East Central-ex’s hoop transformation has him Final Four bound

Shortly after Jeremy Jones received his release two years ago at Rice following a brief career as a scholarship football player and walk-on basketball player, he attended Gonzaga’s Elite Eight loss to Duke at NRG Stadium in Houston.

He remembered being captivated by coach Mark Few’s playing style, the Zags’ on-court exuberance and how close the team appeared to be even as it lost to the Blue Devils.

“I loved what I saw on the outside,” said Jones, who was also a two-sport standout at East Central. “I had my release from Rice. I knew the perception of the school and Gonzaga’s reputation for player development. And, I had never gotten a chance to focus on one sport.”

That excitement led him to contact Gonzaga officials. The interest was mutual and now Jones is part of a Zags’ team that plays South Carolina on Saturday afternoon in Glendale, Arizona, in their first Final Four appearance in school history.

His unconventional transformation puts Jones him in line to possibly become the first local player to be part of a men’s national basketball championship team since 2008, when Alamo Heights’ Chase Buford was a member of Kansas’ squad that prevailed at the Alamodome.

Jones, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound preferred walk-on, hasn’t seen much playing time in his first season of eligibility at Gonzaga due to a nagging ankle injury. But just being a part of a Final Four run has helped take some of the sting out of what could have been a personally disappointing sophomore season.

Jones hurt his ankle during a preseason scrimmage against Baylor at the Oklahoma City Thunder’s training facility. While grabbing for a rebound, he landed awkwardly before sprawling to the floor.

“As soon as I landed, I knew it was hurt pretty badly,” he said. “I thought it was broken.”

A severe high ankle sprain kept him in a boot for most of the first six weeks of the season. He didn’t see his first action until Dec. 10, and played in only two games before the conference season commenced.

The injury contribution to Jones’ miniscule averages — 0.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 23 games this season. He was expected to challenge for extended playing time before the injury.

But as he returned to form, the Zags built a winning streak that reached 29 before their only loss this season to BYU.

“It was tough to find my niche when I came back,” Jones said. “We’re playing so well. I decided I would just enjoy this season and learn from the success that we’ve had. And when I do have my opportunity, I want to keep doing what I can to help us.”

Jones’ unusual path to Spokane, Washington, started with his decision to play quarterback for Rice coach David Bailiff. But as Jones’ redshirt season progressed, he learned the team planned to use him as a wide receiver.

Jones also walked on with the Owls’ basketball program and quickly found a spot in the rotation. By the time the football team’s Hawaii Bowl came around, Jones decided he would rather play with the basketball team than make the trip.

By the end of his freshman season, Jones was a starter. He averaged 2.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while ranking fourth on the team in steals.

After basketball season ended, Jones began to think about transferring to a top-level program.

“It was hard because coach Bailiff did a lot for me,” Jones said. “Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am. It was definitely hard and I felt I was letting a lot of people down. But I felt like during my whole life I had always done things to please others. This time, I wanted to do something for myself.”

Once he visited Gonzaga and met with the coaches and players, he was convinced it was the right move.

“When I first went there, guys were in the gym working out and I went back and they just kept there all weekend,” he said. “That’s what I wanted. It’s just kind of contagious. I had never been any place where people work so hard. I just wanted to be a part of it.”

Still, giving up a football scholarship for a shot at becoming a preferred walk-on for the Zags would have been considered a risk by many.

“A lot of people would have thought it was like a poker game and Jeremy was going all in by moving,” said his former East Central football coach, Clint Hartman. “But I knew that if anybody could make that switch, it would be Jeremy. I had no doubt he would be able to make that transition.”

Jones was a second-team All-District honoree as a senior at East Central. He threw for 1,951 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 730 yards and nine touchdowns in his career. He was ranked 10th among quarterbacks in the state by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine in the postseason edition after his senior season.

Hartman, now the head football coach at Midland Lee High School, said Jones’ toughness helped unify the football team.

“We were playing a game and were ahead by three touchdowns or so when Jeremy busted his chin and had to come out,” Hartman said. “He needed stitches and the doctor thought they would keep him out and take care of it after the game. But when we started struggling, he wanted to go back in. So he took the four stitches right there on the sidelines without xylocaine and then went right back out there and wrapped up our victory.”

Jones’ toughness was evident on the basketball court too after he battled through a shoulder injury that some doctors thought needed immediate surgery. Instead, he endured the pain and finished his senior basketball season with the Hornets.

“Jeremy is the smartest basketball player I’ve ever coached or been around,” said his former East Central basketball coach, Jeff Sweet. “He just has an incredible court presence and defensively was where he made his mark. He gave us defensive rebounding and toughness, but at times you could also see flashes of unbelievable offensive skills.

“I said to myself that if he would have concentrated on basketball, he would have been the best player in the city and one of the best in the state. But he loved football, too.”

Gonzaga’s reputation for developing players could pay off with Jones too. His work ethic and slashing, disruptive playing style have led to the nickname “Too Long Jones,” which is also his Twitter handle.

“It’s kind of funny. Obviously from the outside looking in, it hasn’t been the kind of year I had anticipated,” Jones said. “But transferring is the last thing on my mind. I love it here. It’s the perfect position for me.”