Offense
Strengths
- Versatile lefty
o Comfortable inside or outside
- Goes up strong and is extremely powerful around the rim
- Displays soft touch in the paint at times
- Drives hard to the rim
- Works to create his own offense
- Capable of stepping out and knocking down the open jumper
- Starting the fastbreak with the dribble
- NBA-ready physique
Weaknesses
- Ability to go right
o High percentage of his drives are to the left
- Right hand in the lane
- Inconsistent shooter
o Hesitation before pulling trigger
o Inconsistent release point
- Lacks a mid-range game; resorts to awkward floaters/jumpers when attacking from the outside at times
- Forces shots
- Playmaking
o Reading D and making the right pass
- Needs to develop a “go-to” move
Defense
Strengths
- Strong and powerful
- Quick for position
- Good timing when blocking shots
- Could become a versatile defender with maturity
Weaknesses
- Inconsistent effort on the glass
- Struggles with bigger players in the post
- Goes for the shot block too often
- Foul trouble
An extremely athletic forward who is able to showcase both his strengths and weaknesses in Coach John Calipari’s dribble-drive offense, Jones is a versatile forward who has the potential to become a dangerous player at the next level. More comfortable as a face-up forward than as a back-to-the-basket player, Jones presents a match-up problem for forwards who are slow of foot defensively because he makes quick and powerful moves to the rim off the bounce. Jones has all of the physical features that are sought after in a small forward, even if his game is still has a lot of room for development—his jump shot needs to gain consistency, he needs to work on his right hand, and his playmaking/decision making skills need to be honed—but all things considered, Jones has had a tremendous career at Kentucky, and has shown glimpses into his future potential.
--Ed Isaacson--
