Pinson Valley guard offered by UAB
Momentum just keeps building for the Pinson Valley basketball program, which dove back under the spotlight last season with first-year head coach Cedric Lane at the helm.
As soon as the curtain closed on the Indians’ 28-2 summer of exhibition play, rising sophomore Colby Jones picked up his first scholarship offer from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Jones, a guard who wields Mr. Basketball potential in the eyes of his head coach, emerged as a leader last season as a freshman. He scored 15 points per game to go with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals per outing. His outside game (42 percent 3-point shooter) was not that of a typical first-year varsity player.
He’s currently ranked as the third-best player in Alabama’s Class of 2020. What does he want to sharpen as a sophomore next season? His physicality and his pull-up game.
“I plan to get more physical, really focus on my defense and creating a shot off the dribble,” said Jones on Sunday.
With a 4.0 grade-point average, he is sure to collect more offers in the future. For now, Jones is blessed to have an opportunity to play for a program he knows so well.
“It feels great,” said Jones. “[I remember] growing up coming to the games and watching them play. It’s a blessing.”
He isn’t the only Pinson Valley player to lasso a scholarship offer this summer. Senior forward LiAllen Dailey, junior wing Geordon Pollard and senior point guard Orion Morris recently picked up offers from Lawson State Community College.
Head coach Cedric Lane believes he has “at least eight scholarship kids” on a team that returns four starters to the floor.
The Indians (20-11) ended last season ranked No. 10 in the Alabama Sports Writers Association poll.
Erik Harris is the Sports Editor of The North Jefferson News. Email him at njnsports@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jeharris2.