University Press (Beaumont, Tex.), Vol. 74, No. 32, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 11, 1998 Page: 4 of 6
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University Press • Wednesday, February 11,1998 • Page 4
Point man
on ‘D’
Soccer background shows guard equally adept with hands, feet
With chants of “Defense,
Defense,” Rod Jones, starting point
guard for the Lamar men’s basketball
team, gains center attention on the
court with his quickness and ability to
intimidate the opposition.
“I think what makes me so effec-
tive on defense is that I just think
about what I would do if I had the
ball,” Jones said.
Jones was born in Dallas, but
later moved to a suburb called
Lancaster.
He was an active child growing
up, trying to learn the games of soccer
and basketball.
Jones said that he started playing
soccer because he and local kids
would play kick ball outside for fun.
He said that one day while they were
playing a man drove up and asked if
they wanted to play in a soccer
league.
“I played soccer until I was 17
years old,” Jones said. “I stopped
playing, because there wasn’t a soccer
team at my high school.”
Jones taught himself the basics of
basketball by watching NBA stars
such as Isiah Thomas and Magic
Johnson. He would try to copy their
moves in the Buys and Girls Club and
in local recreational centers.
Jones attended Lancaster High
School where he participated in track
and field, football and basketball.
He gained all-district and defen-
sive player of the year honors in bas-
ketball his junior and senior years.
Jones averaged 10 points, four
rebounds, three steals and six assists
his senior year.
He attended Howard Junior
College in Big Spring.
Jones was defensive player of the
year for two consecutive years aver-
aging four points, threte rebounds, one
steal and five assists.
While attending Howard, he was
chosen by Who’s Who as one of the
top 50 students in academics.
Jones was asked by the president
of the college to host the school’s tal-
ent show. As things turned out, he
was MC for two years.
“The first time I hosted the talent
show, I came out in a big afro and did
my Michael Jackson impersonation,”
Jones said.
Jones is a senior at Lamar and has
experienced his fair share of ups and
downs as a Cardinal.
At the beginning of last season,
Jones broke his right foot, leaving
him out and watching the games from
the side line.
“I wanted to get better. But by
the same token, I didn’t want to rush
my recovery,” Jones said.
He did eventually get better and
was back for a couple of conference
games and the playoffs.
“When I returned to the team, I
wasn’t a hundred percent. I was just
trying to get back into the flow of the
team,” Jones said. “I wanted to gain
the respect of the players and coach-
es.”
Jones did gain their respect,
because he helped teammates finish
fourth in conference which was
Lamar’s highest Sun Belt finish.
“To win games it takes prepara-
tion, focus on the game plan on
offense and defense and going out
and doing it,” Jones said.
This year, Jones has helped the
team both on and off the court.
“I love the players on the team
like a family,” Jones said.
Jones is in top shape this season,
contributing not only on defense but
on offense as well. He sqored in dou-
ble figures in over half the games
played.
“I think I am finally adjusted to
Coach Giovanine’s style of play,”
Jones said.
You can catch Jones and his
teammates on Thursday night when
they host Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m.
Johnnie Walters
UP staff writer
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Andris, Tonya. University Press (Beaumont, Tex.), Vol. 74, No. 32, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 11, 1998, newspaper, February 11, 1998; Beaumont, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth500840/m1/4/?q=%22~1~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Lamar University.