Jones to Baylor

Melissa Jones of Thornton, Colo., the No. 13 prospect in the 2007 class, thought she would play closer to home, but had a welcomed change of plans.

Melissa Jones is going to a place she nearly turned down, sight unseen.

But once she saw Baylor for herself, Jones knew it was where she wanted to play her college basketball.

"I thought I was going to Colorado State until Baylor got into the picture," said Jones, the Thornton, Colo., guard who is No. 13 in the HoopGurlz National Hot 100. "When Baylor first contacted me, I almost told them 'sorry, I've already decided.' "

Part of Jones' outlook was shaped by her perception that she was not among the nation's elite and therefore would not have much opportunity to venture far from home. That changed last summer, during which HoopGurlz.com deemed Jones the nation's No. 1 breakout player. A combination of power and hyperactivity, the 5-foot-11 Jones can shoot with range, finish in a crowd, handle the ball, pass it and defend.

After taking official visits to Washington and Oregon and concluding that neither was better than staying close to home and joining her two brothers at Colorado State, Jones had a completely different experience in Waco, Texas. "Everything was great," she said. "I just had the feeling that it was the place for me."

All that was left to decide was her willingness to leave home.

"I'm at the point in my life where I'm ready to spread my wings," Jones said. "I'm really excited about what the future holds."

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