Charlotte 49ers 6-10 center Phil Jones is one of 12 players that have been named to the Virgin Islands national team. The team will be competing in the FIBA Americas Senior Men’s Championship, Aug. 26-Sept. 6, in San Juan. The top teams from the tournament automatically qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.
The Virgin Islands will play in Group A alongside Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay. Jones will be making his first appearance with the team, who has played in four of the five tournaments held this decade. In their previous three tournament appearances, the team has a combined record of 2-14 with their last appearance coming in 2005.
Don’t worry, Jones isn’t leaving the 49ers. The senior center has lost 15 pounds from his 2008-09 playing weight of 270 and is in the best basketball shape of his life. Jones had a team-high 43 blocked shots in 2008-09 and more than doubled his scoring average from the previous year; he averaged 7.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and shot .472 from the floor.
“I picked up my books for my fall classes and I’ll have those with me, so I’ll be busy training with the team and keeping up with my schoolwork while I’m there.” Jones noted.
Jones’ mother, now deceased lived in the Virgin Islands and Jones spent part of his childhood growing up in there, he still has family in the area. He was able to visit the Islands while with the 49ers last year when the team competed in the Paradise Jam.
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