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San Antonio Spurs promote coaches Mitch Johnson and Darius Songaila

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that assistant coach Mitch Johnson has been promoted. Johnson fills the position vacated by Tim Duncan.

Additionally, Darius Songaila has been elevated to assistant coach.

Johnson was named an assistant coach with the Spurs in 2019 after spending three seasons (2016-19) as an assistant coach for the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s G League affiliate, where he helped guide the team to the 2018 G League Championship. Prior to joining Austin, Johnson spent one season as an assistant at the University of Portland in 2016. Before his stint with Portland, he coached in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League and served as a basketball coaching intern at Seattle University in 2011.

Johnson played collegiately at Stanford University and spent three seasons playing in the G League and overseas in Europe.

Songaila enters his third season with the Silver and Black after spending last season on the Spurs coaching staff as a player development assistant. In his first year with the team he served as a quality assurance assistant in the video department. A native of Lithuania, Songaila spent three seasons as an assistant coach with Žalgiris Kaunas in the LKL and EuroLeague before joining the Spurs.

Songaila played eight seasons in the NBA, averaging 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 495 career games. He also played professionally in Lithuania, Russia, Spain, Turkey, and Ukraine. Songaila made the move to the United States while in high school and played collegiately at Wake Forest University.

Tim Duncan stepping away from Spurs assistant coaching job

Tim Duncan reportedly won’t be a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach in 2020-21. Here’s the San Antonio Express-News:

Tim Duncan is headed back into retirement.

After spending the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 NBA campaign working as an assistant on the Spurs’ bench, Duncan has decided not to return for another tour of duty alongside Gregg Popovich.

The decision did not come as a surprise to those in the Spurs’ organization, who understood the 44-year-old Duncan would be a short-term addition when the franchise cornerstone shocked the NBA world by pausing his retirement to join the staff in the summer of 2019.

“Something tells me it’s not going to be his passion for life,” Popovich said at the start of last season.

It won’t be a surprise if Duncan does continue with the Spurs in some way, perhaps on a part-time basis. Not necessarily immediately, but down the road.

FYI: New Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is a big Bruce Springsteen fan

The OKC Thunder have a new coach, promoted from within the organization. Here’s the Oklahoman with some personal insight on the man who got the job:

The Thunder’s new boss had a song for his big day.

It was by The Boss.

Mark Daigneault is a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen. Thunder general manager Sam Presti joked that he didn’t hold that fandom against Daigneault, even though the coach talks about the singer all the time. Daigneault has even been known to blast Springsteen tunes during basketball practice.

He was thinking Wednesday, though, about Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams.”

“Because the first line is, ‘Grab your ticket and your suitcase. Thunder’s rolling down this track,’” he said…

Presti said after nearly two months of searching for a new coach, there were lots of reasons Daigneault was the right person for the job. How he relates to players. How he teaches the game. How he develops the talent.

The big Thunder news lately, aside from this coaching promotion, is that legendary veteran point guard Chris Paul’s name is appearing in lots of trade rumors. Coach Daigneault’s approach to the squad surely depends on if CP3 is still on the roster next season. Because if he isn’t, the team is rebuilding, and all sorts of objectives and expectations will change.

OKC Thunder name Mark Daigneault as Head Coach

The Oklahoma City Thunder named Mark Daigneault the team’s new head coach, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

“We are thrilled to have Mark assume the role of head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder,” said Presti. “He has been a selfless and effective leader within our organization since his arrival in 2014. Mark is a values-based leader, continuous learner, and someone that will help us continue the repositioning of our organization on and off the court. The amount of head coaching experience and diverse experiences through his tenure with the Blue is rare for someone his age. He has also shown the ability to empower both the players and staff he works with, and we are confident that he will help us continue to modernize our approach as an organization in a constantly evolving industry. Most of all, Mark has a great belief in and commitment to Oklahoma City and he will be a tremendous ambassador for our State.”

Daigneault (DAYG-nalt) becomes the fourth head coach in Thunder history after originally joining the organization as head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue in 2014. He is the first person to become an organization’s head coach after previously being the club’s G League head coach.

“It has been tremendous to see Mark’s growth as a coach and leader in this organization,” said Clayton I. Bennett, Thunder Chairman. “He’s made Oklahoma City his home and is a proud member of the Thunder and the community. We are extremely confident that he is going to do a wonderful job for the team on and off the court.”

Prior to joining the Thunder coaching staff for the 2019-20 season, Daigneault spent five seasons as head coach of the Blue, where he amassed a 143-107 record (.572) and led the team to three consecutive division titles and four playoff appearances. During his final season at the helm of the Blue in 2018-19, Daigneault guided the club to a franchise-record 34 wins. He received G League Coach of the Month honors on two occasions during the season.

“The opportunity to be the head coach of the Thunder is truly a special honor,” said Daigneault. “Over my six years in Oklahoma City I’ve developed a deep commitment to the organization and a care for what is truly a special community that I call home. From my first day here, my values have always been aligned with those of the organization, and I’m looking forward to helping them continue to be lived out on and off the court. I want to thank Mr. Bennett, Sam and the entire organization for the opportunity, and I’m grateful to all the coaches, staff and especially players who have helped me throughout my career.”

Under Daigneault’s watch, the Blue had eight players called up to NBA rosters, four players signed to Two-Way Contracts and 10 Thunder players assigned.

In addition to Daigneault’s role on the Thunder bench during the 2019-20 season, he also served as a Thunder assistant coach during the 2015-16 season.

Daigneault spent four years at the University of Florida before joining the Thunder organization. During Daigneault’s four years in Gainesville, the program posted a 120-30 record (.800) while advancing to the Elite Eight each season. The Leominster, Mass. native spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Holy Cross before joining the Florida coaching staff.

A 2007 graduate of the University of Connecticut, Daigneault served as a student manager with the Huskies from 2003-07. Daigneault holds a master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Florida.

Atlanta Hawks hire Nate McMillan as Assistant Coach

The Atlanta Hawks today announced the hiring of Nate McMillan as an Assistant Coach on Head Coach Lloyd Pierce’s staff.

McMillan, former Head Coach with Seattle (2000-05), Portland (2005-12) and Indiana (2016-20), has led his teams to a 661-588 (.529) mark in 1,249 career regular season games, and has 53 games of postseason coaching experience. Last season, the Pacers finished 45-28 (.616), second in the Central Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. In his four years with Indiana, the club recorded a 183-136 mark (.574), advancing to the playoffs each season.

“I reached out to Nate after he became available and we’ve had extensive conversations centering around the value, expertise and experience he would add as we look to progress next season. This is a unique opportunity that will benefit me, our coaching staff and our entire roster,” said Hawks Head Coach Lloyd Pierce.

“In his 16 years as a successful NBA head coach, his teams have emulated his playing style and personality. They’ve always been disciplined, competitive, played together and won at a high level. I have great respect for Nate as a man and as a coach, and I feel fortunate to welcome him to our staff and to the Hawks.”

After playing collegiately at North Carolina State, McMillan was drafted 30th overall by Seattle in the 1986 NBA Draft, spending his entire NBA career with the Sonics before having his number (10) retired. He ranks second in franchise history in assists and steals, and ranks in the Top 10 in several other categories. He was twice named to the NBA’s All-Defensive team (1994 and 1995), leading the league in steals in 1994-95 (2.96 spg). He reached the postseason 11 times in his 12 seasons.

He was named Seattle’s interim Head Coach in 2000, eventually becoming the team’s permanent Head Coach until 2005, when he took over in Portland. He recorded a 212-183 mark (.537) with the Sonics and a 266-269 record (.497) with the Blazers, reaching the postseason in his final three full seasons in Portland.

McMillan has also served as an Assistant Coach on the U.S. National Team, where he earned gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, as well as the 2006 FIBA World Championships.

Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn has died

The Boston Celtics and the entire basketball world has lost a legend. Here’s the Boston Globe reporting:

Tom Heinsohn, the Celtics’ accomplished and animated renaissance man who was involved in all 17 of the franchise’s National Basketball Association titles as a player, coach, and commentator, has died, the team has confirmed. He was 86.

On the parquet, Mr. Heinsohn was a no-holds-barred net-ripper, an irrepressible fixture alongside stars Bob Cousy and Bill Russell in the Celtics’ golden age of the late 1950s and 1960s. Mr. Heinsohn collected eight championship rings in nine seasons as a player and was named an All-Star six times on his way to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

His retired number 15 hangs from the rafters at TD Garden.

STATEMENT FROM THE BOSTON CELTICS

“It’s hard to imagine the Boston Celtics without Tommy Heinsohn. There isn’t a generation of Celtics fans for whom Tommy’s presence hasn’t been felt. He is the only person to be an active participant in each of the Celtics’ 17 World Championships, an extraordinary and singular legacy.

His career with the Celtics had an auspicious start, as he earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1957. Even more notably, he was the best player on the floor in the decisive Game 7 of that season’s NBA Finals against the St. Louis Hawks, leading the team with 39 points and 23 rebounds as the Celtics delivered their first championship banner. Dominant performances and championships were no mere opening act; they would come to define his NBA playing career (1956-65), in which he was named to six All-Star teams and won eight NBA Championships, the team’s leading scorer for four of those title runs.

Red Auerbach named Tommy the team’s Head Coach in 1969. Like his playing career, Heinsohn’s coaching tenure was punctuated by prosperity, as he directed the 1974 and 1976 squads to World Championships, won five Atlantic Division crowns, and was picked the league’s Coach of the Year in 1973 during which he won a team record 68 games.

Tommy was honored on multiple occasions as a player, a coach, and a broadcaster. Among those honors, his number 15 was retired by the Celtics in 1965, and he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1986, and then as a coach in 2015. He is one of just four people to be inducted as both a Player and Coach, joining former teammate Bill Sharman, John Wooden and Lenny Wilkens.

For all of his accomplishments as a player, coach, and broadcaster, it is Tommy’s rich personality that defined the man. A loving father, grandfather, and husband. A talented painter and a lively golf partner. Unofficial mentor to decades of Celtics coaches and players. A frequent constructive critic of referees. Originator of the most “Celtic stat” of them all, The Tommy Point. And a boundless love for all things Boston Celtics, a passion which he shared with fans over 64 years.

We take this time to celebrate his life and legacy, and to share in the sorrow of his passing with his family, friends, and fans. As long as there are the Boston Celtics, Tommy’s spirit will remain alive.”

STATEMENT FROM WYC GROUSBECK, STEVE PAGLIUCA AND THE BOSTON CELTICS OWNERSHIP GROUP

“This is a devastating loss. Tommy was the ultimate Celtic. For the past 18 years, our ownership group has relied hugely on Tommy’s advice and insights and have reveled in his hundreds of stories about Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, and how the Celtics became a dynasty. He will be remembered forever.”

Sixers add Dave Joerger, Sam Cassell, Dan Burke, Popeye Jones, Eric Hughes and Brian Adams to coaching staff

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that Dave Joerger, Sam Cassell and Dan Burke have joined Doc Rivers’ bench as assistant coaches.

Popeye Jones, Eric Hughes and Brian Adams have also been named to Rivers’ coaching staff, while Pete Dominguez has been added as coaching associate.

Additionally, Todor Pandov has taken on the role of assistant coach/performance director. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“After taking this job, one of my top priorities was forming the best staff in the NBA,” Rivers said. “I’m thrilled with the way it came together as this group boasts years of valuable NBA experience, both playing and coaching, and each member brings a championship-level mindset to the table. I’m confident in my staff’s ability to best support our players and look forward to getting into the lab with our team as soon as we get the green light.”

Joerger brings with him six seasons of experience as an NBA head coach, most recently with the Sacramento Kings from 2016-19. Prior to Sacramento, Joerger spent nine seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, the last three as head coach. He guided Memphis to postseason berths in each of his three seasons at the helm, including an appearance in the Western Conference semifinals in his second season. Joerger is the only coach in Grizzlies franchise history to lead the team to 50-plus wins in multiple seasons, having done so in each of his first two years at the helm (2013-15). Prior to entering the NBA coaching ranks, Joerger, a Minnesota native, excelled at the minor-league level, where he won five championships across three different basketball leagues in seven seasons. Joerger coached the Dakota Wizards to the 2007 NBA Development League title, was twice named CBA Coach of the Year, and produced a head-coaching record of 232-117 (.665) in the minor leagues before joining Memphis as an assistant coach in 2007-08.

Cassell most recently served as an assistant coach under Rivers with the L.A. Clippers for the past six seasons. Prior to joining the Clippers’ staff, he was an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards for five seasons (2009-14). Originally from Baltimore, Cassell began coaching after a standout playing career, which spanned 15 NBA seasons and included three championships. The No. 24 overall selection in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, Cassell won back-to-back titles with Houston in his first two professional seasons, and later collected his third title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, while being coached by Rivers. Cassell starred at Florida State University from 1991-93 and was inducted into the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.

Burke has worked in the NBA for 30-plus years, having spent the last 22 with the Indiana Pacers. For his first eight seasons, Burke served as both an assistant coach and scouting director with Indiana, before transitioning full-time to the bench. Prior to joining the Pacers, Burke spent eight years with the Portland Trail Blazers as video coordinator and scout. Burke has worked for several former and current NBA head coaches, including Dallas’ Rick Carlisle and the Lakers’ Frank Vogel, as well as Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas. A California native, Burke graduated from Portland State with a bachelor’s degree in history and social science. He and his wife Peggy have two daughters, Melissa and Lindsey.

Jones joins the 76ers after spending seven seasons with the Indiana Pacers as an assistant coach. Prior to Indiana, Jones spent three years with the Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets, starting in player development, before transitioning to an assistant coach role. He began his coaching career with the Dallas Mavericks where he worked in player development following an 11-year playing career. Jones played collegiately at Murray State, where he is fourth on the Racers’ all-time scoring list. In 1992, the school retired his No. 54. A second-round pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, Jones played one season in Italy before joining the Mavericks in 1993 and ended up playing with Toronto, Boston, Denver, Washington and Golden State prior to retiring in 2004. Jones and his wife Kelsey have four sons, Justin, Seth, Caleb and Camden. Seth plays with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League and is a three-time All-Star. Caleb also plays professional hockey for the Edmonton Oilers.

Hughes spent last season as a player development coach for the 76ers. Prior to Philadelphia, Hughes held coaching roles with Milwaukee, Brooklyn and Toronto. Before his stint with the Raptors, Hughes worked as the Director of Summer Player Development for Goodwin Sports Management in Seattle for five years (2002-07), creating workout programs and training NBA players. He also served as the head coach at Spokane Community College in Spokane, Washington, during that time. Additionally, Hughes was as an assistant at the University of Washington, as well as the University of California, Berkeley. A 1989 graduate of California State University, East Bay, Hughes went on to receive a master’s degree from Illinois State in 1991. A native of Oakland, California, Hughes and his wife Kristin have two sons, Alexander James (AJ) and Ryan Christopher.

Adams arrives in Philadelphia after spending the past two seasons as the head coach of the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario, the NBA G League affiliate of the L.A. Clippers. Under Adams’ leadership, two-way contract player Johnathan Motley earned All-NBA G League honors in consecutive seasons, while Angel Delgado was named NBA G League Rookie of the Year following the 2018-19 campaign. Upon first joining the L.A. Clippers, Adams held the roles of video scouting director and head video coordinator, before advancing to coaching associate for four seasons (2014-18). Adams has also coached at the collegiate level at both Harvard and Marist. He was the Celtics’ video coordinator in 2007-08 when Rivers led Boston to the NBA title. Adams is a Pine Plains, New York native and graduated from Connecticut College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2006.

Dominguez enters his first season with the 76ers after spending the past five years working in the video department with the L.A. Clippers. Ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, Dominguez was promoted to head video coordinator, a role he held for the past two seasons. Prior to the NBA, Dominguez served as video coordinator at UC Irvine under former NBA assistant coach Russell Turner. The La Cañada, California native graduated from San Francisco State University with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, with an emphasis on international relations.

Pandov first joined the 76ers in 2015 as assistant strength and conditioning coach, before transitioning to associate head strength and conditioning coach for the past two seasons. Prior to the NBA, Pandov spent several years working at the NCAA level, serving as director of performance at Tulsa, Missouri and Miami (FL) on Frank Haith’s staff, and strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater, Western Kentucky. In 2005, Pandov got his start in the field as a strength and conditioning intern at the University of Texas, where he worked with several future NBA players, including LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant and P.J. Tucker. Originally from Bulgaria, Pandov played collegiately for the Hilltoppers from 1999-2004, while the team qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times. Professionally, he competed for EiffelTowers Nijmegen of the Dutch Basketball League for one season. Pandov holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky and a master’s degree in sports science and rehabilitation from Logan University. He is married to his wife, Kim, and the couple has two sons, Mason and Jaden.

Clippers hire Alex Diaz as Chief Operating Officer

The L.A. Clippers have hired Alex Diaz as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and promoted VP Jason Green to Chief Ticket Officer. Reporting to Green will be Joel Adams, as Vice President Premium Sales for Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Center (IBEC), and Krystle Hogan as Clippers Vice President Sales and Service. The staff changes were announced today by President of Business Operations, Gillian Zucker.

“We are fortunate that all four of these exceptional talents have been involved with developing and executing our organization’s vision for several years,” said Zucker. “They live our culture of relentless dedication to continuous improvement, and are dedicated to reimagining the live event experience for guests of the Clippers and Forum, and soon, at the Inglewood Basketball & Entertainment Center, the future home of the Clippers.”

As COO, Diaz will primarily oversee the operations planning of IBEC, and additionally provide operational council for the Clippers, Honey Training Center and the LA Forum, which was acquired earlier this year by Clippers Chairman Steve Ballmer. Diaz brings more than two decades of facility operations experience to the organization, managing some of the most prestigious and frequented venues in the country, including American Airlines Arena, Barclays Center, and Madison Square Garden. Diaz has spent the past four years with Venues Solutions Group, providing design and operational consulting services to sports franchises, leagues, venues, architects, and other related businesses in the field of sports and entertainment. Prior to that, Diaz held the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager of Madison Square Garden, where he was responsible for overseeing all facility operations for MSG and the Theater at MSG, and played a key role in the three-year $1.1 billion renovation of the arena.

Jason Green, in his third season with the Clippers, has been promoted to Chief Ticketing Officer overseeing all aspects of ticketing for IBEC, Clippers and the Forum. Green joined the Clippers in 2018 as VP, Ticket Sales & Service. His key accomplishments include restructuring the ticket sales department and launching a business insights team that led the organization to achieve unprecedented ticket sales success and revenue growth. Before joining the Clippers, Green spent four years with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and six years with the MLB’s San Diego Padres.

Joel Adams has been promoted to Vice President of Premium Sales for Inglewood Basketball & Entertainment Center to hire and guide a dedicated suite and premium sales team for the new arena. Adams joined the Clippers in 2018 as Director, Season & Inside Sales, where he transformed the inside sales development program and directed the ticket sales team which then led the NBA in new FSE revenue for the 2019-20 season. Prior to joining the Clippers, Adams held various roles in sales with the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Dolphins where he led the new products sales effort for newly renovated Hard Rock Stadium.

Krystle Hogan has been promoted to Vice President of Ticket Sales & Service, overseeing the day-to-day sales and service efforts for Clippers events held at STAPLES Center. Since joining the Clippers as Director of Membership Services in 2018, Hogan has built a dedicated service model for season ticket members and increased renewals following the 2018-19 season, renewing more than 90% of full-season equivalent. Hogan also serves as Co-Chair of the Clippers’ LACED UP (Leadership & Action for Change, Equality and Diversity) committee, made up of more than 80 employees from the Clippers, Agua Caliente Clippers, and the Forum which is focused on promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion. Before joining the Clippers, Hogan spent seven seasons with the Padres, where she earned four promotions, eventually leaving the team as Senior Manager, Suite & Premium Service.

Clippers will reportedly hire Chauncey Billups and Larry Drew

The new Clippers coaching staff is close to being filled. Here’s the OC Register:

The Clippers’ coaching roster is closer to becoming official, with the team finalizing deals with Chauncey Billups and Larry Drew, both of whom will join new coach Tyronn Lue’s coaching staff, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. A league source confirmed the report.

Drew, 62, coached with Lue in Cleveland. He also played in the NBA for 10 years, including two seasons with the Clippers, after which he began his coaching career as a Lakers assistant in 1992.

The team is already reportedly adding Kenny Atkinson and Dan Craig to their coaching ranks.

Sacramento Kings hire Mark Jones as new primary TV play-by-play announcer

The Sacramento Kings announced today that Mark Jones has been named as the team’s new primary TV play-by-play announcer. Universally recognized for his nationally televised work on ESPN and ABC Sports, Jones brings more than 30 years of experience to Sacramento. He will call game action alongside Kings TV color analyst and Legend Doug Christie on NBC Sports California, the exclusive home of Kings basketball, beginning in the 2020-21 season.

“We are delighted to welcome Mark to the Kings family and watch him partner with Doug to form a new, dynamic broadcast team for the franchise and its proud fans,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “Throughout his impressive career, Mark has amassed a tremendous wealth of experience broadcasting some of the largest events this league has hosted. We are excited he has chosen to continue his career in Sacramento as we look towards the bright future of this organization.”

“Mark is an exceptional NBA broadcasting talent, as evidenced by his long and successful career on both a national and local level,” added NBC Sports Bay Area/California Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Murphy. “We’re thrilled to bring Mark on board and look forward to pairing him up with Doug for our expert Kings coverage beginning this season.”

“I am thrilled to join the Kings broadcast team. During my years of covering the league extensively, Sacramento has always stood among the top for its passionate and deeply loyal fan base,” said Jones. “I am thankful to Vivek and the organization for this incredible opportunity. My family and I are excited to move to Sacramento and become a part of the community.”

Jones most recently represented ESPN in Orlando as part of the network’s broadcast team during the 2019-20 NBA season restart. He will continue as a play-by-play commentator for ESPN’s NBA and college football coverage while serving as the lead TV voice for the Kings, calling the majority of games. For those games Jones is absent, the team will announce an additional play-by-play announcer soon who will also have pre- and post-game show responsibilities on NBC Sports California.

Since beginning at ESPN in 1990, Jones has been involved with a wide range of assignments. Prior to his role with the network covering NBA and college football, Jones previously worked on broadcasts for the NBA Finals, WNBA, and men’s and women’s college basketball.

From 1991-96 and 2007-10, Jones hosted the network’s SportsCenter coverage of the NBA Finals and called play-by-play for the 2011 NBA Finals for ESPN 3D. He has also hosted ESPN’s coverage of NBA All-Star events, the NBA Draft Lottery and has contributed to the network’s NBA Draft coverage. Jones previously hosted ESPN’s NBA Today and on occasion served as an anchor/reporter on SportsCenter. In addition, Jones has been assigned to events airing on ABC since 1990 with duties including college football, college basketball, the World League and various events on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

Before joining ESPN and ABC Sports, Jones worked from 1986-90 for The Sports Network in Toronto, Canada, where he was the sports desk anchor and host of a Toronto Blue Jays magazine show. The Toronto native graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1985. At York, he was a four-year member of the basketball team, earning All-Conference recognition. Jones has also represented Canada in international basketball competition.