Tajion Jones (194-G-1999, college: UNC Asheville) is a 24 year old 194cm guard from Tennessee playing his rookie season overseas with Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden (Holland-DBL). He began his basketball career at Oak Ridge high school finishing his prep school career with 1,246 points, 148 steals and 136 assists. He then embarked on a 5 year career at the University of North Carolina – Asheville (NCAA). He played a total of 149 NCAA games. In his last year he averaged 14.9ppg, 5.1rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 60.8%, 3PT: 44.8%, FT: 71.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against the Niners Chemnitz.

Thanks Tajion for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I think basketball life is treating me well at the moment. I’ve always wanted to be a pro playing the sport I love, so I think I’m at a good place at the moment.

Your playing your rookie season with Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden (Holland-DBL). What kind of an experience has it been coming from Tennessee and North Carolina living in Holland in a very flat country? What have you learned to appreciate most about the country and the people?

Coming from Tennessee and North Carolina, my experience living in the Netherlands has been cool. This is my first time ever being in Europe and the furthest I went out the country in the US was to the Bahamas. It is indeed very flat here and that reminds you of Florida a little bit lol. The thing I’ve learned to appreciate the most here is that mostly everyone here speaks English very well. So, it wasn’t very hard for me to adjust and kind of get around the city a little bit

The team is doing very well in the BNXT league and Fiba Europe Cup. You also already won your first chip as a pro winning the Super Cup. There seems to be no superstar and everyone playing for each other. What is the secret to the success?

I think the secret to our success is that we do play for one another and that we all trust each other’s abilities on the court. I think that we have a good team chemistry and that nobody is selfish on our team as well.

The club only has 2 Americans and has done it with good Dutch role players on the side. How much credit does Doug Spradley get. He was successful in Germany for many years and now has made a name in Holland. How has he been able to shape the success?

I mean I think coach gets a lot of credit. He has a good system and a good amount of plays that can set you up to score in various ways. He helps me out a lot being a former player at the same position I play and is always giving me advice and pointers on how to be good in this league and for the future of my career.

Have you formed a special bond to American Alex Gross? What have you learned to appreciate the most about his game?

I think Alex and I have formed a little bond with each other. We definitely get along with each other and always talk about things on and off the court. I appreciate that he can finish down low and also step out and hit an occasional three as well. He has good IQ as well.

Let´s talk about your game. Your a 194cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would fit the description best?

If I had to compare my game to someone that was in the NBA. I haven’t really thought about who my game is somewhat like in the NBA. Growing up my favorite player was Carmelo Anthony and tried to take a little bit of his scoring. I obviously don’t have or use his incredible post up game but I did take his triple threat attack. He used his jabs and fakes so well that he could get a shot off without having to move or take a dribble. It also helped him get his defenders to bite on one of the fakes so he could drive to the basket. But, back to who would my game resemble I would say a little bit of Klay Thompson because of his ability to catch and shoot the ball off pin downs, transition, mid range curls off pindowns, and how he defends.

One thing that stands out in your game is consistency something that you built in the NCAA. What other strengths does your game possess?

I would say other strengths my game posses is my ability to shoot the 3pt shot. I would also say my ability to finish around the rim as well. I have gotten really good at using my floaters and high off the glass layups against taller/bigger defenders as well.

You shot over 40% from the three point line in 3 of 4 NCAA seasons. What are your biggest goals as a professional in the next years as you view the development of your outside shot?

To continue perfecting my shot. That’s what helped me get to this point and I want to continue to get better at shooting off the dribble like I did last year. I’ve been continually working on shooting threes off the dribble after moves like crossovers, behind the backs, off the pick and roll, etc. and that’s what helped me be more dynamic instead of being just a spot up shooter.

What kind of defender are you at the moment and what kind of defender do you still want to become?

I think I’m a pretty good defender right now but, I still want to continue to get better at being a defender. There’s still a couple things I need to work on to be better but that will come with time and experience as well. I want to be an elite 3 & D player as I progress through my career.

On what areas of your game are you working on most as you continue to develop further as a player?

I would say I am continuously working on my handle. You can always have a better handle and that’s one area of my game that I am working on the most. I am also just working on reads within the offense as well but that just comes with more experience being a pro.

You played at the University of North Carolina – Asheville (NCAA) from 2018-2023. You had a 4-27 record as a freshman and came back for a 5th season and won the Big South title and reached the Big dance. Was this the best times of your basketball life? How did you develop as a player and man?

I would definitely say that my final year at Asheville was probably the highest moment in my basketball life. I finally won a ring after being close to winning one in middle school and in high school. To finally achieve that was something that I was really proud off. All the work through my college career finally paid off in the end and I think that I made the right decision to come back for my covid season. It all helped me develop as a player and as a man too. I was able learn how to take care of things on my own and to find out my own routine as a player as well.

You came back for a 5th season as you stated you had unfinished business after suffering that last second loss to Charleston Southern. How important was this last season. How did you grow as a man?

Like I mentioned before I think my decision to come back for my 5th season was the best decision I could have made. I was able to win a conference title and I think it gave me another year to better prepare myself for ball after college. It really helped me get into the position I’m in now.

You were down by 14 points in the conference final to Campbell but led an incredible comeback scoring 13 points in a row and winning the game. What will you always remember from that game?

I will always remember that the game isn’t over until it’s over. I learned that from the year before as well since we lost on a last second put back to CSU.

How did head coach Mike Morell groom and prepare you best for a proferssional career?

I think coach Morrell helped groom and prepare me to be a professional really well. Coach Morrell has a lot of guys he’s coached and put in the pros but he definitely helped me become the player I am today. The off-season workouts with him were always tough and they made me better each year. He’s seen and knows what it takes to be a pro and he helped me with knowledge and wisdom that he got from some of his former players.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jamon Battle?

I won the 1v1 for sure between me and Jamon “Doc” Battle. Doc and I have had some good battles in 1v1s against one another but I’m up in our series for sure.

Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I think the only one that I faced that was really tough that ended up in the NBA was Jaime Jaquez. He was really good and just knows the game really well. He could shoot, playmake, defend, etc. He was an elite player. But I’ve faced a lot of really good people in high school that made it to the NBA and the one that stands out is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He was elite in high school and we played him and his school a couple times in the summer (Hamilton Heights). He was just as crafty and smooth as he is in the NBA now

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I think my top 5 best teammates are LJ Thorpe, Drew Pember, Macio Teague, Trent Stephney, EJ Bush. And honorable mention would go to my guy Tee Higgins.

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

My personal Mt. Rushmore would be Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, and honorable mentions would be Kevin Durant and Shaq.

Who is your GOAT and why?

My goat is Michael Jordan because the man was a straight killer. I know people love to say LeBron James because of all of his accolades and records but Michael Jordan could’ve done more if he never retired once or twice. He did a lot more than LeBron in a shorter span and lesser games too. Mike was a different breed. I respect everything LeBron has done and achieved but nobody tops Michael Jordan for me. His highlights of his finishing around the rim and his elite post fade was a work of art. His hangtime in the air when he jumped was insane.

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they left it alone?

I didn’t see the sequel of the classic Coming To America and I didn’t even know there was a sequel out lol. The original was a hilarious classic and I think I could recite some lines word-for-word.

Thanks Tajion for the chat.