UTC's Casey Jones to take medical redshirt, return next season

Chattanooga guard Casey Jones (24) shoots between Wesleyan forwards Trey Suttles (5) and Leland Robinson during the Mocs' home basketball game against Tennessee Wesleyan at McKenzie Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Chattanooga guard Casey Jones (24) shoots between Wesleyan forwards Trey Suttles (5) and Leland Robinson during the Mocs' home basketball game against Tennessee Wesleyan at McKenzie Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Casey Jones spoke Monday, his voice at times trembling. His decision was made, and as tough as it may have been to get to that point, it was the decision he felt best about.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior forward - the 2015-16 Southern Conference preseason men's basketball player of the year - announced Monday afternoon that he will apply for a medical redshirt and return next season.

The 6-foot-5 Jones, who averaged 12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in eight games this season, has been out since dislocating his ankle in practice on Dec. 11. He is the 21st player in UTC's Division I history to reach the 1,000-point plateau, and the only player in program history to have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 150 assists.

photo Staff Photo by Robin Rudd Injured UTC starter Casey Jones (standing center) looks on as the Mocs take a first half lead over Tennessee Tech. The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles visited the Chattanooga Mocs in college basketball action at McKenzie Arena Tuesday December 15, 2015.

He will begin next season 17th all-time in points (1,054), sixth in rebounds (547), seventh in blocks (82) and 13th in steals (95).

"Casey has always put the team first, and he's continuing to do it now," UTC coach Matt McCall said after they had informed the team. "I told the guys that his role is just as important as Tre' (McLean), (Justin) Tuoyo, Greg Pryor and Eric Robertson because he's one of our leaders and he is always talking to guys, which is important.

"Just as every single person's role is important, they need to enjoy being a part of something special, and that speaks volumes to the type of person and kid that Casey is. He doesn't want to come back if he's not 100 percent, and not only is this best for the team, but it's also best for him and his career."

His teammates felt the emotions of the announcement moments after. Senior guard Dee Oldham, who transferred to UTC after three seasons at UT-Martin, called it "bittersweet."

"My relationship has grown over the year I've been here, and it's still growing," Oldham said. "I would have hated for him to come back late in the season and that be it for him."

Jones said the decision to forget returning this year and to redshirt was as difficult for him as leaving his native New Orleans to come to Chattanooga, as well as whether he was going to stay at UTC after coach John Shulman was fired in 2013 and a then-unknown Will Wade was brought in.

He has built very close relationships with all of the players on the team, but possibly none closer than with fellow four-year team members Eric Robertson and Alex Bran. The three have gone through two coaching changes in their career, and both Bran and Jones are in former Moc Lance Stokes' wedding.

"Those are my brothers, so to not be out there and help them reach their goals is tough, but they understand that a lot goes into this decision," Jones said. "Our team is playing really well, and it's not like they need me. It would be different if we weren't doing well, but I want to see E-Rob, Duke (Ethridge), Dee (Oldham) and A.B. go out with a championship. It's always been our dream to win the SoCon, and just to know that E-Rob - as of now - is going to go out a winner, that's part of my decision.

"I'm just not ready, so I'm not going to try to force myself since I have another opportunity to do something different."

He admitted that watching games was tough but said that wasn't going to quell his excitement if the team were to win the SoCon tournament and qualify for the NCAA tournament.

He'll graduate in May with a degree in industrial management and has thought about a career in coaching, but at the moment he has bigger aspirations, such as starting his own business - maybe a restaurant for his mom, Wendy Jones. Coaching could be in the cards, as Jones has been seen instructing teammates or pointing out weaknesses of opposing players throughout the course of a game.

His return next season will give the Mocs five seniors who have started multiple games: Pryor, Tuoyo, McLean and Chuck Ester being the others.

"We lose some pretty good players, but you see what Tre' is doing, and Greg has more maturity and experience.

"The sky's the limit next year."

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.

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