Another Elite Mega Star Commit To Providence….

Jamier Jones, the No. 32 overall prospect in the class of 2025 has committed to Providence. The 6-foot-6, 210 pound forward from Orlando (Fla.) chose the Friars over Ohio State, Houston, South Carolina, LSU and Kansas.

“I committed to Providence because everything thing they’ve been telling me sounds good and they’re loyal,” Jones said. “Coach English FaceTimes me before all my games and lets me know what I should do. I feel very confident on my decision.”

Jones is coming off a visit to Providence leading up to this decision. When recruiting Jones, the staff delivered the pitch that Jones will be able to get to the next level if he were to commit.

“They want me to come over there and play the two or three play as a freshman and average 16. They give me the chance to be that one and done player that I want to be and I know the work I need to do.”

The Friars success was also a major factor in Jones decision.

“Kim English turned the whole program around coming from George Mason. Once they got there the whole program went up. They were a ranked team last year and I trust those guys to get me to the NBA and stay there.”

Two-sport stars: The college football players who were once D1 basketball prospects

You know the stories of Antonio Gates or Julius Peppers. But did you know that Garrett Wilson was once a high-major basketball prospect? Did you know that Jalen Suggs had offers to play QB? These are the current college standouts who were once popular basketball recruits.

Some of the greatest football players ever co-starred and even started their careers on the basketball court. Antonio Gates played basketball at Eastern Michigan and Kent State before emerging as an eight-time Pro Bowl tight end in the NFL.

Hall of Fame defensive lineman Julius Peppers played basketball at North Carolina in addition to earning All-American honors on the football field. Tony Gonzalez, arguably the greatest tight end ever, played for Cal’s basketball team in addition to his All-American tight end status on the gridiron.

You don’t see many dual-sport athletes in 2024. Sports are more specialized than ever, particularly on the college level, and it’s hard for players to find outsized success in two disciplines.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t notable college football and basketball players who have had a starring turn in the other sport.

With the NCAA Tournament in full swing, it’s a good chance to examine some of the college football players who had a past lives as elite hoopers. There are also a few notable NCAA Tournament participants who were elite football prospects in a past life, too.

So, let’s kick it off with one of the best basketball players in Alabama high school history, who also happens to be Notre Dame’s starting quarterback for 2024.

Leonard may have never played quarterback in college if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Leonard had several D-I basketball offers entering his junior season. He planned to play AAU that summer with the intention of earning high-major looks and committing to play college hoops.

Then came March 2020. Just like that his EYBL plans were canceled.

So, Leonard pivoted. Duke was intrigued with him as a quarterback prospect thanks to his size, developing mechanics and athletic traits. He committed to the Blue Devils over Nebraska a few months later.

AL.com named Leonard the Coastal Male Athlete of the year in basketball his junior and senior seasons. He averaged 21 points per game as a senior. David Morris, Leonard’s private QB trainer, said that he’s had several basketball coaches in and around Fairhope, Alabama, call him the best player to ever come out of Mobile.

“That’s the kind of respect he had in the basketball community,” Morris told 247Sports.