Overview
Jones doesn’t have much experience at the Division I level, but that was because he spent the first three years of his post-high-school career at Wenatchee Valley (Wash.) College. He made the jump from Wenatchee to the Big Sky Conference before the 2022-23 season, where he moved to Idaho, and he was a regular starter for the Vandals while averaging 19.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. He jumped to another level before his senior year in 2023-24, transferring to Washington State, where he started all but one of his 35 appearances. At Washington State, Jones averaged 15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. He was named to the 2022-23 All-Big Sky Second Team and the 2023-24 All-Pac-12 First Team.
Analysis
The first thing that stands out about Jones is his length because he has a massive 7-foot-3 wingspan despite being listed at 6-foot-8. He also possesses excellent leaping ability and plays much taller than he is, suggesting he might be ready for the NBA’s physicality, particularly against power forwards due to his length. Plus, he has the potential to be a decent perimeter defender due to his footwork and above-average acceleration. He’s a good on-the-ball defender, but he lacks awareness at times in off-the-ball situations. His offensive game is not as advanced as his defensive game, but he can put up points as a finisher near the rim. His feel for the game and decision-making as a scorer are two major positives in his offensive arsenal. He also can make the extra pass when the situation calls for it. He needs to continue developing his offensive arsenal, but on the surface, his arsenal looks competent enough to keep himself on an NBA floor regularly.
Projection
Jones has been a player who has improved with each passing season, and that might not change if he makes it to the NBA. He’s a capable player on the defensive end with an above-average wingspan, and that should be his calling card at the NBA level. However, his progress and future role will ultimately be decided by how much he progresses on offense.
— Profile by RotoWire