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Asheboro star Jones brings versatility
By
Sammy Batten
©2015 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
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Recruiting Class of 2016 Thumbnail Sketches...
The majority of the recruiting
attention paid to the Asheboro Comets this summer has focused on
defensive end Nick Coe, and rightly so. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder is an
exceptional jumbo athlete who is being pursued by a number of major
college programs, including East Carolina.
But while they continue to recruit
Coe, the Pirates landed their 10th verbal commitment for the Class of
2016 from the Comets' other prime-time prospect. Wide
receiver-cornerback Emmanuel Jones accepted a scholarship offer from ECU
on July 25 over tenders from Charlotte, N.C. State, Purdue and West
Virginia.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder committed
to the Pirates after making a long-awaited visit to campus last weekend.
“Emmanuel was really high on East
Carolina from the start,'' Asheboro coach Owen George said. “(ECU
defensive backs) Coach (Rick) Smith was one of the first offers to come
his way. He had already told me, 'Coach, I see myself going there.' But
he wanted to do it (commit) in person. He'd tried to get down there
earlier this summer, but things didn't work out.
“Then, he spoke to Coach Smith last
week, and they told him there was a lot going on Friday and Saturday and
either day would be great (for a visit). He (Jones) went up there
(during) the women's (football) clinic, which was neat. So he committed
while there last weekend.''
Now that the Pirates have secured
Jones' commitment, their next step will be determining where to play him
once he arrives in Greenville sometime next year.
Jones has excelled at both cornerback
and receiver since joining the Asheboro varsity as a sophomore. He made
his biggest impact that season at receiver where he made 23 catches for
601 yards and nine touchdowns. But Jones also contributed 46 yards and a
touchdown rushing, while making 11 tackles and two interceptions on
defense.
“He was very explosive for us on
offense as a sophomore,'' George said. “We were a little more
run-oriented that year, but we opened it up a little more last season.
Emmanuel became a more complete player as a junior in terms of running
routes and blocking. I've always told him you need to do the little
things to become a complete wide receiver.''
All-Piedmont 3-A Conference honors
came Jones' way as a junior at wide receiver after he made 40 catches
for 693 yards and eight touchdowns. But some of his more impressive
performances came on defense, according to George.
One of Jones' best defensive efforts
came in a 27-0 victory against rival Randleman, which featured North
Carolina-signee Juval Mollette at wide receiver. Jones intercepted a
pass and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown in the first half and
limited Mollette to four catches for 60 yards in the game.
“He shadowed Mollette the whole
game,'' George said. “I think that game was a real example of his
versatility.''
Jones developed much of that
versatility on the basketball court where he was first known for his
athletic exploits in Asheboro. As an eighth-grader at South Asheboro
Middle School, he closed out his career with a dunk shot that was
captured on video and can now be seen on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnnYyJ4K8fw.
Twice an all-conference pick in
basketball and a double-figure scorer for the Asheboro varsity
basketball team, Jones hadn't really planned on playing football at the
high school level. But Jones' basketball coach at South Asheboro, Cory
Masterson, doubles as the high school's varsity wide receivers coach.
Masterson encouraged Jones to give football a try.
“He was a tremendous basketball
player,'' George said. “He wasn't going to play (football). I was the
defensive coordinator here his freshman year and he didn't come to our
summer camp.
“But during the first week of
practice he came and found Coach Masterson and said he really wanted to
play football. Coach Masterson went to the head coach at the time and
told him, 'This kid is an exceptional athlete. I know he's late, but I
think you should allow him to play.
“I think he (Jones) realized there
are a lot of 6-2 shooting guards. Then, after he got his first offer
from N.C. State after his sophomore year he said, 'OK, football is my
ticket.' ''
The Pirates initially recruited Jones
as a cornerback, but after evaluating his junior tape at receiver they
could play him at either position.
“I think they're looking for
athletes,'' George said. “I think they like having defensive backs who
played receiver because they know how to judge the football and they
understand route running. They'll get him on the field and see what he
can do.
“Personally, I like him as a wide
receiver just in terms of his expertise because he's been playing that
position for three years. It's more natural to him. But he has worked
really hard on his defensive skills all summer. He's improved things
like his back pedal and identifying the ball at its highest point.
Because of his basketball background he's got this attacking mentality
that is big for him (on defense).''
Jones is the third multi-purpose
player ECU has received a pledge from in the Class of 2016. Wallace-Rose
Hill's
Keyshawn
Canady and Southern Guilford's
Kenyon
Taylor are athletes in the same size and speed range as
Jones, who play a variety of positions in high school.
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07/31/2015 04:07 AM |
