This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Josh Solomon.
Following a pull-away victory over Morgan State Saturday, the entire women’s basketball team celebrated in the locker room.
They weren’t cheering the win, but rather, cheering on the fact that the next time they suit up on Dec. 21, sophomore transfer Jonquel Jones will dawn the buff and blue with them. There will be no more street clothes for the highly anticipated 6-foot-4 forward.
Earlier this season, it didn’t seem like the return of Jones would be so vital for a home game against North Carolina A&T. After a recent rough patch in the team’s season, though, Jones’ return couldn’t be more timely.
“I just want to make sure that I’m an asset to the team and not a setback,” Jones said.
After having to sit out her fall semester due to NCAA transfer rules, the Colonial forward has been waiting for this chance to get back on the court all year. It was supposed to be an easy game for her to work her way back into the swing of things – no pressure.
Since GW (6-4) upset then-No. 10 Cal in mid-November and received a nod in the AP top 25 voting, though, the team has lost four of their last seven games. They dropped their first home game since January of last season to Towson, barely scraped out a win against Loyola (MD) and then were forced to overcome a three-point halftime deficit to a 1-7 Morgan State team whose only win this season came against a Division III program.
If there was ever a time to add a post player who will be the tallest on the team, active on the boards and assertive in the high post, now would be the time. Plus, Jones will add depth to the Colonials frontcourt, allowing them to play a bigger lineup and have freshman Hannah Schaible play her natural position on the wing, instead of in the post.
“The ability to have somebody who has been itching to play for a year,” head coach Jonathan Tsipis said. “We’re able to play her in a couple different spots. It’s kind of a wildcard that I have in my pocket right now.”
The last time Jones played competitively was last season at Clemson, where she averaged 9.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in the eight games she played before deciding to transfer to GW. In her final game with the Tigers back in early December, she put up a career-high 17 points and tied her career best with 14 rebounds.
Jones has said she transferred to GW to come back and play closer to her friends and family. In her upcoming debut game, Jones said she is sure a lot of her former teammates and friends from the area will show up to give support.
Back in high school, the Riverdale Baptist product averaged 15.7 points and 15.6 rebounds per game as a senior – leading to her being named 2012 Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year and Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year, as well as, a McDonald’s All-American nominee.
ESPN HoopGurlz ranked Jones as the No. 17 overall prospect and the No. 4 post player in her incoming class. Despite all the former accolades, Tsipis sees the forward’s biggest contribution being the chemistry that she has developed with her teammates.
Here at GW, Jones wants to win, just like she did winning a National Christian High School Championship in her final high school season. Despite her team’s recent struggles, that’s still the lone goal when she finally steps back onto the court for the first time since last December.
“I just want to come out there and work hard and just play hard and I just want us to come out with the ‘W.’ That’s basically all I’m looking for,” Jones said. “I’m just extremely excited, I just can’t wait honestly.”
