~ The Southeast basketball player had to sit out last season

It's doubtful that any Southeast Missouri State men's basketball player was more excited for last Friday's official start of practice than A.J. Jones.

Jones, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior guard, waited a long time for the moment to arrive. The big smile on his face told the story.

"I was very excited, very excited," Jones said. "I've never been more excited."

Jones attended Southeast last year and tried to be as much a part of the basketball program as he could, although it was difficult.

Since Jones did not graduate from his junior college, he was not allowed to practice with the Redhawks and could not receive any athletic scholarship aid until he met his one-year residency requirement to become eligible to play basketball.

"It was hard," Jones said. "But my teammates helped me get through it. They all told me to be strong and keep my head up."

Jones, who had to pay his own way at Southeast last year, said he hit the books hard to make sure everything off the court was taken care of. And he played plenty of pickup basketball, primarily at the university's Student Recreation Center.

"I played a lot of games in the Rec. I was in the Rec every day," he said. "I wasn't officially able to play with the team until the summer, but I would call them. ‘Do you want to hoop?' and we would go play."

Jones said his adjustment to a year without organized basketball was made easier by the teammates he quickly got to know and the fact he already was familiar with several members of the Southeast program who are from his native Memphis, Tenn.

Jones said he already had been friends with junior forward Tyler Stone and sophomore forward Nino Johnson, who also are Memphis products. The same goes for assistant coach Jamie Rosser.

"I got real close with every other guy on the team. Nino and T-Stone, we were already tight but we got even tighter," said Jones.

He added with a laugh, "We all played against each other in high school but I was on the better team.

"Coach Rosser, I always knew him around the city. He was always cool with me."

Jones had two strong junior college seasons, which led to him being coveted by several mid-major programs.

Jones averaged 12 points, three rebounds and two steals at perennial juco power Paris, Texas, during the 2010-11 season. He averaged 15 points, five rebounds and five assists as a freshman at Holmes College in Mississippi during the 2009-10 campaign.

Jones signed with Idaho during the 2010 early signing period following his freshman season at Holmes but later was released from his letter of intent. He reportedly had been offered scholarships by Murray State, Troy, Arkansas State and North Texas before signing with Idaho.

"I was going to go to Idaho, but I'd already been pretty far away from home the last two years. It was just too far," Jones said.

Which led him to enroll at Southeast.

"I decided why not come here? It's guys I already knew on the team, and I knew coach Rosser since high school," Jones said.

Jones also had a small connection to Southeast through his father.

Anthony Jones, a second-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991 who had his career cut short by injury during his first and only NBA season, played at the Show Me Center in the 1990-91 campaign when his Oral Roberts team beat Southeast 100-89.

"He told me about playing here," A.J. said.

Jones hasn't regretted his decision to attend Southeast.

"I'm very happy. It's an honor to play under coach Nutt and all these coaches," he said.

Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said he admires Jones' dedication to do what was required in order to officially become a member of the Redhawks' basketball program.

"I have been very pleased with A.J., what he's been able to accomplish. He understands it's academics first," Nutt said. "I'm very proud of A.J. He wanted to be here. He had to pay his own way. It showed a lot of discipline on his part and a big commitment from his family."

Nutt and the Redhawks hope to reap the rewards of Jones' perseverance this season. Nutt expects Jones to be a key member of the squad.

"A.J. is s a big, strong, very athletic guard who will really add to our team. He gives us that tough, explosive body on the wings and at the two-guard that you really need," Nutt said. "I think he'll be a difference in our team this year. He can penetrate and get to the basket, and he can hit his free throws. I think he'll be our best defender on the perimeter."

Jones believes he'll be able to help the Redhawks in a variety of ways.

"I can shoot OK, but the strongest part of my game is penetration, getting my teammates involved and defending," he said.