Jones decommits from Memphis after Smith firing

Guard Myreon Jones confirmed on Thursday that he is decommitting from Memphis in the wake of Coach Tubby Smith's firing.

Jones, a 2018 recruit from Birmingham, Ala., committed to the Tigers on March 3 just before their regular season finale against ECU.

"I kind of had a feeling it was going to happen," Jones said when asked if Smith's dismissal caught him by surprise. "But in my opinion he shouldn’t have been fired because he won 21 games and he was only in his second season. It didn’t make sense to me.”

Jones said he would look at all of his options now and admitted to being frustrated after thinking his recruiting process was complete.

Jones's coach at Lincoln Academy, Bryan Lippman, said Jones would still consider coming to Memphis if the Tigers' new coach were interested in him.

Jones was one of two members of Smith's incoming recruiting class, which also featured 7-foot-3 signee Connor Vanover.

Vanover's future plans are unknown at this point, although he did sign a binding national letter of intent in November. Robyn Vanover, his mother, did not return a telephone message on Wednesday seeking comment on the situation. Memphis fired Smith on Wednesday after just two seasons and Tigers' legend Penny Hardaway is expected to be named the program's new head coach next week.

Jones is considered the No. 101 recruit in the 2018 recruiting class and a four-star prospect by 247 Sports. The 6-foot-3 combo guard chose the Tigers over a scholarship offer from Wofford, but also had late interest from several high major schools. Jones played his senior year at Lincoln Academy, a prep school team based out of Suwanee, Ga. He took an official campus visit last month and attended the Tigers' upset of then-No. 23 Houston on Feb. 22.