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Florida State basketball lands prep standout with NBA bloodlines
TL;DR
Florida State basketball has signed guard JD Jones from Phoenix Country Day School, adding to their top-ranked 2026 recruiting class. Jones, a versatile player with NBA lineage, scored 1,762 career points and earned multiple regional awards during his high school career.
Florida State head coach Luke Loucks added another piece to what has become one of the nation's premier recruiting classes on Wednesday, announcing the signing of guard JD Jones out of Phoenix Country Day School in Phoenix, Arizona. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound shooting guard becomes the sixth prep signee in a 2026 class that is ranked No. 9 in the nation and No. 2 in the ACC according to the 247Sports Composite team rankings.
Jones arrives in Tallahassee with a résumé that few prep prospects in Arizona history can match. A four-year starter and team captain as a senior, Jones compiled 1,762 career points, the second-highest total in Phoenix Country Day School history, and earned four all-region selections across his prep career. He was named the region's Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and claimed back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore and junior, demonstrating the two-way versatility that drew Loucks' staff to him.
Loucks made clear that Jones is exactly the kind of player he is building the program around:
"JD Jones is exactly the type of young man we want in our program," Loucks said. "He's a high-character individual who brings toughness, consistency, and a team-first mindset every single day. What stands out most is how he impacts the culture — he competes, he leads by example, and he elevates the people around him. We're excited about what he brings both on and off the court."
Jones also carries one of the most distinguished basketball pedigrees in the country. His father, James Jones, is a three-time NBA champion as a player and the current NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations.
The elder Jones won two titles with the Miami Heat in 2011-12 and 2012-13 and another with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015-16 before transitioning to the front office, where he earned NBA Basketball Executive of the Year honors.
Jones joins a 2026 class that also features four-star signees Brandon Bass Jr., Martay Barnes, Jasen Lopez, Collin Paul, and Marcis Ponder. The Seminoles 2026 class ranks sits inside the national top 10, a testament to the recruiting momentum Loucks has generated in fewer than two full cycles at the helm.
With Jones now officially on board, FSU's backcourt of the future is taking clear shape heading into what the program hopes is a significant step forward in Year 2 under Loucks.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU basketball signs standout guard with championship roots
Q&A
Who is JD Jones and what are his achievements in high school basketball?
JD Jones is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Phoenix Country Day School, known for scoring 1,762 career points and earning multiple all-region selections, including Player of the Year honors as a senior.
What is Florida State's ranking in the 2026 basketball recruiting class?
Florida State's 2026 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 9 in the nation and No. 2 in the ACC according to the 247Sports Composite team rankings.
What qualities does Florida State head coach Luke Loucks see in JD Jones?
Coach Luke Loucks describes JD Jones as a high-character individual who brings toughness, consistency, and a team-first mindset, highlighting his impact on team culture and leadership.
