Xavier Jones is one of the toughest point guards in Indiana. But his days of playing basketball in his home state could be drawing to a close. Quickly.

"Yeah, this could be it," Jones said of tonight's Junior All-Star game against the Indiana All-Stars at Benton Central.

Since West Side coach John Boyd left to take the job at Michigan City, there have been several rumors circulating about what would happen to Jones, The Times reigning Player of the Year. When asked about all the speculation swirling Jones snapped with a laugh, "Which ones have you heard?"

Some speculated Jones would transfer to Bowman Academy. Others thought he would follow Boyd to Michigan City, but Jones was quick to shoot that one down.

"You can kill the Michigan City one right now," Jones said. "There's no way I'm going to Michigan City. That was his decision and I'm going to make mine."

Jones, who has been offered scholarships by Purdue, Indiana State, Dayton, Indiana, Marquette and San Jose State, is looking at some prep schools on the east coast and another one in Las Vegas.

"I'm thinking hard about attending a prep school and it has nothing to do with (Boyd leaving West Side)," Jones said. "It's my decision and it would be something to better myself. I'm just not sure yet, but I'll be making my decision very soon. So these could be my last games in Indiana, yeah."

Jones will join E.C. Central's Michael Harris and South Central's Jake Kitchell on the boys Junior All-Star team, though Jones is the only local player on the Core 6 team. He is West Side's first player ever named to the Core 6, which is picked by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association and this group is considered, without question, the best six players in the state in the 11th grade.

Jones also will play in the exhibition game against the Indiana All-Stars on Thursday at New Albany.

"I hope X goes to a prep school," Boyd said on the day he was hired at Michigan City. "I think that will help him out in a lot of ways."

Jones averaged 21.3 points and 5.4 assists for the sectional finalist Cougars.