DoddsOnSports (DOS Welcome to Marquette.
Jamail Jones (JJ): Thank you.
DOS: You obviously selected Marquette but what other colleges were you looking at while you were being recruited?
JJ: My top five were Marquette, Xavier, Miami, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
DOS: Who first contacted you from Marquette?
JJ: Right before my junior year, Aki Collins (Marquette Assistant Coach) came up to my high school to recruit me. He developed a really good relationship with me over the two years he recruited me. As time passed, we became real close and I just knew Marquette would be my home.
DOS: Describe your game. I saw you a little bit on ESPNâ??s high school tournament last April.
JJ: I like to shoot it but I can mix it up by putting it on the floor and taking it to the hoop. Iâ??ll play any position coach wants me to play as long as I can help my team. I guess I would play the three and bring whatever I need to bring for us to win.
DOS: How tall are you?
JJ: A little over 6-5
DOS: When I look at you, you are built very much like Wesley Matthews was at the same time in 2005.
JJ (smiling): I have heard that a lot.
DOS: And based on events from the past week (signing with Portland), ultimately that might be a good thing.
JJ: A real good thing.
DOS: Are you more of a shooting G or small forward?
JJ: I am more of a 3 right now but Iâ??m still working on my handle and trying to tighten up my game a little bit. I want to learn how to better play the 2 spot but if I have to stay at 3, I would be happy to do it.
DOS: What strikes me about your three point jump shot is how quickly you can catch, load, jump and release. It is a very quick shot. Have you been working on that specifically, getting it up quick?
JJ: I have been told that my shot is quick and I rarely have somebody block my shot. The person I watch the most in the NBA right now is Ray Allen.
DOS: How is your free throw shooting? Is it like Ray Allenâ??s 95 percentage?
JJ: I try to shoot it like Ray Allen from the line. I was about 86per cent last year.
DOS: Have you gotten to know Marquette trainer Todd Smith?
JJ: I know Todd Smith real well right now. I have gotten to know him real well since Iâ??ve been here. I was one of the first ones here (summer) so we were able to work one-on-one in the weight room together. I was the only freshman who was here at the time. Since I have been working, now people tell me I look like one of the veterans. My friends at home saw my interview on the internet and I was getting text messages saying, â??Wow, I canâ??t believe how big you got.â??
DOS: How about a scouting report on some of the newcomers? Vander Blue.
JJ: Van is a real good guy. He can shoot it. He puts on the floor very well. He is a very good teammate and he is going to be a vital piece of our team.
DOS: PG Reggie Smith.
JJ: Reggie is quick, athletic, very wiry athlete. He has a lot of skills that can help us.
DOS: Devante Gardner.
JJ: My boy, Devante. He is a very agile big man. Heâ??s got very quick feet. We still need to run the court a little bit better but when he gets that down, heâ??ll be a very big piece for us down in the block.
DOS: You are Jamail but now MU has a Jamil,â?¦ Jamil Wilson who transferred from Oregon. Tell us about him.
JJ: People get us mixed up a lot of times. He has a very nice mid-range game and a very good outside shot. He can play on the floor, dribble and defend. He is really going to help us. Wow, we have a very good freshman class.
DOS: Jae Crower, have you had an opportunity to meet him yet?
JJ: No, I have not played with him yet. He is coming in this weekend so I will meet him this weekend. I heard he can shoot it and heâ??s going to be a lot like Lazar. Weâ??ll see. I hope he is.
DOS: Thanks for your time and welcome to Marquette.
JJ: Thank you.