Jones signs with Southern Union

Eufaula senior Josh Jones signed a basketball scholarship with Southern Union State Community College Thursday. Jones is pictured with his mother Deltonya Spann, Southern Union head coach Ron Radford, Eufaula head coach Mike Henry and Eufaula principal Steve Hawkins.

By: | Eufaula Tribune
Published: April 14, 2009

Eufaula head coach Mike Henry called Josh Jones a “well kept secret” before the start of the 2009 basketball season.

After Jones, who was a reserve on the Tigers’ Final Four team a year ago, helped lead Eufaula to 30 wins and a runner-up finish in the Alabama High School Athletic Association South Region Tournament, the secret was out.

Junior colleges from across the southeast were courting the Tiger post player. In the end, Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Ala., landed Jones, who signed a scholarship with the school on Thursday.

“I just felt that Southern Union was the best fit for me,” Jones said. “I really liked the team and the campus. I felt comfortable there when I took my visit, and it’s a great school.”

Jones, who averaged nearly nine points and eight rebounds per game in his only season as a starter at Eufaula, expects to compete for playing time as a freshman.

“I feel good about my chances to start,” Jones said. “I’m just going to go in and work hard and hopefully earn a spot in the lineup.”

Henry believes Jones, who competed in the third annual Bi-City All-Star Classic and was named Eufaula’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player for 2009, can have an immediate impact at Southern Union.

“He’s got a great basketball IQ,” Henry said.

“I really think he can step in and play right away. He’s long, rangy and athletic, and that makes him very versatile.

“He can play with his back to the basket or facing the basket. We used him as a post player, but he can move out to the wing and contribute there as well.”

Jones said he expects to make the move from the post to the wing at Southern Union. It won’t be a new experience for Jones, who played on the wing for Alabama in its loss to Georgia in the Bi-City All-Star Classic, but it will require some work.

“They like my ability, but they want me to work on my ball handling,” Jones said.

Henry doesn’t expect Jones, who was named Eufaula’s Most Improved Player following his junior season, to have much trouble with the transition.

“He’s a hard worker,” the coach said. “He’ll do whatever it takes to get better and contribute.”

But for now, Jones is just enjoying having finally signed on the dotted line.

“It feels good,” he said with a smile.

“I’ve always wanted to play college basketball, and now I have the chance. It doesn’t really feel real, but it’s starting to set in.”