Humboldt's Jones named Boys Hoops Newcomer of the Year

When Humboldt sophomore Anthony Jones dunked on Knoxville Grace in the Class A quarterfinals, it was one of the more electrifying moments of the boys basketball state tournament.

That is the potential that Jones has every time he goes up around the basket but to know that he is just a sophomore with two more seasons of high school basketball to go shows his real potential.

Jones averaged 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in helping the Vikings to a 31-2 record to be named the All-West Tennessee Boys Basketball Newcomer of the Year.

"Big plays got me going," Jones said. "We would come down and hit a 3 or I would get a big block. Those helped me turn it on."

In fact, Jones was the third leading scorer for Humboldt this past season, and the Vikings didn't lose a game against a team from the state of Tennessee until the Class A state tournament.

"To be honest, I knew I would get playing time, but I didn't know that I would start," Jones said. "It was a good opportunity for me."

Jones created a problem for every team that Humboldt faced with his size underneath. He was hard to defend when he got set up around the basket, and he had the ability to deflect or at least alter many shots that where put up on the other end of the floor.

"I feel like my strength is being a good post player in the paint," Jones said.

So as players like Jarred Walker and Kortland Martin were strong on the perimeter, Jones worked to dominate around the basket.

Jones felt that the Vikings would have a good season, but he doesn't feel like the team reached its full potential this season. But that loss to Knoxville Grace only pushes him to be better.

"I would have liked to have won state, but it didn't happen that way," Jones said. "That loss motivates me a lot. I just have to keep working and keep grinding."

With two more years to play, Jones wants to continue to get better and try and keep the Vikings in contention for trips to Murfreesboro for both season.

"I want to work on the high post and knocking down the 15-footers," he said.

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.