FEU gets promising recruit in Jayden Jones
The Sean Chambers era of the FEU men’s basketball program made an encouraging development as the Tamaraws garnered the commitment of Filipino-American basketball standout Jayden Jones, the player confirmed to All-Star Magazine on Saturday.
Jones will have five years of playing eligibility in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament beginning Season 87. He is expected to join FEU’s practices and tune-up games in June following his graduation from Desert Oasis High School in Nevada, USA.
“I’m really excited to play under Coach Chambers and I feel like it will be a great stepping stone for me,” Jones told this publication in an exclusive interview.
A solid slasher in transition and decent mid-range shooter, Jones is no stranger to the Philippine basketball ecosystem.
The 6-foot-4 forward suited up for a Fil-Am Nation Select club in the NBTC tournament last March, averaging close to 16 points a contest. He also played for the Gilas youth team in the 2022 FIBA Asia U16 tournament, where he began his friendship with fellow FEU commit Veejay Pre, a product of the Tamaraws’ high school program.
“I know about the winning history behind FEU basketball and the large fan base that they hold, and I know of Veejay Pre as we both played together for Gilas. I’m excited to see him again,” Jones said.
FEU leads all schools in UAAP history with 20 men’s basketball titles, but the varsity team hasn’t made the finals since they last won a championship in 2015. They haven’t made the Final Four in two straight seasons, finishing in the lower half of the league standings.
The arrival of Jones, who also had interest from University of the East, comes at a good time for FEU, which lost Ljay Gonzales after he played out his eligibility in Season 86 and Patrick Sleat who moved to UPHSD this offseason.
“I’m excited to join the culture and environment of FEU and play under a system where I can adapt and play whatever role needed,” Jones said.
He has already spoken with Chambers over Zoom but the two are also expected to meet during the upcoming Fil-Am Nation North America H.S. National Showcase in California next week.
Also expected to be there are UP’s Goldwin Monteverde, La Salle’s Topex Robinson, UE’s Jack Santiago, LPU’s Gilbert Malabanan, and San Beda’s Jude Roque.
