Former USJ, MTSU player Anna Jones settling in at Tennessee Tech

After spending almost three months not on a women’s college basketball roster, former University School of Jackson star Anna Jones is starting to settle in at Tennessee Tech.

Jones, for reasons she wouldn't discuss, informed MTSU coach Rick Insell in early November that she would not be returning.

Jones has to sit out the 2019-20 season because of NCAA transfer rules, but she started class at Tennessee Tech last week and has begun to practice with the team. She has two years of eligibility left. 

“I just finished my first week,” Jones said. “There are a lot of differences and similarities between MTSU and Tennessee Tech. I was used to my routine at Middle. I am picking up on things. I was out of practice for almost three months, and that was weird, so it has been nice to get back in the routine of practice and being at all of the games.”

Jones, a 6-foot-1 guard, took an official visit to Tennessee Tech in December, and that is when her decision was made.

“Even out of high school, I had a huge respect for the coaches at Tennessee Tech and what they are trying to build,” Jones said. “When I came on my visit, I automatically clicked with all of the girls and loved the atmosphere and culture.”

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Jones was nervous about her basketball opportunities after leaving MTSU. 

“There were a lot of times that I was worried about what I was going to do next,” Jones said. “There was a little bit of fear, but I always knew that I was going to play on the college level again. I just wasn’t sure where that was going to be.”

Last season, Jones started 30 of 34 games for MTSU and averaged 6.7 points and four rebounds as the Blue Raiders went 23-11.

"Anna is a great addition to our Golden Eagle family," Tennessee Tech coach Kim Rosamond said via press release. "She has competed at a championship level during her time at Middle Tennessee as well as in high school, and she brings a considerable amount of experience to our team. Her size, versatility and toughness will be a great asset to our program moving forward. She can play several positions on the floor, score off the bounce as well as from 3, and is a very good defender."

Jones was a three-time Division II-A Miss Basketball finalist and two-time All-West Tennessee girls basketball Player of the Year, breaking the USJ program record with 2,794 career points and 815 rebounds.

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Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.