Jones Granted One More Season, Mules Sign Two More

Sep 13, 2006, 14:55

Dave Kopp

CMSU guard Theo Jones sank 45.9 percent of his three-point attempts last season. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Most former athletes will tell you they'd give just about anything for the chance to play again, but can only dream of that opportunity. For Theo Jones, however, the dream is becoming reality.

The Bowling Green, Fla. native thought his college basketball career had come to a close when he and his Central Missouri State teammates were ousted from the NCAA Tournament last March. Now, the NCAA has granted Jones one more season of eligibility.

"I'm very excited to get this chance to play again," Jones said. "It's like a dream come true."

"Obviously, from a basketball standpoint, it's a positive," added Mules head coch Kim Anderson. "More importantly, Theo is an outstanding student and this will enable him to finish school and graduate at the end of this year."

The additional year of eligibility was granted based on an appeal by the CMSU Athletics Department. As a freshman at Upper Iowa during the 2001-02 season, Jones was forced to return home because of a family emergency and was unable to return to school.

He had appeared in only three junior varsity games when he was forced to leave Upper Iowa. After reviewing the case, the NCAA awarded Jones another year of eligibility, essentially giving him back his freshman year.

"It's a tremendous situation, especially because of the type of person Theo is," Anderson said. "He's developed into a leader, he's a great student and he's well liked in the community. It's a win-win situation for everyone."

An MIAA All-Defensive Team selection last season, CMSU's Theo Jones hopes to show the rest of the league he is a solid all-around player this season, (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Last season, Jones was named to the the All-MIAA Defensive team and averaged 7.5 points per game. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder also hit a team-high 45.9 percent of his three-point attempts.

As he looks forward to his "second" senior season, Jones is excited about the possibilities.

"The Mules are going to be a exciting team to watch this year," he said. "I would like to help us win a championship, earn another defensive award and be acknowledged as an all-around player."

"I think he's improved tremendously," added Anderson. "Last year, he emerged as a good defender. He can shoot the three, he has a great knowledge of what we're trying to do and he's an intelligent player. I think he is an all-around player and he's going to get the opportunity to do even more this year."

Transferring to Central Missouri for this season is Zack Wright. Playing for Division I Arkansas-Little Rock, Wright led the team in points (12.3 per game), steals (66), and assists (164) last season.

The 6-2, 182-pound guard was a Third-Team All-Sun Belt Conference pick and played in 85 of a possible 86 games in his three seasons. He shot 79.8 percent from the line (sixth all-time at UALR) and dished out 282 assists in his career with the Trojans (seventh all-time).

"We're happy to get him," Anderson said. "He was an outstanding player at Arkansas-Little Rock. He and Waddell (Williams) played together when they were freshmen, so they have a good knowledge of each other."

Wright played for Killeen Ellison High School in Austin, Texas and led them to a 35-2 record as a senior, garnering a McDonald's All-America nomination.

Also transferring to CMSU is former Raytown South player Tyrone Young. A 6-4 198-pound forward, Young is a Division I transfer from NCAA Tournament qualifier Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

He will be eligible for the Mules in the 2007-08 season.

Young played in 25 games for the Panthers last season after transferring from Vincennes (Ind.) Junior College. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.