In Year Three, Jones Keeps Bringing The Energy For The Dawgs
December 11, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
State junior continues to be a spark plug for his team.
STARKVILLE – College athletics is just different these days than it was not too long ago. Rosters change from year to year, and that of course is no different at Mississippi State.
But there remain constants, and for the Bulldogs, Shawn Jones Jr. has been one of those over the last three seasons. The Houston, Texas, native's energy, effort and enthusiasm doesn't always capture headlines or become talking points, but those characteristics of his have been crucial in helping MSU get to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments and putting State in a strong position for a run at a third straight dance.
While Jones could be considered somewhat of an unsung hero, his contributions don't go unnoticed within the locker room. And they also certainly have the full attention of head coach Chris Jans – a man who appreciates the way Jones goes about his business day after day and season after season.
"He hasn't said this to me, [but] since we've been here, we go through the offseason and we bring in these new dudes, right?" Jans said. "And [Jones] just kind of says, 'Whatever', you know, and he battles and battles.
"I don't have it in my mind, but somehow, someway, Shawn Jones always finds himself on the court when the game is hard, when it's a close game and the score is in the balance and it's getting to the last 10 minutes. Somehow, someway, he has found his way and earned his way to be in the game when it really, really matters."
It's all a testament to Jones' attitude. Sure, he can deliver on the stat sheet, just as he did last Sunday when he scored 11 big points to go along with three rebounds and a steal to help the Bulldogs fend off an upset-minded Prairie View A&M. But Jones' winning ways are as much about what's between his ears as what goes down while he's on the hardwood.
Jones is a winner. It's all he cares about, and he only knows one way to give his team the best chance to have success.
"I just want to be a factor and do something to make an impact in the game," Jones said. "No matter if I'm scoring, on defense, diving on the floor or even cheering for my teammates [on the bench], I just want to do something to keep the energy up and keep the vibes good."
There's a secret weapon Jones possesses when it comes to giving boosts to the Bulldogs. It's the benefit of having been in Starkville since the Jans era began back in 2022.
Now, that hasn't made Jones a perfect player, but it has made him an incredibly knowledgeable one. Combine that with his approach and his God-given skills, and that's why he's always a key factor in helping State wrap games in Maroon and White. Jans loves what he gets out of Jones and believes the guard's experience in the program provides him with a chance to give State even more.
"He knows our system and he's in the right spots," Jans said. "We think he still has room to grow [as an on-ball defender], we just need him to grab ahold of that defensive stopper mentality. If Shawn would do that, he'd play even more. We need a shutdown guy, and he's our best candidate to do that.
"He's actually better off the ball than he is on the ball. And then, he checks out every time. His rebounding numbers aren't great, but he checks his own man out like every time."
Put another way, Jones does the little things right. Even when eyes aren't on him, he's still doing all he can for the Dawgs. It's building more and more trust in Jones, even though he already had plenty.
"He's starting to be like [Cameron Matthews], where we can move him around and he can play different positions and not miss a beat," Jans said.
That's high praise as Matthews – another Bulldog stalwart – continues to be one of the country's most versatile, talented players.
Time will tell if Jones can once again leverage his abilities to help put MSU back in the middle of the madness of March. But once again, he's playing his role to perfection by making the Bulldogs better by any means possible.
"He's been really good for us," Jans said.
