The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WHEN she takes to the court in the Spring 2014 semester, George Washington University will represent a fresh start for talented forward 19-year-old Jonquel Jones in NCAA basketball.

Jones will be forced to sit out the Fall 2013 semester after transferring last year from Clemson, but will be eligible to play for the Colonials in January.

The Grand Bahama native was a highly touted recruit out of Riverdale Baptist in Maryland and originally committed to Clemson before she transferred after just eight games.

In her eight-game career with the Tigers in the 2012-2013 season, the 6’4” Jones averaged 9.8 points, 10 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. She posted four double doubles and ranked fourth in the ACC in both rebounds and blocked shots at the time of her departure.

Jones shot 48 per cent from the field and in her final game with the Tigers, posted career highs of 17 points and 14 rebounds at South Carolina State.

Jones was ranked by “ESPN Hoop Gurlz” at No. 17 in the country among high school seniors when she led Riverdale to the top ranking in the state and 35-2 record overall. They claimed the National Christian High School championship and reached No.6 in the national post-season rankings.

She averaged 15.7 points and 15.6 rebounds and was named Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year and Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year. She was also named to the 2012 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association High School All-America Game presented by Nike and was a McDonald’s All-America nominee.

Heading into her freshman year at Clemson, expectations were high as Jones was named to the ACC Preseason Newcomer Watch List by both the ACC head coaches.

However, plans quickly went awry as Jones was one of three Clemson players to surprisingly transfer within a single week along with Danaeja Grant and Chelsea Lindsey.

Jones will join the Colonials along with another transfer, junior point guard Lauren Chase.

Both players played at Riverdale Baptist under current George Washington assistant coach Diane Richardson.

Jones will be one of the key reasons the Colonials expect to contend in the Atlantic 10 division after a promising 2012-13 campaign.

“JJ will be a wonderful addition to our programme with her size and versatility,” said Colonials head coach Jonathan Tsipis on www.gwsports.com in January at the time of the transfer.

“She is a basketball junkie who is constantly working on her game. She will be capable of a double-double on a nightly basis and will cause mismatches for us. She can play inside and out and will be a force on the defensive end aswell. Coming from a winning tradition at Riverdale, she understands the mentality of hard work and toughness.”

George Washington returns nine players from last year’s team which won the most games for the school since 2009.

“They will be great ambassadors to the university with their academic and athletic abilities, as well as their contagious personalities. We are excited for them to get started here this spring and look forward to wonderful experiences they both will have at GW.”

Jones is the daughter of Preston and Ettamae Jones.