Wednesday, July 20, 2022
by Simon Fraser Athletic Communications

BURNABY, B.C. – From one court to another.

Jessica Jones completed her stellar career with the Simon Fraser women's basketball team this past season and graduated with honors in the spring.

Now her accomplishments in sports and in the classroom have earned her a prestigious $10,000 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. It will help Jones become a lawyer, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, who just finished his law career.

Every year, the NCAA awards up to 126 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have been outstanding academically and athletically, and are at least in their final year of intercollegiate competition. The one-time non-renewable scholarships are awarded three times a year corresponding to each sports season (fall, winter and spring). Each season, there are 21 scholarships available for men and 21 scholarships available for women for use in an accredited graduate program.

"I feel incredibly honored and grateful to receive this scholarship award," says Jones, who completed her Criminology degree with a cumulative grade-point average of 4.02 on a 4.33 scale. "When I think about how many bright, talented and accomplished NCAA student-athletes there are competing in the various different sports across Division I, II and III, it feels surreal to be nominated, let alone selected, for this scholarship award.

"I have always taken pride in representing Canada's only NCAA-affiliated school and I feel especially proud to win this award as an SFU student-athlete. Receiving this honor has given me more confidence in myself and my abilities. It has also provided me with a sense of satisfaction, as it feels nice to be recognized for my hard work, dedication and commitment in the classroom and on the court."

Jones made the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's All-Conference First Team in 2020, and the Second Team in her senior season (2021-22). SFU's 2020-21 campaign was canceled because of the COVID pandemic. Jones was a GNAC All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2019 as a sophomore.

In 96 career games, the guard from Richmond, B.C., scored 1,312 points for an average of 13.7 per game, and made 442 field goals. Jones ranks third in all three categories in SFU's NCAA era. Her 1,192 field-goal attempts are the second most by an SFU player since it joined the NCAA.

In three-point shooting, Jones converted 246 shots for an average of 2.56 per game – both are the highest figure in SFU's NCAA era, and third on the GNAC's all-time list. Her 736 career three-point shot attempts is the most in school and conference history.

"Jess has an outstanding focus to maintain a high standard of excellence in the class and on the court," says SFU head coach Bruce Langford. "She sets goals and works diligently to achieve them. Jess was always one of the fittest coming into each season. She spent hours of time on her shot to be a great three-point shooter and then worked hard to add a pull-up backboard shot. She repeatedly bettered her timed three-point shooting that we do to earn a green light."

Jones is a three-time GNAC All-Academic Team member (2019-21), and a four-time recipient of the GNAC Faculty Athletic Representative Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by Barnes & Noble College.

"Winning this award would not have been possible without the help of many special people in my life," says Jones. "I want to start by thanking Dr. Peter Ruben, Theresa Hanson, Bruce Langford and my Criminology professor Pamela Glatt, who supported my scholarship application with letters of recommendation. I want to thank my teammates for their genuine support and encouragement. I also want to thank my fellow members of the SFU student-athlete community, whose hard work, devotion and passion inspire me to be the best student and athlete I can be. Finally, I want to thank my family for their unwavering belief in me attending the law school of my dreams."

Jones will use the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship to help pay for her studies at the University of British Columbia's Peter A. Allard School of Law.