Jones’ arrival led to rosier days for UW

SEATTLE – When senior forward Bobby Jones committed to the University of Washington out of Compton, Calif., four years ago, the Huskies’ program was in shambles with three consecutive losing seasons.

Bob Bender had lost his job as the Huskies’ coach after nine seasons – and an 11-18 final year – and Lorenzo Romar had been hired as Bender’s replacement.

Jones, a skinny 6-foot-7 forward, thought he was headed to Boston College, but hadn’t visited that school yet because his mother canceled his trip in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Romar sold Jones on his first visit to Seattle, persuading him to become his first recruit for the Huskies, Jones recalled.

Jones signed his national letter of intent on May 6, 2002.

“He didn’t try to sugarcoat nothing,” Jones said. “A lot of people who just got a job would say, ‘Oh, yeah, I’ve got this coming in and this coming in’ and lie and overexaggerate just because it was something you wanted to hear. He was totally honest and just because of his honesty I just made an honest decision.”

It turned out to be the right decision for Jones. Under Romar, Washington program’s improvement has been fast and furious. It’s hard to get a ticket to a Huskies’ game in Seattle these days.

The No. 13 Huskies (7-0) are coming off a 99-95 victory over No. 9 Gonzaga, with a game against New Mexico upcoming at the Wooden Classic on Saturday in Anaheim, Calif. (Washington senior forward Jamaal Williams will be facing his former team, the Lobos, and his former coach, Ritchie McKay.)

In Jones’ junior season, the Huskies went 29-6, won the Pac-10 tournament, earned a top seed in the NCAA Tournament and reached the regional semifinals.

“I definitely took a chance,” Jones said. “I just took a chance with coach. I didn’t know who was in front of me. I didn’t know what players were on the team or anything like that. That just shows how much trust I had in him and how much of a gamble I took.”

Jones, 21, who got the scholarship that Erroll Knight left behind when he transferred to Gonzaga, has earned his scholarship and then some, starting 80 of the 99 games he’s played for Washington.

He’s vastly improved in those four seasons.

After seven games this season, he’s averaging 13.4 points, 24.9 minutes and 4.4 rebounds, shooting 57 percent (33 for 58) and 36 percent (5 for 14) from 3-point range.

In the Gonzaga game, Jones had to play 37 minutes because teammate Brandon Roy got into early foul trouble, scoring 15 points and getting three rebounds.

After shooting 5 for 28 from 3-point range as a freshman and sophomore, he was 31 for 61 from 3-point range as a junior.

“I’m a senior now and this is my last year,” he said. “I know this is it and these games are winding down and I’m not going to be able to do this any more.”

Romar knew about Jones a long time before he recruited him. Romar grew up in Compton and saw Jones play in high school.

Romar said the thing he liked most about Jones in high school was his work ethic.

“He wasn’t a great ball handler and he wasn’t a great shooter,” the coach said. “But he had something to work with and he wanted to be a player.”

Now “Bobby is taking the ball in transition, weaving in and out of guys, throwing passes,” Romar said. “He comes off screens and knocks shots down. The evolution of Bobby Jones’ game has been something that’s been very exciting to be able to see.”