CLASS OF: 2008 SCHOOL: Fort Smith Southside HS, AR HEIGHT AND WEIGHT: 6'4 POSITION: Center 06-07 RATINGS: #44 (BS), #56 (CGBR), #60 (ASGR) ACADEMICS: 4.0 GPA STATUS: Signed with Purdue 11/14/07 AAU TEAM: Arkansas Belles
Chelsea Jones can run the floor at 6'4, and was scouted at the Susie Gardner Elite Camp last summer as possessing "outstanding athleticism" for someone her age and size. She can go one-on-one, and scores easily with either hand. She is also an above average passer, which was evident on senior night when she passed for a team-high six assists while being double-teamed all night. Chelsea is also an accomplished tennis player and is Southside's top singles player.
Jones averaged 22.3 points and 9.8 rebounds for Fort Smith Southside as a junior, and rose to be named one of the state's top prospects in a rather short amount of time. Her recruiting began picking up after a run of all-star honors during the July evaluation period last summer, and a three-game series at the Tournament of Champions December 2006, where she scored 21 points against defending 2005 tournament champion Witchita Heights, then ranked No.21 nationally by USA Today. Jones helped Southside to a 20-7 record and a run to the state tournament quarterfinals.
She averaged 17.5 points, 10 rebounds and 3.5 blocks as a sophomore. Southside qualified for the Arkansas 7A state tournament in 2007 after missing the event her sophomore year.
Jones chose Purdue after a June 2007 unofficial visit over interest from Arkansas, Kansas, Vanderbilt and Stanford among others. She made her verbal commitment public on July 17, 2007, and signed during the early signing period on 11/14/07. Jones is a semifinalist for a National Merit Scholarship. Plans to major in biological sciences.
Purdue head coach Sharon Versyp..."Chelsea comes to Purdue as one of the top post players in the country, but what is even more impressive is that she is a semi-finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Chelsea brings an element to our program that we have not had for awhile. She is a back to the basket post player with size, who loves to be physical on offense and defense. She is fundamentally sound, has great hands and footwork, and finishes very well around the basket. Chelsea's size and presence will cause opponents to change their shots down low. Her rebounding, shot blocking ability and knowledge of the game truly brings that solid "big" in the middle for us, but a post that runs the floor well and can shoot the 15-footer." (November 14, 2007)
Fort Smith Northside’s head coach Rickey Smith..."She’s a dominant offensive player, but more than that, she can dominate on defense and rebounding. She changes the way the game is played with her size and length." (Arkansas Gazette - February 21, 2007)
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