The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – For basketball superstar Jonquel Jones, the importance of representation of Bahamian women at the elite levels of the sport will continue to pay dividends as a younger generation has more examples of success to look to for inspiration.

Back home following her stint in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association, Jones took in some of the action at the Bahamas National High School Basketball Championships and cited the inclusion of the senior girls’ division as a signal of the growth of the local game.

“I’m excited to watch basketball here in the Bahamas from the point where it developed since I was younger. I think the growth has been awesome, really really good,” she said. “For me growing up I had coach Yo (Yolett McPhee McCuin) to look up to and the person who I strived to be like. I think the girls nowadays have more people in those positions that they can really look to and try to be like or pattern themselves after. I think when you have those multiple role models it really helps out a lot.”

Jones cited Lashann Higgs of the Texas Longhorns as the most recent example after her Longhorns advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

“I think the game is going to get better, as we go through time we are going to see more and more Bahamian athletes do big things with this sport,” she said. “It’s already happening but I’m just really excited to see what the game of basketball is going to do for the Bahamas and how these players are going to develop in the future.”

Jones led her Shanxi XR Flame to the finals of the WCBA where they lost in a three-game sweep against the top-seeded Beijing Great Wall. In game one, Beijing outlasted Shanxi with an 84-81 win. Jones finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocked shots. In game two, Jones added another double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds but her team suffered an 82-55 loss. Game three was a blowout loss, 85-63, and Jones finished with six points and six rebounds.

“China was a great experience and just another opportunity for me to grow my game, another opportunity for me to put the Bahamas on the map. It didn’t end with a championship but we achieved so many things,” Jones said, “It had been a long time since that team had made it to the championship so we were happy to get back there, happy to show that we were a contending team and happy to make a mark on the WCBA.”

Jones off a season full of milestones for the Sun. The second-year forward was named to the All-WNBA Second Team after she averaged a double double, set the league’s single season rebounds total, was named an All-Star and was awarded as the WNBA’s Most Improved Player.

Jones finished the year averaging 15.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game - a dramatic increase from her rookie season when she averaged 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Her record-setting total was 403 rebounds for the season. She also added 20 double doubles.

The Sparks finished the regular season with a record of 26-8, and the league’s top mark of 16-1 at home.

Jones’ historic season included several individual milestones, including becoming just the second player in league history to record three 20-rebound games in a single season.

Expectations will be even higher for both Jones and her team headed into the 2018-19 season.

“The main thing this year is I’m just really comfortable in my position, comfortable with my teammates. We’re really excited about our growth as a team in general. From the first time when I came to Connecticut to what we’ve been able to do last year so we’re coming into it ready to meet the expectations and to go above and beyond.”

Back in the United States, Jones’ Connecticut Sun will open the 2018 season by hosting a two-day preseason event involving the Dallas Wings, New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks May 7-8 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Sun will close out the preseason on Friday, May 11, hosting the Atlanta Dream at 7pm in Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport.