University of Georgia Athletics
Know Your Lady Bulldogs: Ebony Jones
April 25, 2011 | Women's Basketball
April 25, 2011
Jones enjoys the challenge of full-time basketball
By the end of her sophomore year at Cedar Hill High School outside Dallas, Ebony Jones knew she had a decision pending. Jones was a standout on both the volleyball and track and field teams and was drawing recruiting interest from numerous Division I schools.
At that point, Jones had just finished a stint on the junior varsity basketball team, a season in which she was "demoted" from the varsity following her freshman campaign.
"I think it was just a time where a lot was expected of me," Jones said. "I was put on the varsity as a freshman, but I didn't play that much. I got moved down to 'JV' as a sophomore. I guess it was a good life lesson that you're not there yet, but there's more to go and more to accomplish. When I came back to varsity as a junior, I felt like I could make an immediate impact."
Jones did just that. As a junior, she returned to the varsity hoops squad and earned District 7AAAAA Newcomer of the Year honors after averaging 13 points and eight rebounds per game.
Suddenly, the two-headed decision became a three-headed recruiting monster...with some crossover involved. While the normal prep star would likely focus on the sport where their future appeared brightest, Jones did just the opposite.
"There were more opportunities for me to run track or play volleyball," Jones said. "Really, playing basketball was the biggest challenge for me. I felt like I could succeed in track and really succeed in volleyball. Basketball, I thought, would be the biggest challenge to conquer. I knew it would be a lot of hard work but I thought that would make it the most worthwhile.
"We asked people to quit sending me information on track my junior year because I knew I didn't want to run in college," Jones continued. "Arkansas offered me to play both volleyball and basketball. Texas Tech recuited me hard for volleyball and Florida recruited me some, too."
As a senior on the hardwood, Jones earned 7AAAAA Defensive Player of the Year honors and averaged a double-double of 13 pointsand 12 rebounds and chipped in three blocks a game to boot. Suddenly, Jones had the chance she desired, an opportunity to pursue basketball at the next level with the Georgia Lady Bulldogs.
She inked with UGA during the spring signing period and that summer made the transition from three-sport star with rotating seasons to full-time basketball player.
"It was tough. It was definitely very different," Jones said. "Being a multi-sport athlete you get to change so it never gets repitious. Being a one-sport athlete, you have to focus on one thing. A lot of times you can get tired of doing the same thing over and over again so that has been a challenge."
After what all knew would be a transition year, Jones has made significant strides as a basketball player, utilizing the physical gifts and athletic abilities that made her a standout in multiple sports.
"I think Ebony is one of the most improved players on our basketball team," Andy Landers said. "She continues to work both in practice and out of practice to get better, and she's getting better. I think every part of her game has gotten better.
"Ebony is a terrific teammate," Landers continued. "As a teammate, you always know she going to do her best every day in practice and in games, and she's always going to have a positive attitude."
Landers feels like Jones has obtained the knowledge and base skills to develop into a force for the Lady Bulldogs.
"I think she has to immediately come to grips with the fact that her position involves contact," Landers said. "Basketball at her position is a contact sport. She needs to learn how to use her body and her quickness and being more physical as it relates to her position. I think she has the thought process down. I think she understands that and her footwork is about right. She's getting close."
Jones echoed Landers' sentiments about the next steps in her development.
"Just adjusting to the next level and having the right aggressive mindset all the time," Jones said. "There's really no room to be passive or take things lightly. There's not a day when you can't got light in practice. I feel OK about it, but I'm not where I want to be. As long as I know that and I'm striving to change and improve, I know I'll feel good about that process."
