Seton Hall basketball adds Del Jones, high-scoring transfer guard
· Yahoo Sports
After the disastrous 2024 offseason, the guiding roster-building principles for Seton Hall basketball coach Shaheen Holloway are experience and production.
The Pirates’ second transfer-portal addition this offseason, Del Jones, checks both boxes.
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Here are three things to know about the sophomore guard.
1. He was an 'everything guard' at Radford
As a sophomore this past season, the 6-foot-3 Maryland native averaged 17.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 turnovers in 31.7 minutes per game and was named second-team All-Big South. He shot 41.6 percent from the floor, 30.9 percent from 3-point range and 80.9 percent from the free-throw line. He’s an explosive athlete who is more slasher than shooter, scoring off of attacking the rim, getting fouled and converting at the stripe.
Jones had a high usage rate and was asked to both score and facilitate, which could account for his mixed-bag efficiency – think Tariq Francis at NJIT in 2024-25. Radford finished 16-16 overall and was 9-7 (third place) in the Big South.
Against the class of the conference, NCAA Tournament darling High Point, Jones lit it up in the first meeting – 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting, with four assists and three rebounds. In the second contest he scored eight on 2-of-9 shooting, with five assists, five rebounds and four turnovers.
His other high-major performances:
Vs. North Carolina: 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting (7-of-11 free throws), 2 rebounds, no assists.
Vs. South Carolina: 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting, 4 rebounds, 2 assists.
Vs. SMU: 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting, 3 assists, 2 steals.
2. Started at Clemson
After committing as a three-star recruit, Jones was a role player on an NCAA Tournament squad as a freshman. He averaged 3.8 points and 1.0 assists in 11 minutes per game off the bench, shooting .403 from the field, .311 from deep and .765 from the stripe. His most notable performances were 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and five boards against Virginia Tech and 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting against Penn State.
3. A Budd Clark replacement?
Possibly, but whereas Clark clearly was a pure point, Jones profiles as more of a combo guard. One tell for his projected role is whether point guard Trey Parker, currently the Pirates’ lone holdover from last season’s roster, enters the transfer portal now. The Hall also is scheduled to host other point guards on upcoming visits, although Holloway does like to have an abundance of ball-handling guards at his disposal. For the record, Jones has been on Holloway’s radar before. Seton Hall looked at him last offseason.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. Contact him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Seton Hall basketball adds Del Jones, high-scoring transfer guard