Prospect Spotlight: Daylan Jones (2021)
One of the state’s top young player, Wichita East guard Daylan Jones is gearing up for a big sophomore season after a strong summer running with the MoKan Elite 15Us.
At 6’4, Jones averaged 10 points and five rebounds as a freshman a year ago and says he takes pride in his all-around game, including his ability to defend and make a play on the offensive end of the floor.
He says the summer with MoKan Elite helped prepare him for the upcoming season, and perhaps beyond.
“It prepared me very well because my summer team played 6’5 or taller players and being able to play against the top players in my class has prepared me to be get stronger mentally and physically,” he says.
Jones says he has spent a lot of time watching Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and has worked on his pull-up game and shooting over shorter defenders.
Wichita East enters the season as an underrated squad after going 8-13 a year ago, but Jones says he expects the team to put together a strong season.
“We’ll come out playing hard and giving it our all, plus we’ve been working on getting bigger and being able to keep our fatigue so when we’re in a close we’re able to keep playing without getting tired,” he says.
Jones says his dad and brother have had the biggest influence on his basketball career to date.
“They pushed me everyday in school and on the court to play the best i can and don’t worry about who’s in the crowd and just worry about the team and to always be respectful towards people,” Jones said.
A fan of NBA guards Devin Booker and CJ McCollum, Jones says he appreciates how the approach the game.
“The way they play — they never back down from no one and how they’re able to use their pull up jumper to advantage against people and they’re shooting guars so I use their moves to my own use,” Jones says.
Jones has heard a lot recently from Wichita State, Colorado and Montclair University.