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Lajae Jones Is Devloping Into A Seminole Leader
11/10/2025 10:52:00 AM | Men's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Lajae Jones has always been a winner.
He was a winner when averaged 20.7 points per game and scored 1,426 points during his high school career at Fletcher High School in Jacksonville. He was a winner when averaged 15.4 points per game and scored 571 in one season while leading Barton Community College to the National Junior College Championship in 2024. He is averaging a team-leading 19.0 points for the 2-0 Seminoles after scoring game-high 20 points in their 101-64 victory over Alabama State on Friday night at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
Jones' 20 points against Alabama State brought his career collegiate scoring average to 12.2 points per game and his career scoring total to 1,012 career points.
Florida State will need Jones' scoring output and more as it travels to play the nationally ranked Florida Gators on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The game will be streamed on the SEC Network and can be heard on the Seminole Radio Network with Jeff Culhane, Adrian Crawford, and Jack Kavovit.
Winners of its first two games and averaging 104.5 points scored, Florida State has earned wins over Alcorn State (108-76, +32 points) and Alabama State (101-64, +37 points) by an average of +34.5 points per game. The Seminoles are averaging 37 field goals made and 15.5 3-point field goals made as compared to last season when Florida State averaged 26.0 field goals and 6.1 3-point field goals made per game.
Against Alabama State, Jones started his night shooting the ball well and stayed hot throughout the game as he reached double figures for the 11th time in his last 15 games and the second time in two games as a Seminole. He scored 18 points in his Florida State debut against Alcorn State.
In the Seminoles' victory over Alabama State, Jones made his first of eight shots just over a minute into the game to give Florida State a quick 6-0 lead. He was a perfect five of five from the field (including a perfect four of four from the 3-point line) for a team-leading 14 points in the first half.
"You can't guarantee it's going to be a hot night or a cold night," said Jones during his first appearance as a Seminole at the post-game media press conference. "You just have to trust the work that you have put in and trust your teammates to find you to help create the open shots."
Jones made his first seven shots against Alabama State and enters the Seminoles' game against the Gators shooting .750 from the field. He's made 15 of his first 20 field goal attempts of the season.
With six Seminoles averaging in double figure scoring through the first two games of the season and a team field goal shooting percentage of better than .510 percent, Jones is an important member Florida State's high-scoring offense.
"We tried to build this roster so when anyone is open you have to shoot it," said head coach Luke Loucks. "Lajae obviously started out hot (against Alabama State). There were a few times we drew things up for him and there were a few times we called things for him. If you have a selfless team, the ball usually finds the players that are rolling.
"I thought Lajae had an unbelievable game. He and all of our seniors are showing they can play at a really high level. A lot of these guys are coming from the mid-major level with a chip on their shoulders, and I love what they are doing."
Jones is certainly one of the Seminoles with something to prove.
Following his prolific high school career, Jones began his college at Tarleton State in Texas. He moved to Barton Community College (where his father was a Hall of Fame basketball player) in Kansas where he became an All-American and was a standout at St. Bonaventure near Buffalo, New York during the 2024-25 season.
After entering the transfer portal in March he became the second commitment to Loucks and his staff.
"With Lajae being a senior and having experience at a few different levels and (last season) at a really well-coached program (Mark Schmidt at St. Bonaventure), that held weight with us," said Loucks. "We feel his combination of that and having a pro-level body and athleticism and mobility, he fit perfectly into what we're trying to build."
Loucks' NBA experience was one of the deciding factors for Jones who also wanted to get back to his adopted home state of Florida after deciding to leave St. Bonaventure.
"A whole new team and a whole new coaching staff is what attracted me to Florida State," said Jones. "Everyone has a goal of making it to the NBA and Coach Loucks just came from there. I know playing for him and his staff will put me in the spotlight to be able to do that."
Throughout his one season as a Seminole, Jones is prepared to do whatever it takes to help Florida State enjoy a successful season.
"I'm going to trust what coach says," said Jones. "I'm going to work on what they need from me while also doing the extra things to build a more complete game."
As for the task at hand, Jones is looking forward to facing Florida.
"They are the reigning national champions," said Jones. "They are a top-25 team and it's a quad one game, too. Being able to compete against top-level teams is something to always be excited about."
He was a winner when averaged 20.7 points per game and scored 1,426 points during his high school career at Fletcher High School in Jacksonville. He was a winner when averaged 15.4 points per game and scored 571 in one season while leading Barton Community College to the National Junior College Championship in 2024. He is averaging a team-leading 19.0 points for the 2-0 Seminoles after scoring game-high 20 points in their 101-64 victory over Alabama State on Friday night at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
Jones' 20 points against Alabama State brought his career collegiate scoring average to 12.2 points per game and his career scoring total to 1,012 career points.
Florida State will need Jones' scoring output and more as it travels to play the nationally ranked Florida Gators on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The game will be streamed on the SEC Network and can be heard on the Seminole Radio Network with Jeff Culhane, Adrian Crawford, and Jack Kavovit.
Winners of its first two games and averaging 104.5 points scored, Florida State has earned wins over Alcorn State (108-76, +32 points) and Alabama State (101-64, +37 points) by an average of +34.5 points per game. The Seminoles are averaging 37 field goals made and 15.5 3-point field goals made as compared to last season when Florida State averaged 26.0 field goals and 6.1 3-point field goals made per game.
Against Alabama State, Jones started his night shooting the ball well and stayed hot throughout the game as he reached double figures for the 11th time in his last 15 games and the second time in two games as a Seminole. He scored 18 points in his Florida State debut against Alcorn State.
In the Seminoles' victory over Alabama State, Jones made his first of eight shots just over a minute into the game to give Florida State a quick 6-0 lead. He was a perfect five of five from the field (including a perfect four of four from the 3-point line) for a team-leading 14 points in the first half.
"You can't guarantee it's going to be a hot night or a cold night," said Jones during his first appearance as a Seminole at the post-game media press conference. "You just have to trust the work that you have put in and trust your teammates to find you to help create the open shots."
Jones made his first seven shots against Alabama State and enters the Seminoles' game against the Gators shooting .750 from the field. He's made 15 of his first 20 field goal attempts of the season.
With six Seminoles averaging in double figure scoring through the first two games of the season and a team field goal shooting percentage of better than .510 percent, Jones is an important member Florida State's high-scoring offense.
"We tried to build this roster so when anyone is open you have to shoot it," said head coach Luke Loucks. "Lajae obviously started out hot (against Alabama State). There were a few times we drew things up for him and there were a few times we called things for him. If you have a selfless team, the ball usually finds the players that are rolling.
"I thought Lajae had an unbelievable game. He and all of our seniors are showing they can play at a really high level. A lot of these guys are coming from the mid-major level with a chip on their shoulders, and I love what they are doing."
Jones is certainly one of the Seminoles with something to prove.
Following his prolific high school career, Jones began his college at Tarleton State in Texas. He moved to Barton Community College (where his father was a Hall of Fame basketball player) in Kansas where he became an All-American and was a standout at St. Bonaventure near Buffalo, New York during the 2024-25 season.
After entering the transfer portal in March he became the second commitment to Loucks and his staff.
"With Lajae being a senior and having experience at a few different levels and (last season) at a really well-coached program (Mark Schmidt at St. Bonaventure), that held weight with us," said Loucks. "We feel his combination of that and having a pro-level body and athleticism and mobility, he fit perfectly into what we're trying to build."
Loucks' NBA experience was one of the deciding factors for Jones who also wanted to get back to his adopted home state of Florida after deciding to leave St. Bonaventure.
"A whole new team and a whole new coaching staff is what attracted me to Florida State," said Jones. "Everyone has a goal of making it to the NBA and Coach Loucks just came from there. I know playing for him and his staff will put me in the spotlight to be able to do that."
Throughout his one season as a Seminole, Jones is prepared to do whatever it takes to help Florida State enjoy a successful season.
"I'm going to trust what coach says," said Jones. "I'm going to work on what they need from me while also doing the extra things to build a more complete game."
As for the task at hand, Jones is looking forward to facing Florida.
"They are the reigning national champions," said Jones. "They are a top-25 team and it's a quad one game, too. Being able to compete against top-level teams is something to always be excited about."
Players Mentioned
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