AMES, Iowa — Curtis Jones has come a long way from his days as a skinny 155-pound high schooler with no offers. At 6'4 and 195 pounds, he is now firmly established as a key player for the Iowa State basketball team. Reflecting on his past, Jones said, "That wasn't really like what people was looking for," acknowledging the skepticism he faced early on.
During his high school years at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota, classmates like Tre Holloman, now at Michigan State, and J'Vonne Hadley, now playing for Louisville, were drawing numerous scholarship offers while Jones remained overlooked. Yet amid that adversity, Jones maintained a supportive spirit. His mother, Felicia Land, noted, "He's put in the work and he's done his part that (and that's why) this is coming back to him, because he genuinely cheers for his friends to do well."
Finally, an opportunity arose when Jones received an offer to play at Indian Hill Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. This marked the beginning of his ascent in the basketball world. After one year in junior college, he moved to Buffalo, where his journey took a challenging turn. Initially, at Buffalo, he averaged a mere 2.5 points in 12.1 minutes per game. Frustrated but determined, he resolved to make an impact in his second year. "I didn't really like the feeling of not playing, so going into that second year there, I just made sure I was gonna be at my best and play a lot of minutes," Jones shared. His tenacity bore fruit as he led Buffalo in scoring with an impressive 15 points per game.
His outstanding performances earned him a transfer to Iowa State, where he continues to shine bright. Selected as an AP All-American Honorable Mention, Jones finds himself at the heart of the action on game day. Iowa State’s head coach T.J. Otzelberger noted Jones's unique position as a sixth man, stating, "Curt just happens to be the selfless teammate willing to come off the bench and be the sixth starter and we're really fortunate with his maturity and how he approaches that."
Looking to contribute more than just points, Jones enters games at about the 17:30 mark to provide a fresh edge to the team's scoring. "If you start right away, you're the first one going through everything," he explained. "If I'm on the bench, I can kind of see what they're doing and make my adjustments before I even get in the game." His ability to assess the game from the sidelines has been a game-changer for him and his team.
Importantly, Jones had to overcome numerous hurdles before he reached this level. His mother described the turning point: "Once mentally, it clicks in, 'hey, I'm here. I belong here. I'm good enough. I'm actually a good player,' that's when he's able to excel." Indeed, excelling is an understatement for Jones, who was named the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and landed a spot on the First-Team All-Big 12. He recognized this before an audience, admitting, "Sometimes it was like a surreal moment, and I had to get out of that and just know, I belong here. I'm meant to be here."
As the NCAA Tournament approaches, Jones embraces the challenge with an unwavering spirit. "It could be our last game, you just don't want it to end with a loss and you want to win it all," he said, exuding confidence and determination. His mindset is simple yet effective: "It's just (time to) give it your all. And I don't feel like that's hard at all... I'm gonna give it everything I got."
Looking ahead, Iowa State faces Lipscomb on Friday, March 21, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. in Milwaukee. The outcome of this game will be pivotal not just for the team's advancement, but also for Curtis Jones, who has turned his journey from being dismissed into a story of perseverance and triumph.
