BIRMINGHAM — Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl will have no shortage of options on the perimeter for this upcoming season, and one he’ll be counting on for an expanded role is Denver Jones.
Jones, a returning senior who averaged 9.1 points per game and posted the team’s best clip from deep - 41.8 percent - returned with an open mind this season and has taken on a role of a combo-guard, playing both the one and two spots throughout the offseason.
Jones said Pearl came to him in the offseason with the idea of getting the ball in his hands more and running the offense through him and knew it would benefit him in the long run.
“It's been great," Jones said of his expanded role. “I played a little bit of point guard my first year in college, so it feels - it's very interesting going back and also transitioning back to my point guard skills. But it's been real fun."
“Honestly, I feel like it'll be able to help me a lot too, as far as my pro career, going that far. But when he mentioned it to me, though, I knew it was a big role, and I was willing to accept that big role,” he added.
When asked about Jones’ transition into a combo-guard this offseason, Pearl alluded to his ability to get downhill and score with the ball in his hands, referencing him to be one of the toughest scorers at the rim that he has.
“We talked about it this spring. It was something that he wanted to do. It was something that I thought would be good for him and for us,” Pearl said. “When you play point guard, the ball is in your hand. I don't have to do anything to get him the ball. And I think Denver makes good decisions with the ball. He can score, he can get downhill, he can make tough twos. He’s unselfish, and I think it’s going to be really good for us and I think it’s going to be good for his future development.”
Joining Jones at the one and two spots are prolific true freshman Tahhad Pettiford and transfer guard Miles Kelly. Jones said the addition of Kelly has been huge for the team with his ability to knock down long-range shots.
“Miles Kelly is a terrific player. The Tech transfer. Could really shoot the ball. Very great addition for us, very great player, Jones said.
JP Pegues, a transfer point guard from Furman, will also be alongside Jones and has proved to be another beneficial pickup for the Tigers through the portal this offseason and has helped Jones learn the ropes of playing point guard at a high level.
“He brings a lot of experience. I learned just by watching. I learned a lot of things just from watching the experienced point guard play, trying to implement it in my game. Ya’ll are going to see this year - JP, very great, very great point guard.”
With all the options on the outside, it gives Pearl another team in which he can rely on his bench without seeing much drop-off from the ones, a huge advantage when getting into the gauntlet of a schedule that Pearl has put together this year.
“Our greatest strength is going to be our depth,” Pearl said. “We’re going to play 10 guys in double-digit minutes, and when we go to our bench, we’re not going to drop off very much.”
The Tigers will tip off their season shortly with an exhibition game against FAU on Nov. 1 in Neville Arena.
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