WS Chronicle

Arrington Jones is a junior point guard for the Winston-Salem Christian (WSC) varsity basketball team. Jones spent his first two seasons at Atkins High School, but felt WSC provided a better opportunity for his future.

Jones recently eclipsed 1,000 points in his high school career and that achievement was celebrated by his team with many of his family in attendance. Jones was unaware and thankful for the surprise, but knows there is more work to be done.

“I feel like it was a great accomplishment for me,” he said. “I don’t see myself as an elite scorer, but the fact I can reach it by getting defense stops, steals or breakaway layups says a lot. It’s a big accomplishment because many kids around here play high school basketball, but not a lot of kids reach 1,000 points in their high school career.”

It was not an accident that Jones reached this personal milestone. He has put in countless hours on the court to enhance his game. He said it was a surprise for him, because he was unaware he had reached 1,000 points.

“It’s all about putting in the work,” said Jones. “We have spent day and night in the gym, planning our workouts and planning practices, outside of school practice, just to get extra shots up. So, it’s really more of a repetition thing.”

Jones was very complimentary when speaking about his time at Atkins. He credits the team and head coach Marlon Brim for helping to develop his game.  

“It was a great opportunity for me playing for Coach Brim and the group we had coming in my freshman year,” Jones said about his time playing for the Camels. “It was a tough year for us my freshman year, but sophomore year we had five sophomore starters, but we slowly broke apart and went to different schools.  It wasn’t because Atkins was a bad place, it was because we were looking for different opportunities, because we were all good scorers.

“Coming from over there, it was really a hard thing to do, to leave that school, because that was family. I saw them more than a team, but as a family. To leave them was a personal decision, so I can better myself and my future.”

The transition to WSC was a hard one for Jones, because he was dealing with a new environment, new coach and new players. The connection with his teammates took some time to gel, but they eventually reached the point where they came together as a team.  

“It was kind of hard for us to gel at first, but once we got rolling, we entered a phase where we felt unstoppable,” he continued. “Once we started sharing the ball with each other and knowing what one another could do well, we became a force.”

Basketball was not even the first love for Jones. As a youngster, Jones wanted to be a singer. He only played basketball as a means to stay in shape for football. Once he entered middle school, he began taking basketball more seriously.  

“I played every sport, but I wanted to be a singer, I wanted to be just like John Legend,” he went on to say. “I took piano lessons, I tried my best to sing and act, but basketball came in when I needed something to do when it wasn’t football season. My dad played football in the NFL, so this was my sport, but once basketball started, I was like ‘I really like this game’.

“Once I started playing, I started getting really good at it and I told my mother I just wanted to play basketball. Even though I quit football, I still love the game, but basketball is just a release valve from life itself and that’s why I love the game.”

Unlike many young players, Jones prefers to make his mark on the defensive end of the floor. He believes his defensive intensity can and will create offensive opportunities on the other end. Jones wants to continue to work on his basketball IQ, to make him a better player overall.

“If I can shut down the best player, I am going to do that,” Jones said. “I am going to take the role of guarding the best player on the other team. I like to get steals and get my teammates open, so it all starts on the defensive end.”

Jones reclassified as a junior when he transferred to WSC. He felt that was a necessary step for him to maximize his opportunities at his new school. The new environment has garnered more attention from the next level and Jones is taking his time to make the right decision.

One of the more exciting parts of his basketball journey has been the recruiting aspect, said Jones. He said it’s “one of the best feelings in the world” to receive a call or text from a coach wanting him to come to their school.

Jones grew up as a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball fan. He would love the opportunity to play under Roy Williams, but says he is looking for a school where he can thrive both academically and athletically. He has a dream of becoming a marine biologist, due to his love for animals.

Jones’ mother, Kecha Brabham, has been pleased with the new environment at WSC. She said the academics were on par with Atkins, but athletically it was a step up in competition that has allowed Jones to blossom.  

Brabham and family continue to be the biggest supporters of Jones. He feels they fuel him to do better on the court and aims to please them in all aspects of his life.