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SEC Basketball: 5 transfer guards that could be game changers in 2021-22

By Caleb Hightower

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: The arena sits unused after the announcement of the cancellation of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament has been cancelled due to the growing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: The arena sits unused after the announcement of the cancellation of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament has been cancelled due to the growing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Big Ten Basketball
SEC Basketball Myreon Jones Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Myreon Jones | Guard | 6’3″ | Senior

Transferred from Penn State to Florida

2020-21 stats: 15.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game

After an outstanding junior season at Penn State that featured 23 double-figure scoring outings, Myreon Jones elected to transition from the Big 10 to the SEC and join the Florida Gators in 2021-22. The addition of Jones came after Tre Mann and Scottie Lewis declared for the NBA Draft following the Gators’ 81-78 loss to Oral Roberts in the NCAA Tournament and refused to leave the door open for a possible return.

Tyree Appleby’s role in 2021-22 should be expanded after he averaged 11.3 points and 3.3 assists last season, and UMKC transfer, Brandon McKissic, (who put up 17.2 points per game in 2020-21 while shooting 50.8% from the field and 42.9% from three) is an interesting mid-major addition, but Myreon Jones and his individual success at the Power 5 level should not be ignored when college basketball analysts are discussing the key pieces on Florida’s current roster.

After averaging just 4.0 points as a freshman, Jones elevated his play the following two seasons and became a consistent double-figure scorer for the Nittany Lions (he averaged 13.3 points in year 2 and 15.3 points in year 3).

So, what makes Jones such a skilled offensive player/scorer? Well, let’s start with his ability to torch the nets from beyond the arc. While Jones struggled to connect from deep as a freshman (he was just a 27.7% three-point shooter), he found his rhythm over time and kept his three-point shooting percentage above 39% in 2019-20 and 2020-21 (40.3% and 39.5%).

Would I consider Jones an above-average three-point shooter off the dribble? No, not necessarily, but because he is exceptional at setting his defenders up before darting off screens, he honestly doesn’t need to be a guy that will lull you to sleep with his unique handles and deliver the final blow via a step-back/side-step.

When Jones is able to get the bodyweight of his defenders to shift in his preferred direction by planting his right or left foot (depending on which side of the floor he’s on), and utilize the down screens and/or pindowns that are available for him, he often finds that he has plenty of time to catch the ball, set his feet, and launch high-arching threes that are difficult to alter. If Jones’ three-pointers aren’t dropping at the rate he wants them to, you shouldn’t be surprised to see him curl those same screens around the free-throw line area and either explode up immediately or take a hard dribble or two before firing mid-range jumpers.

Obviously, if Jones feels like he can cash in on straight line driving opportunities, he will certainly do so, but he is undoubtedly at his best when he is serving as an off-ball cutter who consistently takes advantage of his opponents’ poor defensive awareness. If Jones can be a high-impact player for the Gators and gel with his new teammates in a quick and timely fashion, he will give Florida an excellent chance of staying in the SEC hunt this upcoming season.

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