Jones Gets His Release From Raveling, USC : College basketball: Former prep star struggled as freshman with the Trojans; now he has the right to play elsewhere.

USC basketball Coach George Raveling granted Avondre Jones his release Tuesday, allowing the 6-foot-11 former Artesia High player to transfer after a disappointing freshman season with the Trojans.

Jones, who had problems on and off the court, will try to enroll at another school this fall. He averaged only 3.8 points and 3.1 rebounds a game during the 1993-94 season.

“Any time a player leaves your program, you have to feel a strong sense of disappointment,” Raveling said. “I hate to see Avondre go.

“But at the same time, my responsibility is to do what’s best for the group and then see what’s best for the individual. Sometimes in making those decisions, it doesn’t satisfy the individual.”

With the release, Jones, who considered Michigan, Missouri and UCLA before deciding to attend USC, can be approached by coaches from other NCAA programs.

“I wish Avondre luck in the future,” Raveling said. “This is certainly not an adversarial parting. I will always extend my hand to him in the future. I’ll do whatever I can to help him land at another school.”

After Jones had played on three State championship teams at Artesia, expectations were high when he enrolled at USC last fall. Jones, however, became disgruntled with his lack of playing time, which averaged 13 minutes a game.

“I feel it’s best for me to move,” Jones told the Long Beach Press-Telegram. “I have no bad feelings (toward USC or its coaching staff), but I just feel that this is something I should do. Since the end of the season, I’ve looked at my future and I just didn’t see me improving any (at USC).”

Trojan senior Mark Boyd, who graduated last month, said he was not surprised by Jones’ decision.

“Things did not go the way he expected, but that’s no reason to run from the situation,” Boyd said. “It’s a sign of immaturity. He has to learn to deal with stuff as it comes.”

During the season, Jones was late for several meetings and practices, which led to his being benched for two games, including the Trojans’ first-round loss to Fresno State in the National Invitation Tournament.

“He wasn’t ready, but he didn’t want to face that fact,” Boyd said. “He didn’t realize that this is not high school and no one will hold your hand.”