by Arielle Andres
Freshman Judy Jones has made more than a striking first impression on the UTSA women’s basketball program this season. The Monroe, La., native currently is second on the team defensively with an average of five defensive boards per game, and in 22 games she has posted 34 steals and 24 blocks which places her third in Southland Conference. She ranks second on the team with 49 assists on the season, and third in overall scoring at 10.5 points per game. Jones sat down with goUTSA.com prior to her career-high 26-point game against Sam Houston State last week to discuss her transition into college ball and why she just likes to get “jiggy” so much.
Tell us how you like it here at UTSA.
"I like it a lot, more than what I thought I would. It’s a good place to be, I really wanted to get away from my home area and explore like how people normally like to do as a freshman."
What made you choose to play for UTSA?
"I had other offers, but I came here and saw how UTSA isn’t just a party school, the team is about business first. I am here to get my education. Plus the people around here make me feel like I am at home."
What has been your favorite part of your first season here?
"Just playing. My teammates helped me out a lot adjusting to college life and I’ve already had fun playing with them this season."
Explain your transition from playing high school basketball to your current Division I level in Southland competition.
"Well, it’s not much of a big difference to me because competition is competition. We prepare much more here than I did in high school for upcoming games. We watch film and read reports from the end of one game until the start of the next. I really don’t have time to think about making any mistakes because I’m a freshman, I just want to come out and play."
How are the upperclassmen on the team helping you with this transition?
"They’ve been helping me out a lot. Sometimes I get down on myself because of how I played, but they always come to me and tell me it will be okay and to keep my head up and keep going. They always motivate me not to be so hard on myself and just keep playing hard."
Do you think your relationship with your teammates off the court is helping the team’s success in the games?
"I think it does help because some teams only want to bond when they have to play. But with this team, we bond all the time and it’s helping us even more. Whenever you see one UTSA basketball player you usually see another one because we always want to be together."
You lead the team in defensive rebounds, steals, and blocked shots. You have four years ahead of you but you are already a leader on the team, so what motivates you to play so well?
"Our captains help motivate all of us. I’m a critic of myself because I will think I’m playing bad when everyone else on the team is thinking I’m playing well. They will just tell me to keep going and I’m realizing that now I just have to come out and play and the good things I do will outweigh the little mistakes."
A lot of people on campus are talking about you – talking about your impressive defensive skills, that is. How does it make you feel when you get a major block, or you jump up and get a stuck ball, and the crowd goes crazy for you?
"It brings up everyone’s momentum, not just mine. We have such a great fan base. The ladies that sit right behind us every game will always chant out my name whenever I make a big play and it makes me feel really good."
Did you get that in high school?
"Yes, but it’s even better now since I’m in college. In high school most people know you anyway. But here no one really knew me and they were still cheering for me. I’m not even from anywhere near San Antonio and it feels good that people are already supporting me and it’s just the first year they get to know me."
During game warm-up, we can see you “jiggin” out on the floor. Is dancing a part of your personal warm-up to get you ready for a game?
"Really, anywhere you see me you will probably catch me dancing or singing out the blue. I don’t even notice I’m doing it until someone says something about it. When I hear music I just want to move to it, I guess."
What’s your favorite song to jig to right now?
"Most people would think the one with my name in it, but it’s “Flex” and “Fresh”. No matter what I’m doing on the court when I hear those songs I just want to bounce around."
So, you’re a two-sport athlete here. You will be competing in track and field, as well. What made you decide to try and continue with both sports instead of just choosing one?
"I am good at basketball, but I feel I am better at running. The transition would be difficult for me though. Track is way different from basketball. I want to see how it would be to keep up with both of my favorite sports, and hopefully I’ll see how that goes this year."
So you ran the 400 meters and you competed in high jump and long jump. Would you want to continue with all of these events?
"My favorite events were the high jump and long jump because I like to jump. Basically, I wasn’t the person to say I want to run the 400, but my coaches put me in the event and told me to run it. I won my first race my freshman year of high school, even though I was dying at the end of it. Since that day I hadn’t lost a race until my last day at the State Championship."
In four years from now, what would you like to have accomplished?
"I just want to be a person that everyone refers to. I don’t just want them to say that I was good at what I did athletically, but I want them to say how I always helped my team and put my team first."
