Players that wind up in the junior college ranks aren’t usually supposed to end up at the highest level of their sport, but sometimes a special athlete is a late bloomer and makes their name known first in Juco.
That’s the case for former Barton Cougar Lajae Jones, who was picked 54th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Draft Wednesday night.
Jones was a journeyman, starting his career at Tarleton State in Texas, before joining Barton as a sophomore where his career took off. In his lone season with Barton, Jones averaged over 15 points and 9 rebounds a game, leading Barton to a national championship along with earning MVP honors for the national tournament.
He then joined St. Bonaventure as a junior, then finished his career at Florida State, where he averaged just shy of 13 points and six rebounds a game. He now joins the Golden State Warriors to begin his pro career.