0Chris Jones and Jordan Williams, two key members of North Texas' highly rated freshman class who have started most of the season, did not meet academic eligibility requirements in the first semester of the school year and will not play for the Mean Green the remainder of the season, head coach Johnny Jones confirmed on Tuesday.
Both Jones and Williams will remain with the team and work to regain their eligibility heading into next season.
Jones is averaging 14.1 points a game, a total that ranks sixth in the Sun Belt Conference and ties him for the team lead with fellow freshman Tony Mitchell. Williams is averaging 10.9 points a game.
Jones has started all 19 of UNT's games, while Williams had started 13.
Jones and Williams just completed their first full semester at UNT.
Losing both players will be a serious blow for a team that appeared to be hitting its stride over the last few weeks. UNT (11-8) has won four of its last five games while settling in with a new-look lineup.
Mitchell became eligible at the semester break after enrolling at UNT in January and has played just 10 games with the team.
UNT will now have to go through another adjustment process in a season that has been filled with injury and eligibility issues.
UNT found out that Justin Patton, a forward who transferred in from Grambling before the season, was ineligible to play because of his academic record prior to his arrival in Denton.
The Mean Green then lost key reserve forward Jacob Holmen to a concussion and Kedrick Hogans to a knee injury that required surgery. Hogans is UNT's only returning starter from last season's team that reached the Sun Belt tournament final.
UNT will now have to adjust its lineup and its rotation without Jones and Williams.
The Mean Green is left with just three guards on scholarship who are eligible - Alzee Williams, Brandan Walton and Trey Norris.
Alzee Williams has started UNT's last 17 games, while Walton has started the last five.
UNT will now likely turn to Norris at point guard, although Alzee Williams has started at point guard at times throughout his career and could also see time there.
"I feel like I can produce more for the team as my minutes go up," Norris said. "The time that I have played has showed me what I need to work on. I have learned from coach Jones and my teammates that I need to make the easy play and not try to make the hard play all the time. That has helped me a lot."
Norris was also a member of UNT's 2011 recruiting class that was regarded as one of the best in recent school history.
Jones and Jordan Williams were ranked seventh and 24th, respectively, among players in the Class of 2011 by TexasHoops.com. UNT signed four of the top 40 players in the state. Forward Forrest Robinson was rated No.23 and Norris No. 34.
UNT later added Mitchell and Oklahoma State transfer Roger Franklin.
UNT hoped the group would help the Mean Green extend a run of five straight 20-win seasons.
Jones and Williams showed signs that they could help the Mean Green do just that. Jones scored in double figures in 14 of UNT's games, while Williams reached that mark in 11 games.
If UNT is to get to that mark this year, it will have to do it without two of its key players who will not be available the rest of the year.
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Adios you two. We don't need quitters.
WTG JJ and to RV's crack academic staff.
This is beyond pathetic. Why were these guys even playing on ce grades were posted, but then again how does Cinnamon Sheffield allow these freshmen to not even make a 1.8 GPA.
I smell contract extension coming for JJ, it only fits RV's scheme.
Disgraceful that these young men didn't put in the time in the classroom. They are given the gift of a college education and the chance to play basketball and blew it. Guess they will learn to go to class if they want to play in the future. I hope they buckle down and grow up.
Trust in JJ? I love Coach Jones, but these two and the Patton mess have put a little tarnish on his record.
What exactly does the athletic academic center do for athletes again? Where is the quote from RV saying how wonderful things are with JJ's program again? I want my a refund of 2/5 of my season ticket!
What a joke, this is unheard of. How many times have you seen Jamario, Patrick Cobbs, Brian Waters, Lance Dunbar, Scott Hall fail out. They are supposed to be taken care of and held accountable. I know it is up to them, but with them traveling and playing the schedule they do I feel that UNT is part to blame in this. You just don't hardly ever read about and college teams in any sport having there best players fail out. This is embarrasing.
Wow, I am extremely disappointed in this news. I expected more from Coach Jones and his staff. The bottom line is these young men are Students before they are Athletes, well atleast that is what it should be. As stated above, there are staff in place to watch over this type of thing. BUT let us not forget its the STUDENTS responsibility to go to class and pass their chosen courses.
If it was up to me, they would be off scholarship as soon as possible. Give the Scholarship to someone who cares enough to try!!
I agree RV needs to lay down the law on this. There has been way to much hype about this team
and program to have this type of oversight
Failure!!
With all this coming to light, I will still be in my seats for the games, cheering on this team and program. I only hope this is a eye opener to all involved!
Ok u have 4 coaches and 12 players along with the academic staff and they can't stay on top of this!!! Unless they failed there final exam someone needs to be canned and the rest get a letter of reprimand put in there packet. Rawlins needs to b all over R V ! Opportunity wasted and I will b surprised if see these players in green again !
Very sad .
Shocking news for sure. I am assuming that these Freshman weren't signed up for classes that were too difficult. In speaking with some of the staff at the student athlete academic center, the issue really boils down to the players not going to class. The coaches certanily share a load in this but ultimately, the players have to go to class and at least pretend to open a book. The coaches or RV can't go to class with them. In my opinion, these players should have to pay for the Spring semester themselves and earn back the gift of a free education.
This puts a real crimp in any hopes we had for a Sun Belt title. You can set up all the special programs and tutoring you want, but if a player does not go and/or apply himself...this is the result you get. Many players think that as they become a "star" the University will just pass them on. This is not high school any more and some of these "stars" need to wake up, and grow up.
JJ needs to re-evaluate the way he manages players off the court as well as on it. Bad move by everyone involved!
We need to strive to be big time and have the powers of NT miraculously pass all student athletes especially if they're good. They don't need to be ineligible.
This is TERRIBLE!!! I have a son that plays sports at a D1 school. Monthly, his professors have to sign his "progress report." The Head Coach and academic advisor recieves a copy. If the progress is not where it needs to be, ALL athletic activities are suspended until progress is made. Is UNT only focus on ATHLETICS? You have to be better that UNT.
COME ON MAN!!!!!
Wow, there is a lot of negativity here. What happened to treating people with respect? But regardless, the academic staff at UNT is great. They can go above and beyond for their students, their coaches can "punish" their students, but it is still left up to the students' in the classroom. Plus, as a freshman STUDENT-ATHLETE these students have a lot of responsibility and pressure their freshman year. They have to get used to how things are and let's face it, at that age they can be a little foolish. We shouldn't be so judgmental during their first semester.