By SAM LANCE
INDIANAPOLIS — The sport of choice in five-star Providence commit Jamier Jones‘ family is football, but basketball will have to do. Jones — the 6-foot-6, 210-pound forward from Oak Ridge High School (FL) and the Florida Rebels Nike EYBL AAU program — started with football because of his father, but he eventually transferred to basketball.
“But I still love football,” Jones told ZAGSBLOG.com. “That was always the family sport, football. [My dad] just played high school. He got hurt in high school before he could go to college and play. He was real good though.”
That could very well explain why Jones plays the way he does on the hardwood: ruthless.
“I’m a dog,” Jones said of his game. “Definitely a dog.”
Jones committed to Providence just this past Sunday, and now he’s given insight on how head coach Kim English was able to land him. Simply put by Jones, English has actually “coached” him through the process. Not just recruited.
“That’s what made me fall in love with him,” Jones said. “Him just calling me before every game on FaceTime, letting me know what to do. He taught me to play off two feet. So I’m starting to play off that more and it’s starting to help my game go higher and higher.”
English has been everywhere. He’s played in the NBA. He’s been both a head coach and assistant at the low-major and high-major levels.
“So I just trust in him,” Jones said. “Listening to what he’s been saying and putting it into my game has taken me far.”
Now that Jones is committed to Providence, he’s looking to recruit a few players to join him. Specifically, Jones named his AAU and high school teammate — four-star point guard Jalen Reece — and four-star small forward Jaylen Harrell of Expressions Elite.
“I’m trying to get them two guys to commit,” Jones said. “Let’s do it.”
Jones finished with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field in a two point loss to Houston Hoops on Friday. His Florida Rebels have three more games this weekend including Saturday matchups with the Georgia Stars and NY Renaissance, as well as a Sunday contest vs. the NJ Scholars.
Here is how Jones described his game: “I don’t think anyone else has my type of energy. I think that separates me a lot. Even when I’m not scoring, I can bring enough to the table where we’re still winning games. We took a tough loss today, but I just talk to everybody and make sure we bounce back and get one tomorrow.”
Follow Sam Lance on Twitter
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram
And Like ZAGS on Facebook
