SEC SPORTS REPORT

Between recruiting, putting out feelers for assistant coaches, working out details at LSU and squeezing in sleeping and eating, Jones is off to a running start.

"The last few days have been a whirlwind for him," Jones' agent John Hamilton said. "He's hit the ground running. He's already been on the road recruiting. He's been working the phone, trying to assemble a staff and meeting with people from the university."

That's the kind of energy LSU fans will want from the former Tigers player and coach as a replacement for Trent Johnson, who resigned after four seasons to take the TCU head-coaching job.

On Sunday, Jones made a quick stop by Alex Box Stadium and got a warm round of applause from the crowd watching the LSU-Alabama baseball game before holding his first meeting with returning LSU basketball players later in the evening. Jones already had spoken to them by phone, but most were out of town last week and unable to gather until Sunday with the school on spring break.

Jones also is working hard to catch up on recruiting. On Saturday, he reportedly contacted Riverside forward Ricardo Gathers, the state's top prospect. Gathers remains committed to Baylor but hasn't signed his letter of intent. Riverside Academy Coach Timmy Byrd said Gathers still plans to sign with Baylor in a ceremony at the school today.

He has also spoken with forward Shavon Coleman, a 6-6 forward from Howard College in Big Spring, Texas, whom Johnson was recruiting. Coleman played prep basketball at Thibodaux High School.