7 Questions for DeMatha Men's Head Basketball Coach Mike Jones

Some basketball purists will say the game's last true stage is a Friday night high school game between two rivals in a local gym. The setting is hard to duplicate, the crowd, players, cheerleaders and a slew of fans who are there to see the next young star emerge. The atmosphere is simply electric! For the most part, recruiting is completed in the summer, and the only thing to play for is pride and the championship.

You can find this atmosphere this season at DeMatha High School in Hayattsville, Maryland. You can bet that the Stags will be ready for a season full of thrills and solid team basketball, enough for any purist to appreciate. In anticipation of the season to come, Hoop Prodigy sat down with Head Coach Mike Jones for a a little Q & A on the state of the game, his inspirations and a little advice.

A 14-year head coach at DeMatha, Jones most recently led his 2015-16 team to a 32-5 record, and championships at the 2016 Maryland Private Schools Tournament and 2016 Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament. Jones has led the Stags to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) title six times (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011). In 2006, the team finished with a record of 34-1 and won the National Championship by HoopsUSA.

Jones, who coached the 2016 Development League Rookie of the Year Quinn Cook at DeMatha, has seen a former Stag drafted into the NBA in each of the past three years, including Victor Oladipo in 2013, Jerami Grant in 2014 and Jerian Grant in 2015.

DaMatha High School Alumni Victor Oladipo

Victor Oladipo was recently traded to the OKC Thunder from the Orlando Magic

How did you get your start in Basketball?

I started playing ball at a young age. I was able to just pick up the game easily and played all throughout my youth. I wanted to go to DeMatha because it was the premier program in the area. I grew up in the Largo, Maryland only 20 minutes from DeMatha High School.

What led you to become a coach?

I knew I wanted to coach when I stopped playing the game. I wanted to stay connected to basketball through coaching. Throughout my career my coaches always had a big impact on my life. There were several coaches that stood out in my career. Coach Wooten was my coach when I attended DeMatha from 1989-91. Jeff Capel & Oliver Pernel were amazing mentors and teachers, I played for them at Old Domion from 1991-95. Finally, there is Lester Butler who was my AAU coach. Coach Butler inspired me and had a great impact on my future career.

What makes your program innovative?

I know we have been successful because other programs have emulated us. We have always actively tried to stay a step ahead of other programs and competition. We have implemented hot yoga as part of our training program. We are one the first programs in the area to have a full time strength and conditioning coach. Our community service outreach is mandatory for all students at DeMatha. For the basketball program, we have taken this outreach above and beyond the standard requirements for students. Players are expected to clean local parks and serve food on the holidays to those in need. Our canned food drive* in late November is one of our best initiatives, we raise heavy amounts of food each year for the less fortunate.

*If you're interested in helping DeMatha and their canned food drive visit: http://www.dematha.org/

What advice can you give both parents & players as they transition from middle school to high school basketball?

Parents should do their homework and study their school choices. Specifically, look at the community & academic program, school resources and relationships with teachers, classmates and coaches. It should be a family decision, one that encompasses everything that will benefit the student. This will give your student athlete the best chance at being successful on the next level.

The transition from middle school to high school is not an easy one, both socially and athletically. A player must have the competitive spirit and fight for their position in the program. The player must have resiliency if things don't go their way. The parent and players need to believe in the coaches philosophy.

You should ask yourself this question:

"Can I accept my role? And if I don't like my role, I am responsible to work hard to change my position and role. Look yourself in the mirror and design your own destiny. "

Mike Jones

What is the one thing all parents of young basketball players should know?

Coaches put players on the floor they think will give them the best opportunity to win. Coaches do not have an agenda, they just want to win!

In your opinion what is the current state of youth basketball in America?

Basketball is in a decent place. Everything in today's game is driven by rankings and social media. There is more exposure, more options and opportunites to be successful and these are all good things. On the flip side, rankings and social media can hurt because the players are only motivated to get rankings above everything else. This can impact the team-first concept of basketball.

In regards to AAU & HS ball, we all work together to give college coaches the best opportunity to see the players at their best. When AAU was just getting started the teams were limited, egos were big and there was a strong family culture that influenced the players. We do not have those issues as much now. It is responsible to work with AAU programs for the benefit of the players.

Any quotes or paraphrases you can leave us with?

During adversity the cream doesn't rise to the top, it sinks to the level of your preparation. When times get tough, good and bad habits come out. If you're not prepared you will fall to those not only on the court, but in the classroom and workplace.

More on Coach Mike Jones' Career below:

Many of Jones' DeMatha alumni have graduated to compete in Division I college basketball, including Jerian Grant (Notre Dame), Oladipo (Indiana) and Georgetown’s Mikael Hopkins. Further, 2016 DeMatha graduate Markelle Fultz, a member of the 2016 USA Basketball Junior National Select Team, will play for Washington next season.
Jones recently won his 3rd Gold Medal with USA Basketball and 2nd World Championship as a member of the U16 and U17 National Team Coaching Staff (2012 and 2016). Jones has been a part of USA Basketball each year since the Fall of 2010 and received his 1st appointment in 2004. He has coached 9 players at DeMatha that have also been members of the USA National Team Program.
As a senior basketball player at DeMatha in 1991, Jones was the second-leading scorer on a team that went 30-0, one of two undefeated teams in school history. Jones helped DeMatha win the WCAC title, the D.C. city title and the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament before leaving for Old Dominion on a scholarship.
A standout player at Old Dominion University from 1991-92 through 1994-95, Jones was a member of the All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) second team and earned CAA All-Tournament team honors in his junior and senior seasons.
His college career at ODU saw Jones lead the Monarchs to two trips to the NCAA Tournament in 1992 and 1995, and he capped his ODU career with 1,166 points.
As a senior, Jones averaged 16.5 ppg., and he led the team in 3-point field goal percentage (0.426, 80-188 3pt FGs) as a senior. The 80 made 3s marks the sixth-best in ODU single-season history.
Following his career at ODU, Jones signed as a Free Agent with the Indiana Pacers. After his release, he went on to play professionally in the CBA and International Basketball Association, where he was all-league first team in 1997. He also played professionally in Portugal, Hong Kong, Finland and the Dominican Republic.