Jones didn’t have the success he typically does from beyond the arc on Sunday, but still found plenty of other ways to impact the game and lead his team to 2-0 on the day picking up quality wins over Redemption Christian (NY) and Bishop Ireton (VA). What I loved about his outing against Redemption Christian when it was obvious that his shot wasn’t falling was his attentiveness in getting to the free-throw line. He finished the game 9-of-10 and led the Panthers with 16PTS in the win. He also didn’t allow his misses to impact his presence as a leader. While St. Frances returns a few key guy from last year’s BCL title team, there’s a wave of new faces from the transfer portal or freshmen battling for spots in the rotation. Jones’ guidance in the midst of a game to put those guys in position to succeed is clear and what every coach hopes for in their senior point guard. He followed his gutsy performance against Redemption Christian with 14PTS against Ireton where he established a better rhythm from three as he buried three of his seven attempts.

The Panthers’ star guard had a strong day in a pair of wins, going for 26 points in a win over The Patrick School (NJ) and following it with 17 in a tight victory over Springdale Prep (MD).

Jones’ full arsenal was on display Sunday, as he hit 3’s, distributed, and knifed into the lane with ease for pull-ups, floaters and tough lay-ins. He was especially clutch down the stretch of a 47-45 win over Springdale, consistently making plays and getting to the rim despite everyone in the gym knowing he’d be getting the ball. There are few guards more fun to watch when he gets it going.

Jones has put forth a body of work that makes him one of the most dangerous combo guards in the DMV. His potent scoring ability from all three levels allows him to change the course of a game in 2-to-3 possessions. He’s one of those guys that I’d categorize as a cold-blooded hooper rather than a definitive “basketball player.” A lot of times, the “hoopers” can give you the highlight reels, but stacking wins at a high level can be difficult. This isn’t the case for Jones. Not only has he led St. Frances to BCL championships, but he also has began making the transition as more of a playmaking lead guard rather than a score-first guy. He showed this summer with Team Melo that he can orchestrate in the half court and make others around him better with his ability to read the entire floor off the live bounce. He impacts winning at a high rate and is the bell cow for a St. Frances team who enters the 2026-27 season as favorites to win the BCL and MIAA.

This game offered an entertaining guard matchup between two of Baltimore’s own in Jones and Darrell Davis. Although Jones doesn’t play on the UAA Circuit, the UA sponsorship at St. Frances gave him the nod and if you’re familiar with the southpaw guard’s game, you knew he wouldn’t go down quietly. He gets to spots with quickness and precision with the ability to pull-up in the blink of an eye and bury jumpers in humiliating fashion. He scored 12PTS in this one, but all of them were loud as he caught the crowds attention with a crossover, half spin into a stepback or using his crafty footwork on the way to the cup for scoop finishes. Jones also accumulated 4ASTS, 3REBS and 3STLS.

Jones vaults up to No. 4 and has emerged as Baltimore’s best prospect in the rising senior class months removed from leading St. Frances to a Baltimore Catholic League title. When it comes to getting buckets, you can’t establish a list without getting to Jones’ name, but this spring with Team Melo on the EYBL Circuit, the southpaw lead guard has shown his worth as an initiator in the halfcourt who can make high-level passes off the live dribble. He’ll need to shoulder much of the offensive load for St. Frances this winter, but with Melo he’s able to display his defensive tools as well which include active/accurate hands, competitiveness and a mental toughness that you commonly see in undersized Baltimore City guards. Georgetown, Mississippi State, St. Joe’s, Towson, Villanova and Virginia Tech make up Jones’ offers amongst others.

Jones has built up significant momentum within his recruitment as well given the hot spring he’s put together as the primary playmaker for Team Melo . This weekend he had even more responsibility as the lead guard and aside from the final game against DeMatha, put together a really impressive body of work. St. Frances finished 2-2 overall and Jones’ fingerprints were all over the wins. If you eliminate the last game against DeMatha, the Baltimore native was good for 27PPG, 4.6RPG and 3APG. Villanova, Virginia Tech and VCU account for just a few of the programs who were tracking him closely. All have offered the 5-foot-11 southpaw.

If there was an MVP of S1 for each age group, Jones would’ve had a strong argument for the 17U level. Melo finished 2-1 on the weekend and Jones reminded everyone why he’s one of the more explosive scoring guards in the DMV, but it was his playmaking for others that left the bigger impression. He averaged over five assists per game and whether it was his end-to-end speed putting pressure on the defense or him getting to his left hand coming off ball screens, Jones’ vision covers the entire floor and he has the ability to whip one-handed dimes on a rope to weakside shooter, rollers to the rim or to his bigs popping out beyond the arc following the action. Scoring wise, he needs little space coming off DHO’s to get his shot off. He uses the gravity that his outside shot presents to mix things up with an effective change-of-pace approach in space where he can establish a downhill advantage and finish through contact if necessary.

Jones averaged and impressive 21PPG, 5.5APG, 3.5RPG and 3.0SPG on the weekend.

Somewhat of a slow start for Jones in the first quarter of this matchup was quickly put to rest with a productive three quarters to help steer Melo to a win. Jones is one of those naturally gifted scorers that forces his defender to be paranoid anytime the ball is in his hands. Where his game has really grown over the last six months is his ability to play at different speeds. The defender has to stay attached at all costs given his ability to score it off the bounce, but his ability to accel with twitch makes him a nightmare in ball screens, DHO’s or in transition as he can gain an advantage and then maintain elite body control on the deceleration while finishing at tough angles. The other wrinkle of his game that should shine this summer is his court vision. Jones is no stranger to whipping cross court passes off the live dribble to weak side shooters in their shooting pockets.

-Jones filled it up in bunches throughout the year, often re-entering games with a splash by knocking down perimeter jumpers and turning opponents over before they crossed over halfcourt to stack stops and buckets to build leads or cut into deficits. Love his change of speed when attacking opponents in the halfcourt to get downhill to finish with one hand above the rim, maneuver around the defense with euro steps, or earn trips to the free throw line. Jones improved his POA defense to fight over screens at the top of the key more effectively to generate the turnovers that are the lifeblood of SFA’s explosive scoring runs. While there is still room for improvement as an efficient scorer in the halfcourt, our scouts took note of the improved consistency of his scoring outputs as well as some improved playmaking that make him a more balanced threat on a nightly basis.