Talk with 6-foot-3 Archbishop Mitty and Team Arsenal guard Tyler Jones for just a few minutes and a picture quickly develops of someone mature and grounded. It's easy to envision him utilizing this level-headedness in understanding what is required in certain game situations and in making timely decisions on the floor. Although he can produce points when necessary, Jones understands that a smooth offense doesn't generally require major scoring totals next to his name in the scorebook and that a strong team defensive effort begins with doggedness out front.
Jones was surrounded early on by basketball, thus aiding his perspective. "I grew up with the game since I was three or four." That's because his father Rob Jones coached with the now defunct Bay Area Hoosiers, a top California AAU team of the time. "I spent a lot of time in gyms during the practices." Coach Rob now works with one of the younger level Team Arsenal squads.
That immersion and his continued work has now paid off with a commitment to UC Riverside Coach Coach Mike Magpayo, who has turned a previous coach-killer program into a winning one, going 51-31 in his first three years, 31-16 in Big West Conference play.
Why the choice of the Highlanders? "The main reason is I built a great relationship with the Riverside coaching staff. I have the opportunity to play as a freshman in a winning program." Jones attended the UC Riverside Elite Camp last summer, he and the coaching staff stayed in touch and Assistant Coach Dustin Yoder extended an offer in January.
Asked how he will be positioned, Jones said, "at the one and the two." He sees himself as "a vocal leader and also by example and a versatile guard who shoots the three ball well. I also see myself being able to create for my teammates."
He cited his most important basketball influences as "my father, Archbishop Mitty Coach Tim Kennedy and Kelvin "KP" Potts, founder of the Team Arsenal program. In addition to offering thanks to those three, Jones added "my Mom. She is a former college soccer player and we work out together." The family mantra is "to be the best version of yourself" whatever the endeavor.
The exposure to the Hoosiers program, Jones' father playing basketball (and football) at Archbishop Mitty and his father's brother Claude playing basketball at Santa Clara University were also influential factors.
As for a best basketball moment, it was a tournament up in the Sacramento area that provided two choices. "Last season up at a Jesuit High tournament, we had some guys hurt but still beat Jesuit (74-65) and De La Salle (62-52). It felt great." Jones was named the Most Valuable Player of that Jesuit High Father Barry tournament.
Regarding what he wants to accomplish on the court at UC Riverside, Jones offered, "the team finished 22-11 last season so it's a winning program. I want to punch a ticket to the (national) tournament." The odds for the Highlanders doing so now look more favorable.
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