The road leads from Neptune Beach to the NBA for former Fletcher High School wing Lajae Jones.
The Golden State Warriors selected Jones in the second round of the NBA Draft with the 54th pick overall on June 24, launching the Florida State University senior into professional basketball.
It’s the latest success story for Jones, who wasn’t even on the radar of many recruiters until the postseason of his senior year at Fletcher. Jones sank 31 points, including the double-overtime game-winner, during a Florida High School Athletic Association playoff game at Gulf Breeze where retired former Chicago Bulls head coach Tim Floyd was in attendance.
When Floyd learned that Jones didn’t have a college program lined up, he reached out to coaching colleagues, and the chain of events ultimately landed Jones a roster spot at Tarleton State under Billy Gillispie. He signed with Tarleton State in April 2022.
The rest is history. Jones, who played one season at Florida State, averaged 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for the Noles while contributing primarily with his 3-point shooting. He shot 34.6 percent (104 of 301) for his college career.
Jones becomes the first player from a Gateway Conference high school to be selected in the NBA Draft since the Philadelphia 76ers chose Jackson graduate James Collins, also out of Florida State, at No. 36 overall in 1997. The most recent draftee from any area program was Udoka Azubuike from non-FHSAA school Potter’s House, picked at No. 27 overall by the Utah Jazz from Kansas in 2020.
Jones is also the first NBA Draft selection from Fletcher on record since the Bulls drafted Ronnie Anthony from Jacksonville University in 1978 in the since-discontinued fifth round, at No. 97 overall.
While at Fletcher, Jones recorded 1,426 points, 594 rebounds, 197 assists, 176 steals and 165 blocks, and averaged 20.7 points per game as a senior in 2021-22.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Fletcher High graduate Lajae Jones is NBA-bound, selected in draft
Reporting by Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
