Women's Basketball Adds Mississippi State Transfer Ashley Jones
05/15/2022 | 10:50:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University women's basketball coach Kelly Bond-White announced on Sunday that the program has added Mississippi State transfer Ashley Jones.
A 5-7 guard from Philadelphia, Jones comes to Carbondale after one season with the Bulldogs. Jones also spent time at Temple University, where she was the 2020 AAC Newcomer of the Year, as well as West Virginia.
"I was on the phone with Vice Chancellor Dr. Frazier when Ashley's named appeared on the car screen," said Bond-White. "Coach Nichols almost crashed getting me to hang up and answer. As Ashley announced her commitment, we were crossing the bridge from St. Louis into Illinois. Needless to say, onlookers were in for a show. We honked the horn, screamed, danced the Wop, the Griddy, and the Snake. We had fun with this young lady, y'all."
"I'm very excited to be a Saluki because they made me feel like family when I came on my visit," said Jones. "I feel like they had the graduate program I was interested in. One of the big factors was that the coaches and the team made me feel like family and they continued to reach out to me after the visit."
Jones' 2021-22 season included scoring a season-high 17 points of 6-of-9 shooting on Feb. 27 against Arkansas. She was a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in the contest.
Jones earned the aforementioned AAC Newcomer of the Year award at Temple after averaging 16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. She also earned Second Team All-AAC honors that season.
"Ashley's commitment was so important because she brings a veteran presence to a young team," said Bond-White. "She's battle-tested and ready. Her ability to defend with quick hands, create for herself and others by making solid reads and getting downhill will continue a legacy of dominance at the point position. Her consistency of knocking down the 3, mid-range pull and finishing with contact allows us to play her along with Q [Quierra Love]."
Jones spent her freshman season at West Virginia, where she was coached by Southern Illinois associate head coach Chester Nichols. She appeared in all 37 games for West Virginia that season, finishing second on the team in three-point percentage (39.1%) while dishing out 96 assists.
"Salukiville better be ready to keep up with the Joneses, because Ashley's parents Kim and Quincy were just as impactful with our team," said Bond-White. "Our players felt they were family already. They bring a fun, loving dynamic energy that's truly infectious. Coach Nichols had the opportunity to recruit and coach Ashley once before, so he knew we would fall in love with them once they were on campus. It also speaks volumes to Coach Nichols' character, that a family would double down on the experience."
"Coach Kelly and Coach Chester were both honest and genuine about trying to make sure that I have a professional career here and helping me with my branding and being able to go to the pro level," said Jones.
Jones will join a roster that returns seven players from the MVC regular season-winning squad a year ago.
"I love our roster," said Bond-White. "The selflessness our young ladies showed in recruiting, I'm learning is a part of their makeup. Kudos to Coach Stein and her staff for working so hard in building a 'we' culture. Q led the charge, but our young ladies know to continue to compete on a high level. We need to continue finding the 'right' people that will be impactful on and off the court."
Before her collegiate career, Jones was a three-time All-State selection out of Neumann-Goretti Catholic High School in Philadelphia, and was the No. 75 overall player in her recruiting class per ESPN.
A 5-7 guard from Philadelphia, Jones comes to Carbondale after one season with the Bulldogs. Jones also spent time at Temple University, where she was the 2020 AAC Newcomer of the Year, as well as West Virginia.
"I was on the phone with Vice Chancellor Dr. Frazier when Ashley's named appeared on the car screen," said Bond-White. "Coach Nichols almost crashed getting me to hang up and answer. As Ashley announced her commitment, we were crossing the bridge from St. Louis into Illinois. Needless to say, onlookers were in for a show. We honked the horn, screamed, danced the Wop, the Griddy, and the Snake. We had fun with this young lady, y'all."
"I'm very excited to be a Saluki because they made me feel like family when I came on my visit," said Jones. "I feel like they had the graduate program I was interested in. One of the big factors was that the coaches and the team made me feel like family and they continued to reach out to me after the visit."
Jones' 2021-22 season included scoring a season-high 17 points of 6-of-9 shooting on Feb. 27 against Arkansas. She was a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in the contest.
Jones earned the aforementioned AAC Newcomer of the Year award at Temple after averaging 16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. She also earned Second Team All-AAC honors that season.
"Ashley's commitment was so important because she brings a veteran presence to a young team," said Bond-White. "She's battle-tested and ready. Her ability to defend with quick hands, create for herself and others by making solid reads and getting downhill will continue a legacy of dominance at the point position. Her consistency of knocking down the 3, mid-range pull and finishing with contact allows us to play her along with Q [Quierra Love]."
Jones spent her freshman season at West Virginia, where she was coached by Southern Illinois associate head coach Chester Nichols. She appeared in all 37 games for West Virginia that season, finishing second on the team in three-point percentage (39.1%) while dishing out 96 assists.
"Salukiville better be ready to keep up with the Joneses, because Ashley's parents Kim and Quincy were just as impactful with our team," said Bond-White. "Our players felt they were family already. They bring a fun, loving dynamic energy that's truly infectious. Coach Nichols had the opportunity to recruit and coach Ashley once before, so he knew we would fall in love with them once they were on campus. It also speaks volumes to Coach Nichols' character, that a family would double down on the experience."
"Coach Kelly and Coach Chester were both honest and genuine about trying to make sure that I have a professional career here and helping me with my branding and being able to go to the pro level," said Jones.
Jones will join a roster that returns seven players from the MVC regular season-winning squad a year ago.
"I love our roster," said Bond-White. "The selflessness our young ladies showed in recruiting, I'm learning is a part of their makeup. Kudos to Coach Stein and her staff for working so hard in building a 'we' culture. Q led the charge, but our young ladies know to continue to compete on a high level. We need to continue finding the 'right' people that will be impactful on and off the court."
Before her collegiate career, Jones was a three-time All-State selection out of Neumann-Goretti Catholic High School in Philadelphia, and was the No. 75 overall player in her recruiting class per ESPN.
Players Mentioned
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