. Didn’t happen. The Big Lead

Draft, John Calipari, Perry Jones, Austin Rivers, Anthony Davis, Tyler Zeller, Jordan Taylor 

In a normal year, he would have been snatched up in the lottery and signed to an NBA team. But this is not a normal year. The NBA lockout has assured that he'll donate at least one more year of pro bono highlights, going against the flow of one-and-dones and returning for his sophomore year. And he's not alone. Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, Kentucky's Terrence Jones and Baylor's Perry Jones III are among the other second-year stars who delayed their draft entries. Together with Barnes, the group's collective return means that this season, the fight for a national championship will be more rugged than it's been since before one-and-dones existed. "It's going to raise the competition for everyone involved," says Carolina head coach Roy Williams. "Back to when Tim Duncan stayed four years." ESPN.com

Draft, Harrison Barnes, Terrence Jones, Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones 

If the Raptors drafted you, how would you feel about playing in Toronto? Perry Jones: I'd be upset because I would have to go to customs every day. Really? Perry Jones: Yeah, I don't like going to customs that much. Canada.com

Toronto Raptors, Draft, Perry Jones 

Opinion about the top choice isn't unanimous, however. Several scouts and executives have Harrison Barnes projected as the top pick. The North Carolina swingman got off to a slow start in Chapel Hill but came on very strong toward the end of his freshman season. With his high basketball IQ, versatility and silky smooth athleticism, and with the Tar Heels poised to be the best team in the country, Barnes will get plenty of attention. Davis and Barnes are the headliners for a draft class with the following traits: 1. A number of returning college stars: With a potential NBA lockout and other factors in play, an unusually high number of prominent college players passed on their opportunity to jump to the NBA. Barnes might be the top pick in the draft, and he could be followed closely by Baylor's Perry Jones, Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, Kentucky's Terrence Jones, Florida's Patric Young, North Carolina's John Henson, Kansas' Thomas Robinson, Duke's Mason Plumlee and UNC's Tyler Zeller. ESPN.com

Draft, Harrison Barnes, Terrence Jones, John Henson, Jared Sullinger, Perry Jones 

Perry Jones is one of the only players to come out publicly and say that he's not mature enough nor ready for the fast-track lifestyle in the NBA. Going into the real world at 19 isn't the norm, outside of the military. Underclassmen who go directly to the NBA after one season go into a business world, whether or not they're ready to handle the pressures. Jones wasn't. And Baylor is the beneficiary. "There were a lot of people that were pressuring me, saying that I was making a mistake because I was going to go in the top five,'' Jones said. "A lot of it was on Twitter, a lot of people I didn't know. If people didn't go to Baylor, they weren't happy for me.'' Jones said he heard from middle men tied to agents and that the consensus among that group was that he had made a bad decision. "A dumb decision,'' Jones said. "Everyone said I can make so much money.'' ESPN.com

Draft, Perry Jones