Mounties Always Get Most From Their Man

Anwawn Jones finds it ironic that he is better known for his accomplishments on the basketball court than on the football field.

Jones, a standout linebacker for Montclair Prep, will attend Northwestern on a football scholarship.

Jones has been an integral part of the highly successful Mountie football program, which won a Southern Section title in 1994 and has produced several Division I athletes.

But in basketball, he was chosen State Division V player of the year as a junior after leading Montclair Prep to its first state title.

This season, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound power forward has been the target of every opposing coach looking for a way to slow down Montclair Prep. As dominant as he was at his position, that never happened in football.

“It’s pretty simple,” Jones said. “In basketball I do the things that people see and understand, like scoring and rebounding. If someone doesn’t know football well, they won’t be able to tell what kind of impact I can make.”

Indeed, the impact Jones has as a basketball player is readily apparent.

Jones is averaging 22.8 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks going into the State Division V title game. The Mounties (29-3) will play Oakland St. Elizabeth (30-4) at ARCO Arena in Sacramento at 12:45 today.

“That was our game plan, to try to stop Jones,” said San Diego Horizon Christian Coach Zack Jones after his team lost to Montclair Prep in the Southern California Regional final. “He hurt us last year. We didn’t want him to hurt us again.”

Horizon Christian did as well a job as any team has this season, holding Jones to 14 points, mostly on free throws and put-backs.

But the Panthers concentrated so much on stopping Jones, opportunities opened up for guard Akil Anderson and forward Jeff Benson, allowing Montclair Prep to pull away in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t mind not scoring,” Jones said. “That’s the way it’s supposed to work. If I can, I’ll take over the game but if not, I know my teammates can.”

Jones uses strength and quickness learned in football to create a mismatch for almost any team.

He is strong enough to move opposing centers out of rebounding position. He has the ball-handling skills to lead a fast break and dribble through traffic.

Jones was dominant in regular season victories over City 3-A champion Van Nuys and Southern Section Division playoff participant Hart. In the Division V playoffs, he has towered over opponents.

Watch Jones, 17, play basketball or football and it’s hard to believe he has been playing organized sports for only four years.

Jones was always big for his age but felt uncomfortable with athletics until the eighth grade.

“I was big but I was clumsy,” Jones said. “I had these big feet and I couldn’t do anything with any coordination.”

Some teammates remember.

“I’ve known him since the seventh grade and he was horrible then,” said guard Scott Stark. “But now he’s so big. It’s hard to believe he was ever that way.”

Entering the ninth grade, Jones finally grew into his size 15 feet and others began to realize his potential. He has been on the varsity basketball team since his freshman year. His sophomore year, Jones made the varsity in football.

“That’s when I started to notice how much he had developed,” said Anderson, tailback on the Mountie football team.

The letters from recruiters began arriving, but only for football. Of course, there was family precedent.

Jones’ half-brother, Michael, was a standout tailback for the Mounties who signed with USC before finishing his eligibility at Trinity College in Illinois.

“I don’t remember ever getting a letter for basketball,” Anwawn Jones said. “Sometimes I wonder if I wasn’t a few inches taller or played at a school known for basketball what could have happened.”

After his junior season, Jones realized his future was in football, but he approached recruiters about the idea of playing both sports in college.

“They all said I could,” Jones said. “But they were going to tell me anything I wanted to hear.”

Jones narrowed his choices to Northwestern, UCLA and Arizona before choosing the Wildcats.

“I’ve talked with the [basketball] coaches since I’ve signed and they’re still interested,” Jones said. “I take that as a good sign.”

After the game today, Jones will relax only briefly before working to add the 10 pounds he lost during basketball season.

“I went up to him the other day and told him I hoped he gets a chance to play basketball,” Stark said. “He’ll be in the Big Ten, playing against Bobby Knight and Michigan and great teams. It would be an experience I know he would love.”