16-SPORTS 16 THE FREEPORT NEWS Friday, September 8 & Saturday, September 9, 2017 SPORTS JONQUEL JONES ... crafted a superb WNBA season PraisesThe Associated Press panel heaped on Jonquel Jones members who select top sporting achievers were magnanimous. They were big-hearted and Jon- quel Jones deserved the AP Most “I mean, she is just good all over. Yes she can make the shot, from Improved Player Award in the Women’s National Basketball anywhere on the court. When she comes home, she comes straight Association (WNBA) for play during the recently completed to me and says ‘Coach let’s go’ and I tell her she has to be prepared regular season. AP also selected the Grand Bahama native to the to shoot lots of ball. And, we go and she throws up 200, 300 balls. All-WNBA Second Team, along with Breanna Stewart, Maya The three-pointer comes easy to her because she is always in rhythm. Moore, Brittney Griner and Di- ana Taurasi. She’s had a wonderful season and I can tell you, there is much more. The AP First Team includ- ed WNBA Player of The Year She is a double/double threat every game, but I am sure she can up Sylvia Fowles, Tina Charles, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Candace her offensive average and hike her rebound total as well.” Parker and Nneka Ogwumike. Jones, modest as she is, takes ev- ~ COACH GLADSTONE ‘MOON’ MCPHEE erything in stride and expressed ... gave Jones her early development satisfaction in being mentioned in a conversation with the top players in the WNBA. The view here though is that she did more than enough to be on the first team. Nevertheless, around the Sports rebound total (403) and the re- ever done,” said McPhee. her rebound total as well,” said WNBA, she is an accepted su- bounding average (11.9). On In truth, Jones is able to go McPhee. perstar. top of that she became the first coast to coast and finish, or hold He called her performance this Her Connecticut Sun Coach WNBA player to hit the magic up and pass to the point guard past WNBA season, one of the Curt Miller, who was named Scope number of 400 rebounds. Man, quite easily. She is effortless in “best ever in Bahamian history.” Coach of the Year, is proud of BY FRED STURRUP that’s superb. She always had it her movements on court. It is “What she has done is beyond his standout center/forward. you know. She had that desire just incredible however, how just about anything else I’ve “She’s a very special elite re- in Jones’ life is a happy camper Moon. On Wednesday, the icon- from small. I told her very early nifty she is in the paint with seen. The country should heap bounder and she’s only scratched as well. I refer to to the vener- ic Bahamian sports mentor was that I wanted her to work with the ball in hand. In the usually praises on this girl. She has tak- the surface. She will get better able Coach Gladstone “Moon” effusive. the ball. She was doing that from congested area, she applies the en Bahamian basketball to an- defensively and offensively. She McPhee out of whose program, “Man, she is something else. the start. That’s why she is do- kind of handle to the ball, few other level. We need to parade will only get stronger around the Jones got her early development. Look at what she’s done. She ing things on the court with the others can. She slips, spins, piv- her. We need to showcase her to basket,” said Miller. A lot of what she has become got a double record, the season ball in the style no big player has ots, leans. She does it all without the world and take full advan- The other “very special” coach can be traced directly to Coach turning over the ball. tage of having someone as out- Nothing Jones does surprises standing as she is. McPhee. She was the second “I just hope she gets justice,” best three-point shooter this sea- said McPhee. “She’s a very special elite son. Frankly, Jones has been just “I mean, she is just good all amazing over the last year. She rebounder and she’s only over. Yes she can make the had that astonishing season in shot, from anywhere on the Korea. In the Women’s Kore- scratched the surface. She court. When she comes home, an Basketball League with the she comes straight to me and Woori Bank Wibee squad, she will get better defensively says ‘Coach let’s go’ and I tell won a league title, a champi- her she has to be prepared to onship, the Most Outstanding shoot lots of ball. And, we go Player Award and the All-WK- and offensively. She will and she throws up 200, 300 BL First Team as well as the balls. The three-pointer comes All-Defensive Team accolades. only get stronger around easy to her because she is al- She is entitled to be saluted in a ways in rhythm. She’s had a grand fashion indeed. the basket,” wonderful season and I can tell Jonquel Jones deserves the you, there is much more. She praises. is a double/double threat every • To respond to this column, ~ COACH CURT MILLER game, but I am sure she can up kindly contact Fred Sturrup at ... WNBA Coach of the Year her offensive average and hike [email protected].