|
Happy in Trojan land
Published December 29, 2007
Justin Jonus has no regrets.
Two years after transferring from the Alabama men’s basketball team, Jonus is flourishing at Troy, where he ranks second on the team in scoring with 14 points a game.
The Trojans (6-5 overall) will return to action tonight when they welcome Western Kentucky in their Sun Belt Conference home opener. Tipoff is 7 o’clock.
Fox College Sports Atlantic will televise the matchup.
Troy, which is 5-0 at home this season, hasn’t played since falling at South Alabama 84-73 on Dec. 20 in their first Sun Belt contest.
“I’m really happy down there,” said Jonus, who spoke to The Reporter after watching his brother, Jasen, help Crossville win the Crossville Holiday Invitational on Dec. 22.
“Down there, it gives me a chance to show what I can do. They’re not really restricted to, ‘Hey, you’re just a shooter,’ or ‘You’re just this.’
“Like the game I had 44 points, I mean that just shows you right there if I’m hitting shots, he’s (Troy coach Don Maestri) not going to just take me out, or if I mess up, he’s not going to take me out.
“He’s going to let me play through it because he has confidence in me and gives me a chance to play.
“I’m glad about my decision. Hopefully, I’ll have a good season and team-wise we’ll have a good season.
“I accomplished everything I wanted to at Alabama. I just didn’t think I was going to see much action later on in my career, and I’d end up getting stuck there.”
Jonus, a former Class 4A Player of the Year at Douglas, had a career night in Troy’s 133-131 overtime victory against Paul Quinn College on Nov. 14.
His 44 points were the second most in Division I history by a Troy player. He was 16-of-27 from the floor and 8-of-17 from behind the 3-point arc.
Jonus’ 16 field goals made and 27 field goals attempted are both school records.
Jonus has started every game for the Trojans. He leads the team in 3-pointers with 26, and he is second in minutes played with an average of 29.4 per contest.
“I’m enjoying playing every game and starting,” he said.
The 6-foot-6 senior guard is still recovering from a preseason knee injury in which he tore his medial collateral ligament from the bone.
“I tore it two months before the season started,” he said. “I came back about two months ahead of schedule because of rehab and because of strength and working out.
“All summer I worked with Brian Creel real hard and got ready for it (the season), and that’s the only thing that saved me right now.
“It’s hindered me a little bit because of driving and jumping. This summer I upped my vertical four or five inches, my quickness and everything. I felt really, really athletic, probably the best shape of my life.
“It was really disheartening when that happened.
“I was very fortunate it wasn’t an ACL, because if it was an ACL, I’d been out for my career, because they wouldn’t have given me another year.
“It will get better as the year goes. I’ve just gotten a better knee brace.
“I’ve got a lot better knee brace and I can move better, because the first one was like a cast on there.”
Jonus enjoys the Trojans’ up-tempo style of play. They are averaging 83.2 points per game.
“The coaches there are good people, and we’ve got a good chance to win the conference,” Jonus said.
“It will give me a good chance to have a good year and get overseas. That’s what I plan on doing after I get done at Troy.”
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Letter
|
|
|
 |
|
Follow the Reporter on Twitter:
SMR News and
SMR Sports
|
