Since taking over as head coach of the UCF men’s basketball program on March 29, Donnie Jones has been doing all he can to put the Knights in position for some immediate success.

During a short recruiting cycle in his first season, following three as the lead man at Marshall, six signees were added to an already youthful roster which finished 15-17 overall and 6-10 in Conference USA this past year.

Knowing that the essential pieces from that squad were returning for the 2010-11 season, the plan going in for Jones and his assistants was quite simple.

Donnie Jones

“Not many times do you walk into a program where everybody’s back,” said Jones. “That’s an unusual situation. Being able to add some depth is really what our focus was.”

And that’s what they did by signing a young point guard for the future, some true size in the middle, and shooters to help shore up the wing.

Joining a core made up of senior forward A.J. Tyler, guards A.J. Rompza (junior) and Marcus Jordan (sophomore), and forward Keith Clanton (sophomore) are three Division I transfers, a junior college transfer and two prep players.

Just two of those transfers must sit out this season as per NCAA rules.

“Sometimes when you need instant help and you have a short period of time, it’s better to get veterans,” said Jones. “It gives you a little time to focus on the underclassmen, and we bring in instant help that can come in and compete (right) now.”

Winning and competing is precisely what fans will expect later this year as they tip-toe into a season for the first time in 17 years without beloved coach Kirk Speraw, who was not retained after one of several subpar campaigns.

How long it takes for fans to warm up to the new regime is anybody’s guess.

Jones doesn’t know if there’s any certain remedy for winning fans over, other than to “come in and try to build on the great things that Kirk’s done here.”

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him and what he’s done for this program, it’s been incredible,” he said. “We’ll just try to build on what he’s done and earn our respect with how we play and what we do on a day-to-day basis.

“Hopefully people will come out and support this program based on UCF and not necessarily who the coach is.”

More wins than losses are likely to help heal old wounds. And if that’s the case, based on the track record of this guy it shouldn’t take long to turn the Knights into conference contenders.

Jones led the Thundering Herd to an 11-5 C-USA mark and 24-10 overall record last season with one of the top offenses in the country, leading the conference in scoring at 79.9 points per game. Before arriving in West Virginia, Jones spent 11 years as an assistant at Florida under head coach Billy Donovan, helping the program win back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007.

Joining Jones at UCF are assistant coaches Shawn Finney, Brett Nelson, Darren Tillis, and director of basketball operations Tim Thomas. All four worked with Jones at Marshall, where Hassan Whiteside led the nation in blocks with 182, good for the fourth-most in NCAA single-season history.

––– DONNIE JONES ON HIS NEW RECRUITS AT UCF –––

– Jarvis Davis (FR; 6-1, 175) – out of Hargrove Military Academy in Virginia; River View High School in Columbia, S.C.

Jones calls Davis a tough, competitive kid and “a pass-first point guard who makes others better around him.”

“He’ a good defender and I think his ability to score will get better with time,” said Jones.

Davis, who was the first signing at UCF for Jones, spent last year at Hargrove Military and has been on campus since May.

– Isaiah Sykes (FR; 6-5, 200) – out of Denby High School in Detroit, Mich.

Sykes is a tough and athletic left-handed shooter who Jones says is versatile enough to play at a number of different positions, “which I like in our system,” Jones said.

The coach says Sykes is skilled enough to contribute immediately for the Knights. He scored 17 points in the Michigan High School All-Star Game and was rated No. 39 at small forward by Scout.

– Dwight McCombs (JR; 6-8, 240) – out of Moraine Valley Community College; Miami (Ohio); Whitney Young High School in Chicago Ill.

Jones said McCombs, the second of his recruits, has been dropping weight and getting into better shape ever since arriving on campus in May. Coaches are impressed with the transfer’s rebounding, scoring, and the way he runs the floor.

“He fits with what we want to do,” said Jones.

McCombs averaged 22.5 points (No. 12 in nation), 13.3 rebounds (No. 3) and led the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II in blocks at five per game last season. He was also a high school teammate of A.J. Rompza.

– Tom Herzog (SR; 7-0, 250) – out of Michigan State; Powers High School in Flint, Mich.

A bit player at Michigan State, Herzog has been given one last chance to live up to the billing. After being hailed as a top prep-player out of high school (rated the No. 7 center in the nation by Rivals) he contributed lightly for two NCAA Final Four teams under Tom Izzo.

With his arrival to Orlando this past weekend, the Knights have a true center entering the year. Herzog is not required to sit out this season after transferring since he has already earned his bachelor’s degree at MSU and redshirted during the 2006-07 season.

“I think the timing is right (and) we needed a center,” said Jones. “He has the ability to come in and help us and impact us immediately. He’s got an edge about himself to get out and play and I liked that when I was recruiting him.”

As a freshman in 2003-04, he blocked a Michigan high school single-season state record 182 shots and later finished second in the Michigan Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award voting as a senior.

– Josh Crittle (JR; 6-8, 250) – out of Oregon; Hales Franciscan High School in Bellwood, Ill.

Jones says the addition of Crittle gives the Knights some size that’s hard to come by.

Crittle will have a chance to get acclimated to a new system as a redshirt over the next year after coming in as a reserve out of Oregon.

“He’s a guy who can come in and physically compete each and every day,” said Jones. “He’s got a whole year to get himself ready and get better.”

As a senior in high school he was rated the No. 29 center in the nation by ESPN and The No. 30 post player in the country by Scout.

– Jeff Jordan (SR; 6-1, 185) – out of Illinois; Loyola Academy in Chicago, Ill.

The eldest son of NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan joins brother Marcus at UCF after transferring in from Illinois, where he spent the past three seasons as a reserve. He becomes the second player from the 2010-11 recruiting class to sit out following a transfer.

“Anytime you’ve got family members or guys who played at the same high school together, which we have on this team, that brings back a little pride,” said Jones.

“He understands the mentality of work and team and he played for a great coach and played at a great program at Illinois. To bring that kind of leadership and experience to the program right now gives us three really good points guards here from a depth standpoint.”

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –