GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Former West Virginia standout Kevin Jones will play with the Indiana Pacers in the Orlando Summer League beginning in July.
He will begin practicing with the Pacers June 29. Indiana trails the Miami Heat 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals entering Friday night’s Game 6 in Miami.
“It’s a great opportunity for me because I definitely feel like it’s a team I can fit in with,” the Mount Vernon, N.Y., native told SNY.tv. Thursday at the Frankie Williams Charity Classic. “But take it one step at a time and try to play great during summer league and hopefully get a training camp offer.”
Jones, 24, went undrafted out of West Virginia in 2012 and has had several stints with the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League and was named a D-League All-Star in 2014. Most recently, he played in the Philippines with San Miguel Beermen.
Jones averaged 28 points and 16 rebounds in nine games with the Beermen during which the team went 7-2.
“The Philippines was great,” Jones said. “It was a great opportunity to go overseas and get a new experience and it definitely made me mature.”
Still, it was tough being so far from home.
“Yeah, definitely, especially since that was my first time playing ball across the [world],” he said. “So it was tough but I got adjusted to it.”
Jones has bounced around and battled injuries over the past few years, but sticks with the sport he loves in hopes of finally making the NBA.
“I love playing basketball so I’ll do it if I have to,” he said.
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