Donnie Jones has large influence in the NBA

December 27, 2015

UCF head coach Donnie Jones has a large sphere of influence in the NBA and in coaching circles. That was on display Saturday as the Miami Heat visited town.

Saturday Night, UCF men’s basketball coach Donnie Jones was at the Amway Center to watch the Orlando Magic host the Miami Heat.

Jones follows the Heat closely as two players he helped recruit and coach play for the Heat in Udonis Haslem (Florida) and Hassan Whiteside (Marshall).

Jones served for 11 years as an assistant coach at Florida under Billy Donovan, helping the Gators claim a pair of national titles and make three trips to the Final Four. Among the players Jones helped recruit to Florida was Udonis Haslem who was part of the Gators 2000 National title runner up team.

“He’s one of the best basketball minds that I have ever been around. He’s a real upbeat, positive coach and a great recruiter,” Haslem said of Jones after Jones was named Head Coach at UCF in 2010.

Jones left Florida to become Marshall’s head coach in 2007. He inherited a program that had struggled since joining C-USA in 2005, and quickly changed the culture surrounding the Herd with the help of bringing in Whiteside, who led the nation in blocks in 2010 with 182 block shots, the fourth most in NCAA history.

Whiteside was named both the C-USA Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year, and garnered Freshman All-America Second Team honors from The Sporting News.

The Sacramento Kings drafted Whiteside with the 33rd overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

https://youtu.be/uD5U3eQY-k0

Things did not work out with the Kings as Whiteside spent most of his time in the D-League before playing in China in 2013 followed by playing in Lebanon in 2014.

Following signing and getting waived by the Memphis Grizziles, Whiteside signed with the Miami Heat on November 24, 2014 where he was given an opportunity and made the most of it. Whiteside become one of the best shot blockers in the NBA and averages a double-double for the Heat in pts and rebounds.

“He’s a talented guy,” said Donnie Jones to BasketballInsiders.com story from January 25. “I’ve been around a bunch of big guys who have been pros with [Joakim] Noah and [Al] Horford and he’s just as talented as any guy that I’ve coached. He’s now in a good system with the Heat with Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, who can coach him. I told him just to stay close to Haslem, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade and those guys that can help him learn to be a pro on how he handles himself on the floor and off of the floor because he’s got the talent and his upside is incredible with what he can be.”

Currently in his second season with the Miami Heat and now having success in the NBA, Whiteside says Jones is a big reason for his success for the positive advice and encouragement Jones still gives him to this day. .

“He meant a lot to me” Whiteside said about Jones, “He taught me how to be professional.” Whiteside said to this day he stays in touch with Jones who gives him advice.

Jones hung out with Whiteside and Haslem following the Heat’s win over the Magic.

Great Seeing @youngwhiteside tonight in Orlando. Fun to watch him Reach his Dreams. pic.twitter.com/YB57Qmjs7v

— Donnie Jones (@DonnieJones) December 27, 2015

Great Seeing @ThisIsUD tonight vs Orlando we Shared Some Amazing Moments together. So Proud of His Accomplishments. pic.twitter.com/8CQE8eGZ1u

— Donnie Jones (@DonnieJones) December 27, 2015