Former Mount Vernon star Kevin Jones had his NBA dream deferred this summer, but not for long.
The 6-foot-8 forward signed an NBA contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday after three productive games for the club’s Development League affiliate. The organization added him to its 15-man roster and has reassigned Jones to the D-League Canton Charge.
In three starts with the Charge, Jones averaged 27.0 points and 13.7 rebounds per game.
“He’s one of the most pleasant, hard-working young men that has come through our team, our school and our city,” Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino said. “I couldn’t be more happy for him. He deserves it.”
After Jones went undrafted in June, he was signed by the Cavs as a free agent, but the organization made him one of its last cuts in training camp. Jones, a former first-team all-Big East player at West Virginia, then joined the Charge.
His rights were not held by Cleveland even though Canton is its affiliate. With his recent play, Jones began to attract interest from other NBA teams.
To sign Jones to its roster, the Cavs waived Luke Harangody to clear room. The former Notre Dame forward was expected to miss time while he recovered from knee surgery.
Eight previous Mount Vernon players have reached the NBA. The only New York state schools with more are DeWitt Clinton and Jefferson.
9 Comments
TIME TO CASH IN THOSE CHIPS,DREAMS DO COME TRUE,CONGRATS,THE WHOLE MOUNT VERNON NATION IS PROUD,
CLEVELAND VS KNICKS SATURDAY DECEMBER 15, AT 730PM,COME ON DOWN TO THE GARDEN
9 players signed by NBA teams..Who’s going to be No.10? Tradition Never Graduates
one of the most deserving kids to come thru that program, he’s half way there..nice
What an accomplishment! Congratulations Kevin. Culmination of a lot of hard work.
It still amazing to me that he went undrafted. Far from an expert but Kevin and Scott Machado(who is also signed) were without a doubt draft material. In the end it paid off for these great kids!
One of the most decent young men I have met. When MV defeated NFA in Kevin’s senior year my wife ran down to courtside to personally congratulate him. In the midst of all the hoopla he stopped to listen to her words and thanked her for acknowledging his efforts.
Though perhaps without the raw, natural talent of a Gus Williams…Ben Gordon…or Rodney McCray…Kevin more than makes up for that with an incredible drive to improve his game.
I can think of no one more deserving of these rewards [i.e. stepping out onto the NBA hardwoods]
p.s. Shout out to the regulars…’Wood, spacecadet, Reality Check, HRs. ...somehow knew Haywood would be the first to jump on this breaking news. See you all at the Center in Feb/March
mvhs looking forward to meeting you during the sectionals. The knowledge about MVHS that you, wood, space,etc. bring is amazing.
Great news! Don’t know the kid but have followed him since he left mv. Class act.
Well said MVHS65 the Work Ethic of these kids is inspiring. Dreams are achieved because of it & Kev is the latest example. Who will be next? Great Stuff