When folks in these parts hear Amber Jones’ name, the memories flash back to a time when girl’s basketball in this county was envied across the state, according to moultonadvertiser.com.Jones was the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 1A Player of the Year and ASWA Super 5 in 2009. She led the Hazlewood Golden Bears to a state championship as a senior.
Jones was first team All-State and played in the Alabama-Mississippi All Star Classic following her senior season.
From there she went on to UAB, where she earned All-Conference honors in both her junior and senior seasons.
She ranks in the top 10 for her career in four categories: points, assists, steals and 3-pointers made.
After her final season ended on the Southside, Jones thought basketball was over, but she wasn’t quite ready to give up her dreams of playing professionally.
Maybe the WNBA wasn’t calling, but Jones’ agent found a place where she would fit right in.
Cluj-Napoca may not sound like Town Creek, but other than a couple nuances, the Romanian city is more similar than one may think.
“I like it over here,” Jones said. “They have a lot of American restaurants here such as McDonald’s, KFC, Subway and Pizza Hut. The malls are the same. Most of the people speak English – for the most part – so that’s good.”
Basketball is only slightly different in Romania as well.
Jones said the backcourt count is only seven seconds and players must dribble before moving either foot.
The wrist injury she battled in college is healing nicely.
She said it hasn’t bothered her at all since she’s been in Romania.
She’s not worried about getting injured. She was released to play in November and her agent found a team who needed a point guard.
Jones is, by nature, a shooting guard, but she had 312 assists in her career at UAB, and is no stranger to creating opportunities for her teammates.
“I played (shooting guard) in college, but it’s not that bad because I am really a point guard who can score. I still led the team in assist in college. I kind of like it because I feel in complete control, but I’m waiting to get more comfortable with my teammates and coach before I start doing what I want,” she laughed.
In her season debut Saturday, Jones poured in 18 points and had three assists with five rebounds. Her team lost by two points, though.
“The last minute of the game I wanted to just take over, but I knew it was my first game and I had to do what my coach wanted me to do until he learns that I do well under pressure and end of game situations,” she said.
Cluj-Napoca is 2-13 this season with just 11 games remaining on the schedule.
“Overall, I’m really enjoying it. Basketball is what I love to do, so I’m happy to be doing a job that I love. This is something that I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid, and to see it happen right before my eyes is surreal,” she said.
Jones is one of only three foreigners on the team, and she’s the only American.
Her contract runs through March of this season.
