The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Announces The Signing Of LaTanya Jones
4/14/2004 | Women's Basketball
April 14, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss women's basketball Head Coach Carol Ross announced the signing of LaTanya Jones, a 5-10 guard, on Wednesday. Jones, who comes to Ole Miss out of Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College, signed a national letter of intent to join the Ole Miss women's basketball program beginning in the 2004-05 academic year.
"Signing LaTanya rounds out what has been a great recruiting class," said Ross, who led the Lady Rebels to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996 in her first season at Ole Miss. "She comes from a very successful junior college program. Having played for Vicki Carson, one of better junior college coaches in the nation, I know we will be getting a fine student-athlete and one that can help us take another step in our quest in building this program."
A native of Mableton, Ga., Jones attended Pebblebrook High School before moving on to Pensacola. While at Pebblebrook, Jones earned All-Area honors, served as team captain and was voted as Team MVP her senior year. As a senior she led the state of Georgia in rebounding and was second in the state in scoring, while playing in the post.
Jones then moved on to Pensacola where she moved to the perimeter and led the Lady Pirates to a 26-6 overall mark in 2003-04. Jones averaged 13.2 points and 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, while leading PJC to 19-straight wins and a national ranking as high as No. 3.
"LaTanya is a tremendous perimeter player," said Ross. "She can play both shooting guard and small forward. She has a real presence on the court. LaTanya plays the game the way we like our players to play, with passion energy and effort energy."
Jones made 183-of-357 shots from the field, good for 51.3 percent and also connected on 32-of-43 free throws, good for 74.4 percent during her second season at PJC. She earned All-Conference First Team honors as a sophomore, along with Team MVP and Best Defensive Players honors.
"LaTanya is a complete player," said Pensacola Junior College head coach Vicki Carson. "She does everything well. She is very skilled defensively, is very competitive and has a great work ethic. She is definitely an SEC caliber of player."
"Ole Miss had the whole package," said Jones, who chose Ole Miss after considering Memphis and South Alabama. "I really liked the coaching staff and the players. There was a great family atmosphere. I also really liked how the academic programs are set up. I think I will be in good hands."
Jones is the fourth Ole Miss signee of the 2004-05 signing class. She joins Dee Forrest of Louisville High School, Lindsay Roy of Delta Academy and Tassie Worsham of Wayne County High School, all of which signed with Ole Miss during the early signing period.
2004-05 Ole Miss Women's Basketball Signees
Dee Forrest, 6-1, F, Louisville, Miss./Louisville HS
LaTanya Jones, 5-10, G, Mableton, Ga./Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College/Pebblebrook HS
Lindsay Roy, 5-9, G, Marks, Miss./Delta Academy
Tassie Worsham, 5-9, G, Waynesboro, Miss./Wayne County HS
