After a challenging 2024 offseason, Seton Hall basketball coach Shaheen Holloway has focused on building a roster based on experience and production. This philosophy is evident in the team’s latest addition to the transfer portal: Del Jones. The sophomore guard brings both qualities that align with Holloway’s vision for the Pirates.
Here are three key points about Del Jones:
He Was an ‘Everything Guard’ at Radford
As a sophomore during the 2024-25 season, Del Jones made a significant impact at Radford. Standing 6-foot-3, he averaged 17.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 turnovers per game over 31.7 minutes. His performance earned him a spot on the second-team All-Big South squad. Jones shot 41.6% from the field, 30.9% from beyond the arc, and an impressive 80.9% from the free-throw line.
Jones is known for his explosive athleticism, often attacking the rim and drawing fouls to convert at the stripe. Defensively, his length and ability to handle a fast-paced style of play make him a good fit for Seton Hall’s full-court pressure system. At Radford, he served as a lead guard with a high usage rate, tasked with both scoring and facilitating. This dual role contributed to his mixed efficiency, similar to Tariq Francis at NJIT in the 2024-25 season.
Radford finished the season with a 16-16 record, placing third in the Big South with a 9-7 conference mark. Jones had standout performances against top teams in the conference, including a 23-point game against High Point, a NCAA Tournament participant. In the rematch, he scored eight points but managed five assists, five rebounds, four fouls, and four turnovers.
His performances against high-major programs were also notable:
- At North Carolina: 22 points on 7-of-18 shooting (including 7-of-11 from the free-throw line), two rebounds, no assists, and three turnovers.
- At South Carolina: 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting (including 2-of-4 from deep), four rebounds, two assists, and one turnover.
- At SMU: 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting (including 2-of-5 from deep), three assists, two rebounds, two steals, and three turnovers.
He Started at Clemson
Before transferring to Radford, Jones began his college career at Clemson. As a three-star recruit, he was part of an NCAA Tournament team as a freshman. He averaged 3.8 points and 1.0 assist in 11 minutes per game off the bench, shooting .403 from the field, .311 from three-point range, and .765 from the free-throw line.
Jones had some standout moments, including a 13-point game on 5-of-7 shooting and five rebounds against Virginia Tech, and a 10-point performance on 4-of-6 shooting against Penn State.
A Budd Clark Replacement?
While it’s possible that Jones could fill the role once held by Budd Clark, he is more of a lead or combo guard rather than a pure point guard. One factor that could influence his role is whether Trey Parker, the Pirates’ only returning point guard, enters the transfer portal. Seton Hall is also expected to host other point guards for visits, although Holloway typically prefers having multiple ball-handling guards.
Jones has been on Holloway’s radar before. Seton Hall showed interest in him during his high school years in 2024 and again last offseason. He will now join the Pirates’ first transfer-portal addition, Simeon Wilcher, in a backcourt that emphasizes depth and versatility. Both players are known for their willingness to attack, which aligns with Holloway’s style of play.
