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Player Profile: Kiahna Jones (Mill Hall, PA)

Updated: Aug 16, 2022


Name: Kiahna Jones


Height: 6 Feet


Position: Power Forward/Small Forward


High School: Central Mountain (PA)


Graduation Class: 2023


AAU Club: Team Pennsylvania/Next Level Strong


GPA: 3.4


Status: Uncommitted


Favorite hobbies outside of basketball: Hanging out with friends and shopping.


Expectations heading into junior year: "Stepping up my game by becoming a leader."


Kiahna Jones is a 6 foot Power Forward from Mill Hall, Pennsylvania. Jones is a rising junior at Central Mountain High School, and runs with Team Pennsylvania and Next Level Strong on the AAU circuit. Her dad, Albert, a 2016 Gridiron Great at Lock Haven University. Jones still holds the Haven's records in tackles for loss (34), third in yards from tackles for loss (109), eighth in quarterback sacks (10.5) and seventh in yards for sacks (70). She's also the younger sister of former Central Mountain standout and reigning MAC Player of the Year, Collin, who hoops for Lebanon Valley College. Her mom, Leigh, is a learning support teacher in the South Williamsport School District. But now the youngest Jones is looking to write her own story.


K Jones is an athletic forward who's a defensive first type of player, but shows signs of becoming an aggressive scorer one day. She has great size, a physical post presence and once she puts her offensive skill set together being a lefty, she's going to be a special player to watch out for. But I'll explain more about her game in this breakdown. Let's get to know more about the lefty!

 

Breakdown:


Strengths

  • Active Shot Blocker

  • Athleticism is off the charts.

  • Attacks the basket with force.

  • Could possibly transform into a guard in the next few years.

  • High IQ Player

  • Improved Post Game

  • Strong Rebounder

  • Tenacious Defender

  • Versatile player when used in the right system.

Kiahna Jones is a young prospect who has a uniqueness to her game that you don't see out of a lot of a prospects. She isn't afraid to face contact and plays with a target on her back as she doesn't stop until the whistle. I remember watching the livestream of her team playing at Williamsport, and one sequence where Jones wasn't in position to secure a rebound and she was upset clapping her hands and all, but instead of giving up on the play, she hustled all the way down the court, ahead of the ball and sent a girl's shot off of the backboard. As a coach or a parent, you can't teach that in a player as Jones is a very unselfish and team oriented player.


Check it out here:


That's my favorite play that I've seen from a prospect ever. You simply cannot teach that at the end of the day. But Jones is a physical and athletic forward who's a tenacious defender, solid shot blocker with great timing and grabs the best of boards at her height. Once she puts her offensive together, she can be dangerous and even take steps to transition to a taller guard, if she's set up the right way in a system.


Things to improve on

  • Adding a consistent jumpshot.

  • Building an offensive game.

  • Mid Range Game

  • Stop overthinking and predicting every move.

  • Using more moves off of the dribble to create space.

Kiahna Jones is a true defensive stopper but if she builds more on her offensive game, she can be a real threat on the court.


For Jones, she shows flashes of being able to slash to the rim and finish strong, but adding a consistent jumpshot to her game, it'll create more versatility in her "bag" and will force taller defenders to step out and guard her. Which then goes into creating opportunities for her on the perimeter. Being left handed they always say left handed basketball players are some of the best scorers because they naturally can go left. If Jones can learn how to create space by using more moves such as the jab step and pump fake, she'll easily move defenders with her footwork and already athletic build. One thing I always mentioned to Jones is that she needs to perfect her spin move off of the drive. Professionals such as Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans) and A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) are two left handers who play the same position as they create space off defenders using a strong spin move to score.

Zion Williamson


A'ja Wilson


We know that Jones isn't either of the two, but adding moves as the spin to her attack will help her offensive game as many defenders have trouble guarding lefties.


Jones is expected to play an important role for Central Mountain next season with a young Wildcats team and new head coach, Jeffrey Bowdell.


Below is my interview with Kiahna Jones.

 

KIAHNA JONES Q&A

When did you start playing basketball?

  • "I started playing basketball when I turned 4 and was in a league called, 'Itty Bitty Basketball'.


Describe your game.

  • "My game is usually on the defensive end. I'm a very aggressive player when it comes to defense. Blocks and rebounds are definitely something I try to work hard with."


What is your role on Central Mountain’s basketball?

  • "My role at Central Mountain is not only scoring but also being the defensive player my team can count on. They rely on me to protect the rim rebound after every shot."


What is your usual pregame routine?

  • "Before every game, I practice foul shots, do some layups and post moves. I get wrapped if needed then go on to shoot jump shots."


What are some of your favorite tv shows, and or movies to watch?

  • "Some of my favorite things to watch are 'Dance Moms', 'American Idol', '30 for 30', 'Coraline' and 'Five Feet Apart'. 'Dance moms', I love the drama and it’s fun to see them win. 'American Idol', I like to see people’s style of music. '30 for 30', I can get more information about all the sports. 'Coraline', I love the animations and it’s kinda creepy, and 'Five feet apart', I like this one especially because it shows romance and that opposites attract."


Who are some of your favorite artists to listen to?

  • "Moneybagg Yo, DaBaby, Drake, Summer Walker, City Girls, and Megan Thee Stallion. They all have up beat songs and they make my friends and I hype, especially for a game."


Who have you been playing AAU with this Summer?

  • I'm playing for Team PA out of Harrisburg and playing for Next Level Strong out of Lewisburg. Team PA has some talented girls from the Central PA area. Next Level Strong has a good mix of talented girls as well as state championship players on it."


You’re still at a very early stage of your career. What kinds of things are you doing to make yourself the best player you can be?

  • "Always working in the off season and trying to find ways to get better when I can."


Which athlete do you look up to the most?

  • "Megan Rapinoe. She always has a good attitude and always makes gets her team the best they can be, works so hard and will never back down."


Who do you look up to as a role model?

  • "Collin Jones is who I look up to as a role model. Not only is he a hardworking basketball player on the basketball court, he never gives up in anything he does. He never is satisfied for less and is always wanting more."


It’s still very early, but what are you looking forward to in your senior season?

  • "In my junior season i’m looking forward to being a strong leader in my team, keep improving for myself and my team too. i hope to walk away at the end of season feeling like i did enough."


Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation for people?

  • "My encouragement for people is, remember the next play. make the next play makeup for a bad one, you can control what you do, not anyone else."


MEDIA COVERAGE ON KIAHNA JONES




Twitter @KiahnaJones


High School Coach Information

Jeffrey Bowdell


AAU Coach Information

Aaron Gingrich - Email

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