Will Memphis basketball star David Jones return to the Tigers next season?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Jones was interviewed Monday by Manuel Reyes, who hosts a sports talk show ("Marega Deportes") in the Dominican Republic − the 6-foot-6 small forward's home country. Reyes and Jones explored a range of topics during the interview, which spanned more than an hour.

During the interview − which was conducted in Spanish − Jones discussed his basketball future at length. While he has not yet declared for the NBA Draft, Jones noted he intends to, at least, test the draft waters. Top college players like Jones, who earned an All-American honorable mention nod and was a first-team all-AAC selection, often go through the draft process to explore their options.

Jones, who told Reyes he has not signed with an agent (therefore, maintaining his collegiate eligibility), called the decision a "difficult" one.

“I don’t know yet,” he said, according to Google Translate, echoing the sentiments he expressed last month when he was asked about his plans for next season. “I don’t want to put a lot of pressure on myself with that decision. Because, if I put a lot of pressure on myself, it can make me make the decision that is not the right one.

“But I still don’t have a decisive decision yet.”

Jones became a star on offense for the Tigers. After spending one season each at DePaul and St. John's, he transferred to Memphis and arrived in September 2023. He started all 32 games for Penny Hardaway's team, which finished 22-10 and missed the NCAA Tournament, averaging 21.8 points (most in the AAC and sixth-most in the country) and a team-best 7.6 rebounds per game.

Jones told Reyes the amount of work he dedicates to his game gives him the confidence that he could reach his goal of being a first-round NBA draft pick. But he added there are still several factors he must weigh that go along with returning to Memphis for another season, such as having to pay out-of-pocket for things that the school foots the bill for as long as he remains in college.

"These are things that you have to think about, because soon you become a professional, a man has to take care of yourself," Jones said, according to Google Translate. "You have to pay your rent and you have to do all your things with your money."

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But, he conceded, "if I have the opportunity to earn good money in the NBA, let's go with God."

Jones has plenty of time to make up his mind. The deadline for early entrants is April 27, according to NBA.com. The deadline to withdraw and still maintain collegiate eligibility is June 16.

Besides Jones, there are several other Tigers who are eligible to return for the 2024-25 season, including forward Nicholas Jourdain, wing Ashton Hardaway and walk-on guards Joe Cooper and Noah Stansbury.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: NBA or return to Memphis basketball?: David Jones discusses future