Drew checks out what Cal State Fullerton transfer Max Jones brings to the ‘Cats.
After swinging big and missing on a couple high profile transfers, Coach Tang and company got back in the transfer portal win column today with the addition of 6’4”, 210 pound Cal State Fullerton transfer Max Jones.
NEWS: Cal State Fullerton transfer guard Max Jones has committed to Kansas State, source tells @On3sports.
The 6-4 senior averaged 15.3 PPG this season, shooting 38% from three. Jones considered Louisville, Texas Tech, and others. https://t.co/amEMw5Q5cQ pic.twitter.com/gZY22UJu8i
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) May 9, 2024
Who is Max Jones?
Considered the 71st best shooting guard and 365th best overall player in the transfer portal, Jones brings experience and shooting to the Wildcats.
He started his college basketball odyssey at Division 2 University of Tampa as a lightly recruited guard out of Clearwater, Florida. In his two seasons at Tampa, he averaged 22.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals and was named the Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the year.
After establishing himself as a viable Division 1 prospect, Jones entered the transfer portal and ended up on the other side of the country, signing with Big West member Cal State Fullerton.
Jones made an instant impact at Fullerton, starting 32 games for the Titans and averaging 12.5 points, 2.2 assists, and 4 rebounds while being named Honorable Mention All-Big West. His 3-point shooting was particularly impressive, hitting 34/86 attempts (39%). He was also tied for the team lead in fouls drawn per 40 minutes and hit 106-135 attempts at the line (79%).
Last season, Jones was the primary scorer for the Titans. He was “used” on 32.2% of Fullerton’s attempts while on the court, good for 14th in the nation, and took 30.2% of their shots (second behind DJ Brewton). He continued to attack the rim, upping his fouls drawn per 40 minutes to a robust 6.6 (28th in the nation) while still cashing in from deep at a 39% clip. Not one to neglect his duties on the defensive end, he also led the Big West in steal percentage (3.7%). He averaged 22.2 points, 2.8 assists, and 4.4 rebounds, showcasing his well-rounded game.
What Does He Bring to Kansas State?
Jones is a physical wing with a nice outside stroke. He’s tough to defend in the half court when a defense is put in rotation because he abuses closeouts with pump fakes and drives to the rim, and he won’t hesitate to let one fly from deep if the closeout is late. In transition he’s a threat to both attack the rim or spot up outside the arc.
His ability to both shoot and drive makes a defender play him straight up. If a defender crowds him, he puts the ball on the court, drives, and draws contact. If a defender plays off, expecting a drive, he has a quick trigger and the height to get off shots without a ton of space.
If his game translates to this level of basketball, and I have no reason to believe it won’t, his well-rounded offensive game paired with his aggressive defensive game should fit in nicely in Manhattan.
Possible Stumbling Blocks?
I keep writing pieces about how a “player fits” at K-State, but that’s pretty tough when the cast of characters keeps changing. If everything remains in stasis, Jones should slot in on one of the wings either as a starter or key reserve, depending on how things shake out. He’s an experienced hand and has played against top-level competition before, but it may take him a little while to adjust to not always having the ball like he did at Fullerton.
This is his second step up in class over his college career. Jones has played a ton of basketball and has something to prove at the high-major level. He’s spent his career as a big fish in a small pond; how he adjusts to sharing the court with other big fish could tell the story. Coach Tang needs him as a part of the offense, not the entire offense.
Overall
This is a nice under-the-radar get for Kansas State, and honestly, these are the types of transfers I like. Jones proved himself on a lower level over the last four seasons and now gets an opportunity to step up and see what he can do in one of (if not the) best conferences in the nation.
He joins Villanova transfer guard Brendan Hauson, Arkansas transfer center Baye Fall, UIC transfer wing CJ Jones, and former Michigan point guard Dug McDaniel as portal additions to the 2024-2025 ‘Cats.