Mississippi State's Shawn Jones updates offseason progress and goals

In his sophomore season Mississippi State wing Shawn Jones had his ups and downs. The Texas native has also experienced a lot of big moments in his first two seasons as a Bulldog.

This offseason Jones has several parts of his game that he’s focused on improving. He is also considered a veteran now so he has to add that leadership aspect to his game. Last week he sat down with the media to discuss his offseason and the upcoming season:

Q: A lot of last year’s veterans have moved on. How different is the locker room now?
Jones: It’s just stepping up and being a leader going into my third year. Keeping the same energy that we have and trying to bring more and trying to provide more to the team. Just giving energy that we haven’t had before and that’s the goal right now.

Q: How would you rate your confidence level right now?
Jones: Right now it’s my third summer and it’s the most confidence I’ve had in myself and my game. I feel like I’ve been moving more freely in workouts and my confidence is through the roof right now.

Q: Other guys had the chance to enter the portal and leave but most of them came back. What does that say about this team?
Jones: Around here it’s just a family. We all decided that we were going to stick together. A couple of guys left and they are still my brothers to this day. But the family vibe around here, I never thought about leaving. I know what (Chris) Jans is going to do for me and what I can do for Jans, and just be a family and win basketball games.

Q: Last year you played the wing and some at the two. What are you working on this offseason?
Jones: Just my all-around game. Just really wherever they need me to be, the 1,2,3 or 4. I’m going to come out there and play hard, knock down open shots and play defense. That’s really my game.

Q: How much of an emphasis have you put on your shot this summer?
Jones: I’ve been getting in a lot of shots and I shoot a thousand shots a day. I’m trying to be at least a 40% three-point shooter or higher and that will bring more to the team. I shot bad the last two years, so working on my three-point shot, my mid-range shot and form and all of that.

Q: What are your impressions of some of the newcomers?
Jones: They got a lot talent. They come every day ready to work and they don’t complain about anything. They’ve got a Bulldog mentality already and it’s only been a month. They’ve already gotten it down pat. They’re in the family environment, like I say all the time, and they’re my brothers already and we all hang out together. On the basketball court, they already know we are going to compete and go hard. At the end of the day we are still going to be cool and figure it out.

Q: How important is it for all of the returning guys to stay together?
Jones: It’s very important, us staying together. We already have chemistry together and we’ve built it since Jans first got here. Hubb (Josh Hubbard) came in last year and him contributing to win games. (Hubbard) sticking with us and not leaving, that shows a big part in us. We stick together and we talked about it before the season ended. We’re going to stay here with Jans, figure it out until we get to where we want to get and that’s a national championship.

Q: This program has a reputation of being hard to play against and being physical. How does that play into Jans’ system and other guys coming in?
Jones: When they first came here they thought we were a team that runs too much and does too much in the summer. But then they started to figure it out. We explained it to them and why we made it to the (NCAA) tournament and those things. It’s because we come in here and practice, we play and run and we grind in the summer. You can already see (holds up hand with a bandage on it) I already have scars this summer and we just go at it. It all contributes to the game when it’s time for November.

Q: Describe RJ Melendez‘s game to us.
Jones: Plays hard, knocks down open shots, not afraid of anything. He is ready to bang with anybody and an elite scorer and elite player to me.

Q: Last year you went against Riley Kugel and Melendez in the SEC. How different is it now that they are your teammates?
Jones: You play with a lot of people and see your teammates go to other places. It’s about how can you work together and make it work, basically. I love playing with those guys. Riley was supposed to come here at first and we have that connection. Him coming here and helping us being in position, me and him competing every day in practice, I like him a lot. Playing against him when he was at Florida was one of my favorite games.

Q: How much does it help this team with Kugel able to play the two and the three?
Jones: I feel like we’ve got a lot of players that can play different positions. So it’s not a big deal and it is what can you contribute and do for the team at that spot.