Jadon Jones: Long Beach roots to The Beach courts
From Long Beach’s sun-soaked courts to electrifying the stage at the Walter Pyramid, Jadon Jones unfolds a tale of passion and perseverance in his game. Hailing from the streets where he first held a ball to representing his roots at Cal State Long Beach, Jones is determined to perfect his craft and bring home a Big West championship for his hometown.
Long Beach has been a place he’s called home all his life. The timing was good for the 6-foot-5-inch junior guard and it felt fitting to attend the school that embodied the essence of the 562, where he grew up.
Jones’ love for basketball stems from his father, Derek Jones, who put a ball in his hands when he started walking as a kid and played for Cal State Fullerton’s basketball team in the late ‘80s.
His father had high hopes of going to the NBA before being a victim in his junior year at Fullerton after a tragic drive-by shooting near his Long Beach home in 1987, miraculously surviving his wounds.
His father returned to the court the following season with a determination for his senior year at Fullerton, averaging 11.4 points compared to 8.7 points in his junior year.
“He challenged me every day to get better, whether that’d be basketball, board games, or video games,” Jones said. “He made me want to be better than him at everything.”
Jones’s father and family attend every game; whether at home in the Pyramid or within driving distance, they’re there to support and cheer him on.
In 11 games this season, Jones is averaging a career-high 11.4 points and 2.2 steals, showing just how versatile he is as a three-and-D player for The Beach.
The junior forward’s biggest accomplishments at CSULB were earning the 2021–22 Big West Defensive Player of the Year in his sophomore season and his game-winning three in the Big West Semi-Finals against Santa Barbara in his freshman season.
“Every day is an accomplishment,” Jones said. “Just getting better, getting to be here in front of family, friends and my community.”
When Jones is not playing basketball, he enjoys fishing for yellowtail off the pier at Redondo Beach and playing video games with his dad.
As a business management major, Jones talked about plans post-college, potentially pursuing a master’s degree, playing basketball overseas, or declaring for the NBA draft with the mindset of what God has planned for him.
“I work hard every day, trying to stay humble. Try to stay in the gym as much as I can,” Jones said. “I just want to be the best player I can be.”
