Lamont “Momo” Jones is seeking his release from Southern California in the wake of the news that head coach Tim Floyd had resigned amid the O.J. Mayo scandal.
If Jones does get his release, his likely landing spot will be Arizona, Florida or Memphis, according to sources.
“He plans on getting his release and taking a couple of visits,” Oak Hill (Va.) Academy coach Steve Smith wrote in a text.
Of course, Jones could always opt to remain at USC despite the coaching change. No school is permitted to have contact with him unless, and until, he is granted a release.
Arizona landed New York product Kevin Parrom and is also recruiting Lance Stephenson.
Memphis needs a pure point guard to run the team. The Tigers have landed 2009 wing Latavious Williams, 2010 standout Will Barton and his brother Antonio and is involved with Stephenson.
Florida lost Nick Calathes to Greece and has only two pure guards on the roster for next year in Erving Walker, another New York native, and Kenny Boynton. The Florida staff is interested in landing another guard to add depth to the backcourt.
Jones previously decommitted from Louisville (twice) and Virginia Tech and said he wants to go somewhere where he can play. That would’ve been the case at USC because Daniell Hackett declared early for the NBA Draft.
Hackett, by the way, publicly defended his former coach to the L.A. Times.
“I feel like with all this speculation, Coach Floyd did a selfless act,” Hackett said. “He resigned for the sake of the program to save the players from scrutiny and embarrassment. He acted like a man.”