Simeon sophomore is one to watch

The pipeline to Chicago Simeon has been good to the Illini over the years. A new Simeon name to watch is 2018 small forward Messiah Jones.

OrangeandBlueNews.com caught up with Jones last weekend at the NY2LA Swish ‘N Dish Spring Warm Up in Milwaukee where he suited up for 16U Meanstreets.

A 6-foot-5 lefty, Jones showed a versatile game at the Milwaukee event, with the ability to slash to the rim, knock down shots, and a willingness to defend.

At Simeon, Jones played for the sophomore team as he develops his skill set and his body.

“I thought it went well, because it was my age group,” Jones said. “Coach Rob (Smith) knew what was best for me. My season went great, and I think I played well.”

Look for Jones to make his mark on the Simeon varsity next season. The Wolverines graduate 4-star wing Zach Norvell (Gonzaga) and small forward Ben Coupet from a squad that finished third in the state this past season.

The key for Jones is becoming a true wing, and he showed those types of skills at the Swish ‘N Dish.

“My ball handling skills, I think I developed that because I’m trying to transform my game into a 3,” Jones said. “So I’ve been working on that and my jump shot.”

With his obvious improvement, expect recruiting to pick up. So far Jones has received recruiting letters from two high major programs.

“I’ve heard from Iowa State and Illinois,” he said.