Uplift’s Markese Jacobs “earning his way back”

Markese Jacobs hasn’t been starting for Uplift this season. The junior typically checks in after about five minutes.

When a Kansas recruit is coming off the bench, rumors start up. The truth isn’t very juicy in this case. Jacobs briefly transferred to a prep school in Arizona this summer and he’s working his way back into the team’s good graces.

“It’s just him having to earn what he wants,” Uplift coach David Taylor said. “He’s in the process of earning it, but until he completes the process he will come off the bench.”

Jacobs understands the situation.

“When you leave and come back you can’t have what you used to have,” Jacobs said. “You have to work your way back. At the start of the season it kind of got to me a little because I wasn’t used to it.”

Jacobs missed several games last season for various reasons, which has clouded the perception around him.

“All the rumors that I’m not coachable and I don’t listen aren’t true,” Jacobs said. “I’m fine with whatever coach says. I trust what he says. The minutes that he gives me, I will take it and go with it.”

Jacobs scored 16 points in the Titans’ 73-58 win against Providence-St. Mel in the first round of the Proviso West Holiday Tournament on Wednesday.

Uplift (7-4) hasn’t started the season as strong as it hoped. The Titans have plenty of talent, including dynamic forward Toraze Dobbs, who had 21 points and 14 rebounds against Providence-St. Mel.

“We scoreboard watched, it has been a problem all year,” Taylor said. “We get a little bit of a lead and our kids tend to get comfortable. It kind of bit us again today. We have to keep working to try and fix it.”

Jacobs thinks the Proviso West Tournament is the perfect chance for Uplift to get on track. The Titans will face the Larkin-Kenwood winner in the second round on Thursday.

“We haven’t really bonded together yet, it takes time,” Jacobs said. “It is still kind of early in the season. We need a big game, that is when a team comes together. It is exactly what we need.”

Jason Mason led Providence-St. Mel (5-4) with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Tim Ervin II added ten points.