Photo by: David Dermer
Golden Flashes Bring In Marvin Jones to Bolster Frontcourt
4/23/2014 10:09:00 AM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio — Kent State has signed 6'10", 205-forward/center Marvin Jones to a National Letter of Intent, men's basketball head coach Rob Senderoff announced on Wednesday (April 23). Jones hails from Chicago and joins the program after spending this past season playing at Highland Community College in Freeport, Ill, which also produced former Golden Flash and 2010 Mid-American Conference Sixth Man of the Year Anthony Simpson.
"We are really excited that Marvin Jones will be coming to Kent State," Senderoff said. "Marvin has great length and runs really well. He can play multiple frontcourt positions and being a more experienced player, we believe he will have the ability to compete right away for minutes lost with the departures of Mark Henniger and Darren Goodson. Marvin is a really good kid and comes from a winning program, which is always a plus."
A First Team All-Region IV selection, Jones held down the paint for Highland and led the team with averages of 7.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Jones also contributed 9.0 points per game in helping the Cougars to a 27-8 record and NJCAA DI National Tournament berth, where they suffered a narrow two-point loss in the opening round to eventual national champion Jones County J.C. (Miss.).
Jones will have two years of eligibility remaining when he arrives at Kent State. He played at Southwestern Illinois College during the 2012-13 season before transferring to Highland. While in high school, Jones played AAU ball with MeanStreets out of Chicago, which is run by former NFL wide receiver Tai Streets. Recognized as one of the premier AAU programs in the country, MeanStreets participates in the Nike EYBL and has produced No. 1 overall NBA draft picks Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis.
"We struggled at times last year with protecting the rim and rebounding, said Senderoff. "We committed a lot of fouls around the basket and Marvin will add depth to our frontcourt."
With the addition of Jones, Kent State will put one of its tallest teams in recent history on the floor next season. The Flashes will have six players 6'8" or taller on its roster.
Kent State is set to have the MAC's largest group of first-year players, both in size and quantity, for the 2014-15 season. The seven-player group has an average height of 6'8" and includes 7'4" transfer Blake Vedder, who will be the tallest player in conference history.
2014-15 Kent State Newcomers/Transfers
Gary Akbar
Jr. G/F 6'5" 200
Dayton, Ohio / Dunbar H.S. / San Jacinto College [Tex.]
Raasean Davis
Fr. F 6'8" 235
Dallas, Ga. / Paulding County H.S.
Deon Edwin
Jr. G 6'3" 205
British Virgin Islands / Red Lion Christian Academy [Del.] / Laramie County C.C. [Wyo.]
Jimmy Hall
R-So. F 6'7" 215
Brooklyn, N.Y. / St. Anthony H.S. / Hofstra
**Redshirted 2013-14 season and has three seasons of eligibility remaining
Rosel Hurley
Fr. G 6'6" 180
Shaker Heights, Ohio / Shaker Heights H.S.
Marvin Jones
Jr. F/C 6'10" 205
Chicago, Ill. / Highland C.C. [Ill.]
Blake Vedder
R-Sr. C 7'4" 235
Chesterland, Ohio / West Geauga H.S. / Indiana [Pa.]
** Redshirted 2013-14 season and has one season of eligibility remainin
"We are really excited that Marvin Jones will be coming to Kent State," Senderoff said. "Marvin has great length and runs really well. He can play multiple frontcourt positions and being a more experienced player, we believe he will have the ability to compete right away for minutes lost with the departures of Mark Henniger and Darren Goodson. Marvin is a really good kid and comes from a winning program, which is always a plus."
A First Team All-Region IV selection, Jones held down the paint for Highland and led the team with averages of 7.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Jones also contributed 9.0 points per game in helping the Cougars to a 27-8 record and NJCAA DI National Tournament berth, where they suffered a narrow two-point loss in the opening round to eventual national champion Jones County J.C. (Miss.).
Jones will have two years of eligibility remaining when he arrives at Kent State. He played at Southwestern Illinois College during the 2012-13 season before transferring to Highland. While in high school, Jones played AAU ball with MeanStreets out of Chicago, which is run by former NFL wide receiver Tai Streets. Recognized as one of the premier AAU programs in the country, MeanStreets participates in the Nike EYBL and has produced No. 1 overall NBA draft picks Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis.
"We struggled at times last year with protecting the rim and rebounding, said Senderoff. "We committed a lot of fouls around the basket and Marvin will add depth to our frontcourt."
With the addition of Jones, Kent State will put one of its tallest teams in recent history on the floor next season. The Flashes will have six players 6'8" or taller on its roster.
Kent State is set to have the MAC's largest group of first-year players, both in size and quantity, for the 2014-15 season. The seven-player group has an average height of 6'8" and includes 7'4" transfer Blake Vedder, who will be the tallest player in conference history.
2014-15 Kent State Newcomers/Transfers
Gary Akbar
Jr. G/F 6'5" 200
Dayton, Ohio / Dunbar H.S. / San Jacinto College [Tex.]
Raasean Davis
Fr. F 6'8" 235
Dallas, Ga. / Paulding County H.S.
Deon Edwin
Jr. G 6'3" 205
British Virgin Islands / Red Lion Christian Academy [Del.] / Laramie County C.C. [Wyo.]
Jimmy Hall
R-So. F 6'7" 215
Brooklyn, N.Y. / St. Anthony H.S. / Hofstra
**Redshirted 2013-14 season and has three seasons of eligibility remaining
Rosel Hurley
Fr. G 6'6" 180
Shaker Heights, Ohio / Shaker Heights H.S.
Marvin Jones
Jr. F/C 6'10" 205
Chicago, Ill. / Highland C.C. [Ill.]
Blake Vedder
R-Sr. C 7'4" 235
Chesterland, Ohio / West Geauga H.S. / Indiana [Pa.]
** Redshirted 2013-14 season and has one season of eligibility remainin
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