Prospect Spotlight: 2018 Donell Jones (Video)
Donell Jones has flown under the radar for far too long. At a solid 6-foot-3, 170 pounds, Jones is an impressive two-sport athlete who has the skills to play on the next level in basketball or football, yet few coaches seem to know about him.
Curtis’ basketball team hasn’t been in the spotlight since the departure of Richard Durant following the 2014-15 season, which was also the last time the Patriots won more than one playoff game. They have still been successful over the past two seasons totaling 38 wins including a 24-12 record last year with a trip to the Division I Quarterfinals (loss vs. McKinley, 50-46), but Jones has yet to garner much interest.
He was a starter for Curtis as a sophomore and junior and said he averaged about 15 points with 5 rebounds and three assists per game.
My first look at Jones was during summer league action in June and I couldn’t figure out how I hadn’t even heard of the kid. It turns out Jones’ family wasn’t keen on the AAU boys basketball scene and after a very short stint with New Orleans Basketball Club, Jones sat out of AAU all together.
The first time I saw Jones, the Patriots suited up against Crescent City in the Crescent City summer league and he had an impressive performance. He showed a smooth jump shot from both mid and 3-point range and was athletic and physical enough to get to the rim and finish through contact.
A week or so later, I got a chance to see Jones again in the UNO Team Shootout and he was one of the more impressive players in the event. He had a sweet drive from the 3-point line that he finished with a one-handed dunk, which got the attention of a few UNO coaches court side.
Jones also continued to show a consistent jump shot in set situations or off the dribble at UNO and the same was true when Curtis participated in the Country Day Team Camp in late June.
Jones is a quality, respectful kid who holds a 3.2 GPA and posted a remarkable score of 26 on his ACT. He also comes from a basketball family and his twin, Dynah Jones, is committed to Tulane’s women’s program.
He has seen very light interest from UNO and Tulane but nothing substantial. Some program would be wise to scoop up Jones before too many teams realize what he is capable of and he’ll be a prospect to monitor closely during his senior season.
Here’s a quick glimpse at Jones over the summer to get a better look at his skillset.