First-year coach Johnny Jones may have LSU back on the brink of basketball success after bringing in the Tigers’ highest-ranked recruiting class since 2003, according to ESPN rankings.
Jarrell Martin — a 6-foot-7 small forward prospect out of Madison Prep in Baton Rouge — headlines a class that includes two other ESPN Top 100 prospects.
Martin is the first five-star prospect who’s given LSU a commitment since Anthony Randolph in 2007.
“When [Jones] came to recruit me, he brought a whole team with him,” Martin said. “[Assistant] Coach [Robert] Kirby and him really came in here and swayed me to come to LSU.”
Jones is known for his up-tempo coaching style that focuses on defense, rebounding and getting out into transition. The fast-pace is something Martin said was a big factor in swaying him to stay in his home state.
“The style that coach Jones plays, that up-tempo pace, I feel it suits my style of play,” Martin said.
Forward Jordan Mickey and guard Tim Quarterman — out of Texas and Georgia, respectively — are no slouches in their own right, representing the first four-star recruits LSU has pulled in since the 2010 class.
Forward Deng Deng from Australia brings an international flair to the class and adds some much-needed size to an LSU team featuring only one player taller than 6-foot-9.
Current LSU players aren’t surprised by Jones’ success on the recruiting trail, citing his enthusiasm and willingness to get to know the players as keys to his success.
Jones’ man management has been a huge factor in drawing some of the current players closer to him, and those skills have a factor in bringing in top talent from around the nation.
“He’s a really good man manager, you always know where you stand with him,” said junior forward Shavon Coleman. “How hard you work in practice determines how much you play.”
Similar to LSU football coach Les Miles, Jones’ recruiting style focuses on getting to know prospective player’s families.
“He’s a people person, he cares about you as a person,” said senior guard Charles Carmouche. “Besides from basketball, he tries to learn as much about you and your family as he can.”
Jones is attempting to implement a strict framework to the program by helping players excel off the court, instituting study hall rules and other school-related measures.
The rules were installed to help players excel once their basketball careers end.
“He’s definitely going to give you a lot of structure to help you become a better person both on the court and off the court,” Carmouche said. “Classes, study hall and practice; if you’re not there on time, you’ll suffer the consequences.”
Jones — a former player and assistant coach in two of LSU’s Final Four appearances — has injected some long-absent enthusiasm into a basketball program that has struggled in recent years.
“[Jones] really wants to build the program back up to what it once was,” Coleman said. “He wants to get people back in the seats and pack the stadium like it used to be.”
LSU men's basketball head coach Johnny Jones coaches his team Friday, Oct. 12, 2012, during the team's first practice of the season in the PMAC.
