D.C.-Tied Tandem Tearing Up Cali Juco Ranks

Ron Bailey, Publisher

February 5, 2007 – Washington area high school players, since before the days of Elgin Baylor (College of Idaho, 1954), have ventured to junior colleges nationally, with the hopes of making it to four year institutions. It worked for Baylor then - who later became a star at Seattle University - and it looks as though it’s working for a pair of D.C. student athletes, Emmanuel Jones and Mookie Pierre.

Pierre and Jones, who currently attend and will graduate this spring from Southern California’s Riverside Community College, are helping lead the Tigers to a 23-2 record and a tie for first place in the Orange Empire Conference. Along the way, a slew of colleges have offered the second year players Division I scholarships.

“They’ve been playing extremely well” said Riverside’s third year coach, John Smith, leading him to opine “I certainly think they are the best guard tandem in the state”. That statement is high praise indeed, considering the talent rich California juco landscape.

Smith continued, “They work well together, they really do”, with Pierre being “more of the glue guy” and Jones functioning as “a scoring machine”. For the season, both young men are providing “around 13 points a game” – good considering the Tigers share the ball thereby decreasing those numbers. Add five rebounds plus three dishes, and eight caroms to go along with one assist per game, for Mookie and Emmanuel respectively.

Jones, played at D.C.’s Eastern high school (and learned the game at the Trinidad Recreation Center in the Northeast section of the city) before transferring to Henderson, NC’s South Vance High School and graduating in 2003. From that point he has had a circuitous route to Riverside (as did Pierre), including a year out of school, a year at Texas’ San Jacinto C.C., and a medical redshirt year.

Jones, who earned December’s California state player of the month honors (encompassing all sports), said wherever he attends next year, “I want to come in there and play”. (Picture property of RCC)

His trip to this point has been beneficial. “It’s helped me a lot” said the 6’6” 185lb Jones, of his sojourn. “It’s helped me see how college basketball is…When coaches say this and that, and you don’t perform, they may turn to somebody else”.

The experience has also strengthened him as a player, as he indicated it has caused him to be “an all around player”, which includes “shooting, dribbling, and rebounding” ability. He has also grown to know where he needs to improve, which Emmanuel is “to increase my strength”.

Mookie, a Gaithersburg, MD native is still, as his coach Smith indicated, the straw that stir’s Riverside’s drink - the 6’4” 190lb perimeter player excels in providing whatever is necessary to win. Jones applauded his backcourt mate, saying “He’s so fundamental with it (his game)”.

Pierre on his college committment plays: “I’ll decide after the season, probably in March”. (Picture property of RCC).

The tandem thoroughly enjoys each other’s presence.

“Having Emmanuel is good, it’s pretty fun” said Pierre, “because I have somebody to relate to on and off the court”.

“That’s my man since I’ve come here” shared aid Jones of Mookie. “And he can ball”.

With Pierre having rethought his prior oral commitment to Chattanooga because as he said “I just felt like I made my decision too early”, that connection may extend to a four year college as both Oregon State and Marshall have offered the pair scholarships.

The young men are contemplating extending their time together, but individual options are also being explored, something Smith thinks is prudent. “I told them to look at what’s good for themselves” including both separate and joint attendance possibilities, he said.

To that end, Arizona State has started to recruit Pierre heavily, joined by Idaho State, Sacramento State, and Hampton.

Jones is getting major interest from Long Beach, Wyoming, Cal-State Bakersfield, East Carolina, and the University of the Pacific.

Smith is certain both guy’s lists will grow, during the Tiger’s postseason run, opining “There will be many more once we got to the playoffs”.

Not bad for two young men that graduated from high school in 2003, and after being thrown challenges, have persevered and are on the verge of earning college scholarships for next year.

Check back with i95Ballerz.com for updates on both Jones and Pierre.