By RUSSELL BENNETT
MOVE over Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Jay Ferriere and boom Pakenham Warriors recruit Chris Jones will be bringing their own brand of lob city basketball to ‘The Coliseum’ at Cardinia Life next Big V season.
At 6’7″ and with dreadlocks flowing down past his shoulders, the 25-year-old Jones has a way of standing out in a crowd. But it’s bound to be his spectacular play that really has local hoops fans going – Warriors coach Ryan Rogers included.
It’s no secret Pakenham was in search of some serious tall timber to help the side take the next step into Division 2 championship contention, and Rogers thinks Jones may just be the man to make it happen.
“Look at what Toppy (captain James Topp) was able to do with his versatility last year,” the coach said.
“Chris is very similar.
“He’s got a little bit more size and he’s ultra-athletic.
“I think the size advantage we’ll be able to put on the floor with our starting group is going to be really exciting.
“The plan is to start Chris at small forward with the all-star forward (Topp) at the four.
“There will be some good times – Jay Ferriere is already talking about how he’ll be able to throw some lobs and we’ll get some lob city going here!”
Isn’t that a scary thought – Jones manning the front court as a 200-plus centimetre ‘small’ forward.
Jones had a breakout 2010 season for Warrandyte, averaging 14 points, 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
It was there where Rogers first spotted him.
Like the Warriors skipper, Jones made a move away from basketball to try his hand at footy – ironically, alongside Topp.
But Rogers gauged his interest in coming back.
“He sent me a message on Facebook,” Jones said
“We just started chatting about basketball and my plans for next year.
“He told me to come down and the rest is history.”
Now that Jones is on-board, he, Topp, Ferriere and Rogers all have one clear, unabashed goal – the championship.
“We’re setting the bar really high,” Rogers acknowledged.
“But there’s no point just talking about making the finals again. We’ve been there and done that.
“It’s time for some guys who have been around for two or three years to mature and take their game to the next level.
“When you put those with guys like Chris and the established core we have – Ferriere and Bill Winder, for example – that’s where we’re setting the bar.
“It comes down to the guys doing the necessary things over the summer months to make sure we’re ready to achieve that goal come March.”
