At the end of the 2013-2014 NCAA season, Jamal Jones was coming off a great first year with Texas A&M after transferring from junior college. The 6’8, 196 pound, shooting guard led the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game, while also knocking down 82 three-point shots. Coach Billy Kennedy’s team was made up of a lot of young players, and expectations for Jones and the team would likely be higher the next season.
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Then, assistant coach Glynn Cyprien was let go from the program, and about a month later, Jones decided he also was going to leave the program.
“It was a tough decision to leave, and I kept thinking if it was the right decision,” said Jones. “An assistant coach I was close to was let go and I had a close relationship with my teammates, but life goes on and I had to do what was best for me.”
After leaving the Texas A&M program, rather than transfer to another school, Jones decided to turn pro and enter the NBA Developmental League. “The D-League was really the only option that I looked at for my rookie year,” said Jones. “I thought it was the right place for me to showcase my abilities, plus there would be NBA scouts coming to a lot of the games.”
Jones signed with the D-League, and he was selected in the 2nd round of the D-League draft by the Delaware 87ers, the affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers. Jones would not be eligible to be called up during the season, and he is draft-eligible for the 2015 NBA Draft.
Though he was coming off a very good season for Texas A&M, playing in the D-League was an adjustment process for him. “I had to learn to play smarter and more physical,” said Jones. “How I played on offense had to change, scoring with less dribbles and in ways I hadn’t before.”
It wasn’t just on the court where Jones had to adjust. Life in the D-League and as a professional was a new, and eye-opening, experience. “I really had to learn to be tougher mentally,” said Jones. “I had to adjust to playing times, and even the travel was different. Traveling in the D-League wasn’t like it was in Division I basketball.”
Jones played in 46 games as a rookie, starting 18, and averaged 21 minutes per game. He averaged almost 8 points and 3 rebounds per game, and had six games where he scored 15 or more points.
Now with the draft coming up and a professional season under his belt, Jones is eager to show NBA teams how his game has improved since college. “I offer a lot of versatility, especially as a 6’8 guard who can put the ball on the floor,” explained Jones. “Plus, I showed in the D-League that I can guard multiple positions at a high level”
Jones is busy working on his game in anticipation of meeting with NBA teams before the draft, with the focus on some key areas for him. “I want to continue working on my ballhandling skills,” said Jones. “Also, I’m working on consistently being able to knock down the NBA-range three.”
Having already had a season as a pro, Jones has a good idea of what kind of role he could fill for a team immediately. “I’m a young guy with a lot of energy,” Jones said. “You can put me on any guard and I’ll make it tough for them. I’ve already made adjustments with my game. I used to be about mid-range jumpers and threes, but I’ve learned to get to the basket efficiently.”
Jones knows the focus of the draft is usually the college kids, but he knows his first pro year has prepared him for his next step. “If a team is going to take an 18, 19-year old kid, why not take someone like me is mentally ready, but still young enough to still grow as a player,” Jones said. “I’ve been through up and downs, but they’ve made me stronger, and I will do what it takes to help my team.”
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