How sophomore Mike Jones prepares to lead Indian Land boys’ basketball program
Indian Land boys’ basketball coach LJ Johnson is counting on sophomore Mike Jones to lead the Warriors this season.
As a freshman, the 5-foot-9 guard averaged 20.2 points, 2.9 assists and three rebounds per game.
“(Jones) has been able to get kids together in the morning and work with them,” Johnson said. “He helps the kids understand the offense. I always feel like player-led teams can be the most successful.”
Johnson had plenty of praise for Jones, particularly for how the player performs against much bigger players.
“He is by far the most explosive player I’ve coached,” Johnson said “It is hard for me to nitpick his game because he is always working and finding ways he can improve. He expects to win and expects to dominate.”
Despite filling up the stat sheet in his freshman year, Jones failed to make the all-state team in South Carolina.
That’s something player and coach are working to change.
“I want him to be vibrant,” Johnson said. “I want him to be explosive and exuberant in his performances, and excited about those performances as well. There is a reason he didn’t make all-state. Some of it was my fault, but I think he didn’t want to embarrass people.”
The Warriors finished last season with a 19-8 record. Jones hopes the team is capable of much more.
“We want to win states,” Jones said. “We want to win the Christmas tournament we are in as well as have a 20-win season.”
Johnson said the lack of execution in crucial moments of games was ultimately what led to several of the team’s losses last season.
“(The 19-8 record) wasn’t bad,” Johnson said. “But in our eight losses, we had the lead in the final few minutes of five (games). So, we’ve got to do better at the little things to get to where we want to be. I talked to my guys just the other day about being able to execute better.”
Jones hopes to play a big role in those late game situations this season.
“I need to be more vocal,” Jones said. “I just have to make sure everyone on the floor knows what their job is and focus on being the leader that my team needs me to be. So, I am just working with my teammates in practice and if I can get my teammates the ball, it makes my job easier.”
Johnson said he’s excited to have a player like Jones, who is coachable and wants to learn, around for this season and two more after that.
“It is a great feeling knowing that your best player is going to be around for a while,” Johnson said. “I feel like we’ve got the chance to be a special group and when you’ve got a special player like Michael in your program, it just brings a lot of excitement.”
