By Kevin Grogan, Dash-Sports
imagine being the very best student at the most prestigious prep school around. Now throw into the mix that you were a huge part of the very best high school basketball team of all time; a lock to be crowned National Champion again. Jesse Jones is super talented in everything he does. Things were going so perfect. Then covid-19 tosses the curveball & the second half of the senior year is not what Jones or any of his classmates had envisioned. As he looks towards an extremely bright future, Jones broke the news to the Tablet on what is next for him.
Here is to Jesse Jones and all of the area Class of 2020.
Tablet: Senior year in the books at Montverde Academy. You were the class Valedictorian! Describe your experience and time at the Academy?
Jones: Montverde Academy was a great place to be for the five years I was there. When I first got to MVA in eighth grade I was immediately welcomed by all the students, teachers, and staff. That support and comfort lasted all the way through my senior year. I was able to build valuable friendships with people from all around the world and have developed a very unique perspective of numerous cultures that not a lot of people are able to get. I chose to take quite a few AP classes, and I attribute that a lot to the teachers I had. I knew that no matter which class I took I would be prepared and learn a lot. I did not worry as much about grades as people might think, and it might sound cliché, but I really just wanted to be challenged and learn as much as I could from the courses. I am very grateful and appreciative of receiving the Valedictorian award, but there are a lot of really smart students in my class that work hard and deserve as much recognition. Outside of the classroom was truly unlike any other high school with being a part of the #1 ranked basketball team in the country and experiencing all the opportunities that came with it. With all the travelling, I was able to visit parts of United States I would never have seen. My favorite memories are the times I have had with my friends and teammates off the court.
Tablet: Not many of your hoops teammates grew up in the Clermont/Minneola area. Extremely hard to even make it on this super talented team. When did you decide you wanted to make basketball your extracurricular focus?
Jones: I grew up playing basketball since I was about 8 years old, so it’s been something
I have always enjoyed doing for as long as I can remember. It was in middle school when I realized that this was something I really wanted to work at and try to be the best player I could possibly be. I have also been fortunate to have had outstanding coaches in our local community such as Coach Post, Coach Bolden and Coach Gustafson who invested in me and helped develop my love and appreciation for the game. When I came to Montverde, it was always a goal to play on the varsity basketball team, and when I was given the opportunity to do so my junior year it was really a dream come true and something I worked very hard for. It was great being able to work my way up through the program and develop under Coach Boyle and all the dedicated coaches at the school. I will never take it for granted.
Tablet: Obviously the team’s basketball season was amazing; who can forget your MAIT tournament when you went on a 3-point barrage?? Your team is arguably the best high school basketball team of all time. EVER. Has that sunk in?
Jones: No, that has definitely not sunk in. A large part to this is just the fact that we didn’t get full closure to the season. With the National Championship being cancelled due to COVID-19, we were not able to finish what our primary goal of the entire season was and fully celebrate together the special season we had. When you’re in the midst of something special, I think it can be difficult to understand the magnitude of it, and time is required to fully grasp how unique this year’s team was.
Tablet: No disrespect; I had no idea you were the student you are. Talk to us 
about how you managed your time at MVA with the books & basketball?
Jones: While I definitely had to sacrifice a lot of things outside of school and basketball, my teachers and coaches made balancing the two a whole lot easier than it could have been. Coach Boyle and Coach Miller, along with the rest of the coaching staff would always make sure everyone on the team was taking care of what they needed to do in the classroom and also provided the necessary support if we needed any help. Thankfully, I had teachers that would be very understanding in allowing me to do work on the road while traveling or making themselves available to help outside of class. I think the key to managing my time was just staying focused first on academics, then basketball, and just ignoring most other stuff that could serve as distractions.
Tablet: The 2020 school year was crazy. What is something positive that you will remember about the second half of the school year?
Jones: Though I prefer in-person learning, the transition to online learning from home is definitely something I will remember. Nobody was really prepared for anything like this, but it was really encouraging to see all the teachers and students approach this new time with such a positive and resilient mindset.
Tablet: You’re also an amazing runner as I have seen you run. Your dad ran for FSU and is actually one of the track coaches at Montverde Academy. Did your running help your conditioning on the hardwood?
Jones: I learned some of the technical aspects of running from my dad. I think the biggest skill from running that has transferred onto the hardwood was the mental side of it. Running taught me to be mentally disciplined and push myself even when things get extremely difficult.
Tablet: Obviously everyone is wondering what is next for Jesse Jones. What is 
your future looking like for next year?
Jones: This upcoming fall I will be attending Babson College which is located about 20 minutes outside of Boston, MA. Babson is ranked as the number #1 undergraduate entrepreneurship school in the country according to US News and World Report, so it will be a great place for me to learn how to start and run my own business, which is ultimately what I want to do. So many great business leaders and entrepreneurs such as Arthur Blank, Akio Toyado, and Jamie Siminoff are part of the Babson alumni, and the faculty is world class. I am looking forward to learning from the best. I also look forward to competing on Babson’s basketball team and playing for Coach Brennan. Babson won the Division 3 National Championship in 2017, and I hope to be a big part of returning the championship to Babson.
Tablet: What has been your favorite thing about growing up here?
Jones: I have had several family members live in Clermont. My grandparents live here, and I had some cousins live here for some time as well, so it’s always nice being able to live around family and have easy access to them. Having Disney and Universal Studios so close made things fun growing up here as well.
Tablet: Anything else you would like to share with your Lake County neighbors?
Jones: Stay safe, strong and united through the challenges that face our nation. It is my hope that Lake County can always serve as a model of an inclusive community that provides opportunities for all. I also want to say thank you to all my family, friends, teachers, coaches, and those in the community who have shown support for me along the way.
