Maurice Jones returns to Northwood as assistant coach
MIDLAND, Mich. (BVM) — Maurice Jones put up two of the best seasons the Northwood University men’s basketball program has seen. Now, he is returning to the Timberwolves as an assistant coach.
Jones will be taking over the role previously held by Carlos McMath, who was named the head coach at Schoolcraft Community College this offseason.
“I am very excited to have Maurice back at Northwood as an assistant coach,” second-year coach Lonnie Griffin said. “His knowledge of our program and his resume as a player will be a very valuable asset to the young men in this program. I am also excited to watch his growth as he begins his journey as a coach.”
For Jones, coming back to Northwood is not only a reunion, but an opportunity to pass down the valuable knowledge he has learned throughout his own terrific playing career on the hardwood. The now assistant coach was a former star at nearby Arthur Hill High School, averaging an impressive 30 points and 12 assists per game as a senior.
As a top-100 recruit in the Class of 2010, Jones committed to play at the University of Southern California where he saw the floor instantly. Averaging nearly 10 points per game, Jones also set the freshman record for steals in a season with 69 for the Trojans.
Jones continued to grow as a sophomore, racking up 56 more steals, dishing out 111 assists and averaging 13 points per game. However, in the fall of 2012, Jones learned he was academically ineligible to continue his career at USC. While he tried to transfer to Iowa State, Jones was unfortunately ruled ineligible there as well.
That led to a return home for Jones, who joined Northwood for his final two seasons of college basketball. During that time, the guard averaged nearly 18 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals per game. In two seasons, Jones scored 1,016 points while racking up 350 assists — the fifth-best mark in school history.
In his senior season with the Timberwolves, Jones was a first team all-conference player, averaging 21 points per contest — the highest scoring average at Northwood since 1996. He also had some impressive single-game performances, including a 41-point outing against Lake Superior State in February of 2016 which was a school record.
After his collegiate career, Jones joined the National Basketball League of Canada. His stellar play did not slow down a bit as he headed north, still averaging 14 points, six assists and two steals per game over four years of play.
Jones has been through plenty of trials and tribulations in his basketball career, but has had success no matter where he has played. He will undoubtedly bring beneficial experience to the Timberwolves’ program for years to come as he begins his coaching career.
