Overview: Jones is a 6-5, 195 pound senior guard out of Champaign, Ill. Jones, who currently ranks 33rd on the IU All-Time scoring list, averaged 12.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a junior last season. As a sophomore, Jones led the Hoosiers in scoring averaging 14.9 points per game on his way to earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors by the conference media. The IU shooting guard has 39 double-digit scoring games, 13 of which were of 20 points or more.
Best Case: Jones stays within the offense and improves his decision-making. He sheds the notion that he's simply a one-dimension player and offers IU more than 12 points a game. His assist:turnover ratio, which is usually close to 1, greatly increases. Instead of being criticized for taking IU out of its' offensive flow, his ability to create his own shot is properly utilized in stagnant offensive sequences. His passing and ball-handling become strengths instead of his weakness, allowing him to provide senior leadership down the stretch in Big Ten games.
Worst Case: The senior leader still looks like an underclassman. His decision-making regresses and his habit of turning the ball over worsens. He fails to work through Cody Zeller offensively, and Jones ability to create his own shot becomes the only way he can score. He still averages double-figures but his plus-minus is among the worst of the IU starters. His already meager 67 percent free-throw percentage and 29 percent three-point percentage remain similar, making Jones a detriment instead of an asset in close games. Jones' limitations forces IU to open up the doorways for underclassmen like Victor Oladipo, Remy Abell and Austin Etherington.
Outlook: When Jones plays within himself, he is arguably IU's best offensive option. When he starts forcing shots and turning the ball over, he is arguably IU's biggest Achilles heel. Jones has a crafty mid-range and pull-up game which means he'll still find ways to score. But Jones' style isn't exactly conducive to playing alongside a low-post scoring threat like Zeller. He doesn't rely on dribble-and-pop or creating for himself without the ball in his hands. Expect Jones to struggle adjusting to IU's new offensive style early. If Jones can cut down the turnovers and learn to work through Zeller, he'll be a major factor in IU's emergence in the Big Ten.
