For The First Time, UAB’s Deuce Jones Is On His Own
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - June 12, 2026
The adjustment that Deuce Jones is making in his early days as a member of the UAB men’s basketball program is not strictly confined to the basketball court. Basically, Jones is adjusting to a new hometown for the first time.
Perhaps it’s more accurate to say he’s adjusting to a new part of the country considering the Trenton, N.J. native spent at least part of two college basketball seasons at La Salle University and Saint Joseph’s University. Both of his previous stops were in Philadelphia, which technically is not home but it feels that way considering Trenton is only about 30 miles away.
Basketball has taken Jones throughout the country for games and tournaments. This is the first time, however, that basketball has carried Jones to a new place to live.
“I definitely think I grew a lot from the three weeks that I've been here, just maturing and looking at my surroundings,” Jones said. “Because I'm from Jersey, right next to Philly, so I usually have people with me everywhere. But I'm just here by myself and with my teammates. So watching my surrounding, just paying bills and everything, it’s a lot more adult stuff. It’s a little different.”
On the court, he’s part of another roster reconstruction by UAB head coach Andy Kennedy and his staff. They are in the early stages of meshing a group of 12 newcomers with returnee Salim London and possibly a second returnee in KyeRon Lindsay-Martin. Summer practice began last week and will continue throughout the summer.
Time will tell but the 6-foot-2 Jones is surely one of the team’s top options to play point guard. In the press release announcing Jones signing with the program, Kennedy was quoted as saying that Jones is an “explosive scorer who can also facilitate and create opportunities for his teammates with his playmaking abilities with the ball.”
Jones played four high school varsity seasons at three different New Jersey schools. He was an all-state selection as a senior after averaging 20.9 points per game and leading College Achieve Charter to the NJSIAA Group I State Title. Jones signed with La Salle University out of high school and was the A-10 Rookie of the Year after averaging 12.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists while playing in 28 games with 18 starts.
He moved on to Saint Joseph’s last season but played in only 10 games before no longer being part of the team. During his short time there, Jones averaged a team-high 15.8 points to go along with 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He shot 39.8 percent overall from the field, 26.5 percent on 3-pointers and averaged nearly three turnovers per game. Jones said he is “not really allowed to talk about” what led to his departure.
“Yeah, it was the biggest thing that ever happened to me,” Jones said. “I've never had basketball taken away from me. And then once that happened, I was a little lost. I just had my family and then Coach Kennedy texted me. It was just trusting the process and trusting in God and just getting my mental health right. Mental health is a big thing in this game that nobody really talks about.”
Basketball has been a release for Jones since he started playing on the playgrounds of Trenton and the backyard of his childhood home.
“I actually started off with football,” Jones said. “My mom got me on the court and then my dad started to teach me how to play. I just fell in love with it from there. Mostly everybody always starts off with football. I got tired of hitting people and stuff and it was just hot outside, so I was more of a basketball guy with the AC and everything.”
He was never the biggest player on the court but he learned to play big.
“Yeah, I was always smaller, but once I matured a little bit, then I just started playing above the rim, so height didn't really matter as much,” Jones said. “I like to get to the basket a lot. We all like cross people over and get to the basket.”
That will be a big part of what he needs to bring to UAB this season but it’s also just a start to his expected contributions. Figuring out what exactly is needed begins this summer.
“We went from just meeting each other to just hanging out all the time,” Jones said. “It’s definitely a big jump with everybody and everybody wants to win. We’re trying to build as much chemistry as possible to win this conference, get in the tournament and go far. I’m going into my third year and I’ve had a lot of fifth and six years guy I’ve been around. I just learned from them. Now I’m considered one of the older guys, so (the young players) look up to me and I have to show the right example.”