CR's Jones Signs with Simpson University

CR’s Jones signs with Simpson University

College of the Rewoods’ leading scorer Shaquille Jones has signed a letter of intent and will accept a partial athletic scholarship to play basketball at Simpson University in Redding next season.
Jones, who averaged more than 17 points per game his sophomore year at CR, shot 45 percent from 3-point land (30-of-67) and led the team in steals with 50.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” Jones said. “It’s been my childhood dream to play basketball on a scholarship and I’m getting that chance.”
Jones was a first-team All-Golden Valley Conference selection this year, and, according to Simpson head coach Matt Thacker, will be a tremendous asset to his team.
“I love his speed,” Thacker said. “We’ve got some real quick guards in our conference and he’s someone we’re expecting to come in and have a major impact. He spent a few days on our campus, getting to know some of our guys, and it was just a good fit. He seemed very comfortable with us and we were certainly comfortable with him. It just seems like a perfect match”
Simpson is an NAIA school that competes in the California-Pacific Conference, and struggled a bit last season, finishing 5-7 in conference and 7-21 overall.
“Our point guard tore his ACL in the first game last year, so we had to reverse course a little bit and make some adjustments,” Thacker said. “We’ll be looking for Shaquille to come in and be aggressive at the guard position and push the tempo. We’ll try to get the ball in his hands early in transition because he’s got the ability to make plays.”
Jones, who came to CR out of J.F. Kennedy High School in Oakland, played two seasons for the Corsairs.
“Shaq was our best player this season,” said CR’s first-year head coach Justin Mora. “We didn’t win as many games as I hoped we would, but he was a big part of our team and the success that we did have.”
Jones, who is listed at 5-feet, 8-inches and 170 pounds, is expected to be a combo guard at Simspon and do a little bit of everything.
“Staying healthy is the big thing at our level, but like I said from the start, the more time I spent with Shaquille the more I came to like him as a person and a player,” Thacker said. “He’s got the toughness, a high basketball I.Q. and he sees the floor well. He’s got a lot of things going for him and we’re expecting good things.”
Jones will return to Humboldt County with Simpson to square off against Humboldt State in Lumberjack Arena Nov. 9 in a non-conference game.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Jones said.
*CR Sports Information