Will Cook County News

By Claude Martinez. Photos Nuha Abdessalam

On April 11, 2024, Jemel Jones was named the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) 2024 DII Men’s Basketball Player of the Year.

Despite not receiving the Season MVP at the national tournament, Jones’s outstanding performance was recognized by the NJCAA. He led in multiple statistical categories, including minutes played (1,235), steals (122), field goals (464-836), free throws (260-310), points per game (33.6), and total points (1,245); showcasing his dominance across the game

Head Coach John Pigatti, in a statement to the NJCAA, underscored the significance of Jones’s achievement, saying, “This award is well deserved. He not only led all of college basketball (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA) in scoring but did it with a versatile game.” 

The top scoring leaders, from all college basketball divisions, were:

NJCAA Division II: 1245 Jemel Jones (South Suburban)

NCAA D1: 983 Zach Edey (Purdue)

NJCAA Division I: 921 Bradyn Hubbard (Connors State)

NCAA DII: 865 Kelvin Jones ((Emmanuel (GA))

NAIA: 786 Cevin Clark (Southwestern)

NCAA DIII: 724 Kai Te Huki (Grinnell)

& NJCAA Division III: 703: Jasir Tremble (Prince George’s)

Jones’s performance was exceptional, standing out in every division of college basketball. He was the sole player to surpass the 1000-point mark during the 2023-2024 season, a feat that sets him apart and leaves a lasting impression. 

Jemel Jones told WCCN what it felt like to reach 1000 points after SSC defeated Madison (WI) College 101-59 in the first round of the Region IV Division II post season tournament (2/29). “It’s definitely a great accomplishment but not my goal.” It’s something that “I’ve done before in my career.” “I’m grateful to do it again, of course, but once you do something once, your goals and standards go higher,” said Jones.

Jemel Jones’s dedication and hard work were evident throughout the season in his continuous improvement during practices, the regular season, and the postseason.

Pigatti said, “I saw Jemel stand out throughout the season. There was not one point where it happened.” “What he did to play in the National Championship game while being hurt shows how much he matured throughout the year and is a testimony to him as a person. He sacrificed for his teammates and played through a lot of adversity.”

Pigatti expressed his hope for Jemel Jones’s future growth, saying, “I hope he takes this season as a learning experience and continues to grow as a player and a person. I hope he becomes a leader on and off the court, a positive role model for his teammates, and continues to play the game the right way, with his best ability, and as a great teammate and defender.”

Finally, Jones gave his final thoughts on being a part of the South Suburban legacy; after SSC defeated Kishwaukee on sophomore night (2/22). “I could say that I’ve enjoyed it every step of the way. I’m extremely grateful and happy to have played here and had an opportunity to showcase my abilities” said Jones.