Earlier this season, we wrote about a player eclipsing 1000 points as a sophomore. This is a milestone lots of quality high school players eventually reach. However, the emphasis on accomplishing this feat in less than 50 games is simply ridiculous. After previously being blown away by Trey Beamer, we must also give the same level of acknowledgement to Michael Jones—who just recently surpassed the notable point total in only 45 games.
We’ve watched Jones blossom across all possible settings, showcasing the necessary skill, athleticism, and supreme confidence to shine amongst his peers. He’s a crafty ball-handler with sharp quickness, change of direction, and terrific speed in the open floor. Jones is able to consistently get whatever looks he wants, but understands how to get others involved and mix it up from all levels. He makes smart decisions with the ball in his hands and doesn’t shy away from big moments. Jones possesses a certain level of poise that far exceeds most players at his age. Here’s a closer look at his insane production across the two seasons:
2022-23 (Freshman): 20.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.3 SPG with 51/43/83 shooting splits
2023-24 (Sophomore): 25.0 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.5 SPG with 55/44/92 shooting splits
While the raw numbers are impressive by themselves, it’s also worth noting that Indian Land is finding a lot of success (18-6) under Jones’ leadership. They’ve suffered six total losses (including two of the better private schools in North Carolina), but have shown steady improvements as a group. They’ll have the chance to close out their season on a nice win-streak and enter the playoffs with a healthy amount of momentum. Additionally, Jones is on pace to become the Warriors all-time leading scorer within the next few games—giving folks even more reasons to follow this group.
