Texas Basketball Recruiting: What impact does 2019 C Kai Jones bring for Longhorns?

The highest rated commitment of the 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class yet was picked up recently in the form of 6-foot-10 center Kai Jones.

It’s finally here. The second commitment of the 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class came in the form of 2019 four-star center Kai Jones who announced his pledge to the program on Oct. 15. Texas basketball recruiting got off to a slow start for the 2019 class, but now has two quality commitments in line between Jones and and four-star Missouri City, TX, shooting guard Donovan Williams.

As the No. 53 ranked prospect in the nation, Jones gave an immediate boost to the 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class standing in both the national rankings and in the Big 12. Naturally, any time you land a prospect that nearly ranked in the top 50 nationwide you will get a nice jump up the ladder.

Texas now ranks as the 26th best 2019 class nationally and the fourth best in the Big 12. Only the Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, and TCU Horned Frogs rank ahead of the Longhorns in the conference. Texas is also now ahead of the traditional power in the Big 12 for basketball in the Kansas Jayhawks.

Jones hails from Wolfeboro, NH, and is a product of Brewster Academy. He is ranked as the third best prospect out of the state of New Hampshire and the 13th best center in the nation. Although, the Horns might not use Jones in such a fashion as a traditional big man like that of current Orlando Magic center Mohamed Bamba.

The film of Jones bares a striking resemblance to that of Texas basketball alum and Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner. Both Jones and Turner aren’t the most nimble big men in the land but they both can be forces to be reckoned with on both ends of the court.

In high school, Jones is a very solid defensive player that could turn into a solid rim protector at the college level. He does have some work to do on his speed, shooting, and strength down low. Although, he seems to be making a commitment to improving his shooting game from mid-range and beyond the three-point line. That would also be a striking similarity to that of Turner.

It might take a year or two on the Forty Acres before Jones becomes a standout big man for the Horns. He will eventually become a very versatile piece for the Texas front court and head coach Shaka Smart if he does develop the ability to stretch the floor and mix up opposing defenses.

This is the type of piece that the Horns have looked to land for the past few months. Getting the first commit out of the way in Williams was big, but Jones adds another dynamic to this building 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class. And, he chose Texas over the likes of the Baylor Bears and the Florida State Seminoles.