Illinois Basketball: 2021 wing David Jones reveals Illini in top 7
By Zain Bando
Who is three-star recruit and Illinois basketball target David “Deivi” Jones?
David “Deivi “Jones is a 6-foot-6, 195-pound small forward out of Teays Valley Christian School in Scott Depot, West Virginia. The 2021 prospect is a three-star recruit who is the No. 126 player in the class of 2021 and the No. 30 small forward in the nation. He is also the No. 2 player coming out of West Virginia.
On Sunday, the talented wing revealed his top seven schools via his high school’s Twitter page. Jones’ top seven included Houston, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Clemson, Louisville, Oregon, and Illinois.
Jones led his team to a 19-9 record during the 2019-20 season, including a 13-2 home record and the No. 2 ranking in all of West Virginia high school basketball. Jones was a key contributor in several games last season, including a 31-point performance against Henderson Collegiate during a December 23 holiday invitational. TVC won 79-65.
“We play together. We play like a team. We play hard. We pushed ourselves to win the game, and we never quit,” Jones told Phenom Hoops reporter Patrick O’Brien after the game. “I just keep playing hard, keep playing my game all of the time, you know.”
The Tale of the Tape
Jones is a dynamic scorer who always plays to get to the rim. His high-efficiency and accuracy are going to carry him far, regardless of where he chooses to play in 2021. Having Jones at the opposite wing position of 2021’s Luke Goode could make for a nearly unstoppable duo of height, speed, and lighting up the scoreboard. If his numbers continue to increase during his senior season, there is potential for more eyeballs to pay attention and coaches to come calling.
It’s an exciting time for the Orange and Blue, who are looking to go dancing again this upcoming season. Of course, due to the global pandemic, the season was tragically cut short just two days prior to Illinois’ Big Ten tournament opener. An eight-game turnaround leaves a lot of breathing room for even more success in the fall.