Who I am

Hello, my name is Mone' Jones. I was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and raised in Durham, North Carolina. My parents are Bobby and Sherai Jones. I have a older brother, Jordan Jones, and a younger god brother, Carmelo Salem. Growing up, my family always wanted to introduce me into sports. When I was 4 or 5, I chose to do cheerleading instead, not knowing that I will be 6'3 ft. tall by the age of 17. Thankfully, I was out of that stage by the age of 6 and started to play basketball in a little kids church league. Since the day that I picked up that round, brown ball, I fell in love with it. Now do no get me wrong, I was not good when I first started to play. I used to run away from the ball when it was thrown to me, or run with the ball in my hands like I was playing football. I was very long, tall, and awkward. My mom always told me how I could not chew gum and walk at the same time growing up. Trust me, it was not a pretty sight in the beginning stages.

Around when I was 11 years old, I started to train with a guy named John Wells. He had 3 daughters who were all at D1 colleges olaying basketball. Of course that was my dream, so I began to train with him almost everyday. I remember one training session on a Sunday afternoon. After the session, he pulled me to the side and said " you are going to special. You are mature for your age, you work hard, you speak and interact well with others, your personality lights up a room aka gym, and your athletic ability for your size is out of this world." I remember one specific thing he told me that I go by everyday and it is "Hard work beats talent, when talent does not work hard." I kept that mindset for every training session, practice, game, and also in the classroom.

By the age of 15, I was ranked top 20 in the nation in the class of 2015 and also recieved my first big scholarship from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. That was one of the most exciting times in my life because I could see all the hard work I have been putting in reveal itself right in front of my own two eyes. "The grind doesn't stop here", my dad said to me after the offer. Even though I got the offer, and could have been complacent, it was not enough for me. I worked harder then I ever have before. "Once you are at the top, it is hard to maintain it," my mom always told me. I kept working hard for everything I wanted.

Throughout highschool, I have recieved numerous of offers from the ACC, SEC, Big 10, and the Big 12, . This past spring I was invited to the USA U18 Olympic Trials for the Team USA. It was the best experience an athlete could possible have. If it was not for the work that I did in the beginning, that oppurtunity would have never showed its face. Hardwork is the word that describes me and my life the most. My mom and dad work hard for everything they have and want, so I took on that same mentality and look at me now. That mentality brought me to this point and it will take me farther. That is how I was raised and that is simply who I am.