Joining a team as a senior transfer isn’t always the easiest transition, but it’s working for Crete-Monee’s Joe Jones.
Jones, a 6-6 post player, is thriving with the Warriors after moving over from Bloom.
He scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 58-51 loss to Thornton on Jan. 13, and that wasn’t his biggest game of the season. In an overtime win against Hillcrest on Dec. 29, Jones scored 27 points and grabbed 18 rebounds.
It helps to have a familiar face on the team: senior guard Markell Slaughter-Harris also is in his first season at Crete after transferring from Bloom. Also beneficial: Warriors coach Jawan Nelson is a former Division I center for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
No wonder Jones has quickly fit in.
“My guards, they know how to share the ball with me and I really appreciate that,” he said. “But I do believe that all my guards can go downhill. They can score when they need to. But I feel like when they depend on me, I’m always there.”
And Nelson is there for him.
“He helped me a lot,” Jones said. “Like showing me more moves in the post and also showing me how to expand my game outside a little more.”
Meanwhile, Nelson is glad to have Jones.
“He just makes everybody’s jobs a little easier,” Nelson said. “He’s a big focal point for us, just all across the board: offensive side, defensive side.”
Jones has been playing basketball most of his life. He’s recently become a three-sport athlete, also playing football and throwing the shot put and discus for the track and field team. He’s also a straight A student.
All that requires effort and good time management.
“We definitely put some work in,” Nelson said. “I’m not gonna take all that credit. He put work in outside our practices. He’s just a good kid. He wants to get better, so it’s gonna happen when you work hard.”
“(Football coach John) Konecki understands if I miss a practice for a (basketball) game that’s important during the summer,” Jones said. “I just have to work extra hard the next practice.”