Lady Cats' Jones commits to ACU

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Two of the top returning players on the Clovis High girls basketball team now know where they’ll be playing in college.

Senior-to-be post Shelby Jones made a verbal commitment to Division I Abilene Christian this week, joining classmate Danni Williams, who earlier this summer committed to Texas A&M.

Players cannot sign national letters of intent until November.

Jones, a 6-foot post, helped the Lady Wildcats win the state Class 5A championship two years ago and post a 29-1 record last season, losing in the state semifinals.

Jones, who averaged around 10 points and seven rebounds last season, said several schools were looking at her. She said wanted to play a bit away from home, but not that far.

“I think Abilene’s far enough,” she said.

ACU, which left the Division II Lone Star Conference a year ago, went 18-12 last season in its first year in the Division I Southland Conference. Five of the Wildcats’ top six players were freshmen or sophomores last season.

Williams, the two-time state Gatorade player of the year, and Jones hope to lead the Lady Cats on another state run this season.

“I think we have a chance to win state, if we work hard,” Jones said. “But we’re going to have to work pretty hard. We’ll just see how it goes.”

CHS coach Jeff Reed said the team had a good summer season.

“We’re expecting her to do big things,” he said of Jones. “She had a good summer. I think she’ll be the best post player in the state, and I expect her and (senior-to-be) Dee Briggins to be the best post combination in the state.”

link Staff photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis High senior-to-be Shelby Jones this week committed verbally to play college basketball at Abilene Christian. Jones, a key member of CHS’ 2013 Class 5A state championship squad, averaged 10 points and seven rebounds last season as the Lady Wildcats posted a 29-1 record.

Jones, also a standout in throwing events for the Lady Cats in track, said she probably would do shot put and possibly javelin next spring in the ACU track program.

Reed said he’s happy Jones and Williams have committed and won’t have that distraction next season.

“I’m glad these girls are committed so we can concentrate on Clovis,” he said.