Jones has ‘Sterling’ performance at All-Star game

Ellender guard Sterling Jones has led one of the most storied careers in this area’s high basketball history.

In his four years with the Patriots, the team won over 100 games, came within one victory of the 5A state championship in 2007 and reached the quarterfinals in the 4A tournament this year, losing to eventual champions Helen Cox.

After earning first-team Class 5A All-State honors as a junior, Jones led the Patriots in scoring (23.6 points per game), and rebounds (6.9 per game) in his senior season.

The Patriots went 26-9 this season and received a seventh seed in the Boys Top 28 Tournament.

Jones was named an All-Star by the Louisiana High School Coaches Association this year, along with teammates Jamal Nixon and Chris Duthu. At the All-Star game played Saturday night in the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, he won the Most Valuable Player award with a game-high 25-point performance.

Jones is only the second Ellender Patriot to win the award in the game’s 54-year history (Orlando Butler won in 1997).

SportsNet caught up with the local All-Star for a quick discussion of his legacy at Ellender and future plans.

SportsNet: What was it like playing your final game in front of hometown fans?

Jones: It was great to play in front of family and friends, let them get to see me play at home one more time.

SN: How does it feel to be in an All-Star Game with the best players in the state and win the MVP?

SJ: It feels great. I was a little surprised I got the MVP because I thought the winning team (East All-Stars defeated the West All-Stars, which Jones was on), one of their players was supposed to get the MVP. But I feel good getting it.

SN: You and Vandebilt Catholic’s DeShawn Patterson guarded each other often when you were on the court together. What was that like?

SJ: It was a lot of fun. We’ve played against each other for years. I’m guarding him; he’s guarding me. He’s a great competitor.

SN: What happened on that blown dunk (Jones was uncontested for a slam attempt in the third quarter)?

SJ: Awh man! I was trying to break the backboard and threw it down too hard.

SN: At Ellender you won over 100 games, were the state runner-up last year and made the quarterfinals this year. What do you think is your legacy is at Ellender?

SJ: I have to be known there for a long time, for years to come.

SN: Have you had your number retired?

SJ: I retired my number. I’ll have to get a fresh number in college.

SN: What college will you be attending?

SJ: Hopefully, I will try to go to Texas.

SN: Have they offered you a scholarship?

SJ: No, but I talked to them a couple of times.

SN: Any other schools you’re thinking about going to?

SJ: UL (Lafayette) and some junior colleges are looking at me.

Jones has ‘Sterling’ performance at All-Star game