Paul Jones III Found Perfect Fit at JMU
By Houston Wilson
James Madison men’s basketball continues to build momentum, adding a key piece from the transfer portal: Winthrop transfer Paul Jones III. A Suffolk, Virginia native, Jones brings a strong freshman résumé, averaging 7.6 points and 3 rebounds per game.
Winthrop transfer Paul Jones III has committed to James Madison.
— PortalUpdates (@portal_updates) April 27, 2025
The 6’4” guard appeared in 34 games for the Eagles, averaging 7.6 points, and 3.0 rebounds per game.
Jones earned All-Big South Freshman Team honors. pic.twitter.com/VezIv0ZaTP
Jones said JMU felt like the right fit from the moment he stepped on campus.
“Well, it is close to home. They really made a nice presentation for me. They showed me a lot of great film and showed me how well I could fit in their system. It is going to be a perfect match between my playing style and the way their system runs.”
After visiting the campus last weekend, Jones didn’t wait long to make his commitment. Several aspects of the program stood out.
“The facilities definitely stood out. Another thing was just how the staff takes care of the guys. The training room and weight rooms are always available for the guys and there is a really nice practice court that is always open.”
Jones is especially excited to play in head coach Preston Spradlin’s system.
“The offense is not stagnant at all, as people are always moving. If you are coming off a flare and you don't have a shot or anything, you know you will get a direct ball screen right after that. There are just constant screens, and Coach Spradlin prides himself on telling the bigs to constantly screen and move.”
With JMU coming off a couple of winning seasons, Jones is ready to help continue the program’s success.
“We are going to have a lot of people that make shots, but at the end of the day everything is won on defense. We are going to pride ourselves on getting stops. If we get the right stops we need, the offense will work out. I have watched a lot of film, and the guys they already have with the addition of Paul Lewis, we are going to be a scary team.”
Looking ahead, Jones has his eyes on team success and individual growth.
“The number one goal for next year is to get a ring for sure, that's the main goal, win the Sun Belt and advance to March Madness. Other than that, I just want to continue to get better and constantly play on the ball as much as possible. I don't want to be a corner sitter like I was my freshman year, and I think this offense will allow me to be more on the ball.”
And when Jones hits the floor, JMU fans can expect to feel his presence.
“They can expect a guy with a lot of energy. I am constantly upbeat, I like to scream and yell. With me bringing all of this energy, I expect JMU fans to bring it back!”
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