Can Vanderbilt’s Damian Jones Be The SEC’s Best Center?
I initially had no clue who the Vanderbilt Commodores starting center Damian Jones was but I’m glad I found out. It all started with a YouTube video that left me perplexed.
The title of the video says it all “6’10” Damian Jones (Texas Titans) – Will DUNK & BLOCK Everything Around The Rim!! Class of 2013.” Jones is a freakish shot blocking fiend, and next year this under-the-radar center is going to challenge the best big men in the SEC.
Jordan Mickey, Willie Cauley-Stein, Bobby Portis–you’ve all been warned.
There is an affinity for measurements in sports. Players that fit a certain measure and mold that have talent and skill get coveted in the eyes of coaches and teams alike.
Jones was one of the players that fits this build. With his 6’10”, 250-pound frame combined with his strength, the 19-year old, is ready to become the best center in the SEC.
It’s fitting that Jones played for the Texas Titans as his AAU team in high school because the man plays a lot bigger than his size. The title of the video was perfectly accurate because in that 2:31 video I could instantly see why so many programs were after Jones.
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Watching his highlight tape I saw a man that looked like a lion hunting a zebra and attacking it. Anything even remotely close to the rim would get gobbled up by Jones.
At one point in the video we even caught a glimpse of Kentucky coach John Calipari and Florida coach Billy Donovan exchange glances and look at each other with a face that says, “Damn is this man good.”
Jones went on to have an excellent freshman season at Vanderbilt. During his freshman year he scored 11.3 points, shot 54 percent from the field and led Vanderbilt in rebounding with 5.7 rebounds per game. Jones also added five double-doubles on the year.
In addition, Jones also was aggressive offensively and scored in double figures in 20 games last season. Because of his wonderful play, Jones earned himself a selection on the All-SEC Freshman team.
As told by the shot chart above, Jones scorches his opponents when he catches the basketball inside of the paint. Because of his combination of size and strength last season the freshman shot an incredible 70.9 percent around the rim and half of his shots (54.3 percent) were attempted there.
Also, Jones finished second in effective field goal percentage on Vanderbilt’s roster at 54.3 percent and in true shooting percentage.
Defensively though is where Jones shines the most. One of the most telling stats about his defense is that Jones averaged 1.4 blocks per game. Any team that has an interior presence instantly creates an intimidation factor that cannot be replicated.
On three separate occasions Jones had more than two blocks. Against Georgia State, Jones had seven blocks. While against Northeastern, Jones had six blocks. Also, against South Carolina, Jones set a career high in blocks with seven.
Next season Vanderbilt will probably continue to have a poor SEC record. Last year they finished with a 7-11 record in the conference. Regardless of the record that Vanderbilt manages to finish with, since Jones plays on their roster it makes Vanderbilt a must watch team.
The matchups against other in conference big men such as LSU’s Mickey, Arkansas’ Portis, and Kentucky’s Cauley-Stein are all going to create excitement and show how much better Jones has gotten this year.
Even if Jones manages to average 15 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks a game his sophomore year it shows his development is successful.
This Vanderbilt team will not go the 2015 NCAA tournament, but Jones shouldn’t have to suffer the penalty of not being surrounded by quality talent to compete.
All I have to say is rumble, young man, rumble because the man Damian Jones is an absolute monster and might turn out to become the best center in the SEC.