Monte Jones

Born on February 25, 1953, Monte Jones was destined to be a New Jersey legend. As a child, he loved to play sports, particularly basketball, baseball, and football.

As a basketball player, Monte Jones had it all: speed, quickness, great hands, ball-handling skill abilities and the shooting eye of an eagle. He had it all, except for height. Coach Ron Kelly once said that Monte was the best all around guard that ever played for him.

Only those who saw Monte Jones knew how big this five foot nine dynamo was on the basketball court. Monte Played pressure basketball at both ends of the court.

When Monte Jones stepped onto a basketball court, spectators and opponents had to have a carefully trained eye because “Monte” rarely duplicated the same move twice. He could dazzle with Harlem Globetrotter-like dribbling, toss a no-look pass with pinpoint accuracy or sink a fall away jumper with two defenders draped on him. The basketball court was “Monte’s” personal playground; every game was a show.

As a high school freshman Monte was one of the first basketball players in the history of the Elizabeth School system to play on the Freshman Basketball Team as an eighth grader. During his senior year at Thomas Jefferson High School Monte was team captain, selected as one of the top 100 players on the East Coast, and received 110 basketball scholarships offers. He also made All-County, All-Metro, All-Elizabeth, All- Group #4, Daily News All-Star, and Star Ledger All-State. And all four years Monte was team leader in assists and steals.

In 1972 Monte attended Navarro College where he was Team Leader in scoring, assists, stealing, field goal percentage, and free throws. He set school records for 42 free throws in a row over 6 consecutive games, 252 assist for a season, 168 steals for a season and for shooting 93.5% from the free-throw line.

In 1974 Monte transferred to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas where he continued to lead his team in assists, steals, and field goal percentage. In fact at the conclusion of Monte’s senior year season he was named one of the top 10 players in the Country in free throw percentage.

After graduating from college, Monte Jones had a try-out with the Buffalo Braves of the NBA.

Monte has five children, Laveena, Lamont Jr., Ameerah, Furqan, Marteese, and one grandson, Tekhari Ghee. Monte and his wife, Linda, now reside in Michigan.

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