Bernard Jones is Mullins’ next star athlete

11-year old Bernard Jones said when it comes to basketball he wants to be Kobe. However, in the not so distant future, kids may end up wanting to be Bernard.

Raised in a single parent home with two young siblings, Bernard has the demeanor of a mature young man that’s humble, respectful and easy going. He’s also growing into becoming a major sports star in the area.

Jones is an all-star wide receiver and shooting guard for the Mullins recreation football and basketball leagues. This past summer he played AAU basketball with a Terminators team led by Dillon varsity basketball assistant coach Alan “Drac” McRea.

“It was a great experience, we played in the championship tournament in Greensboro North Carolina,” he said.

“They play a lot of games and are everywhere in North Carolina and Georgia,” Bernard’s mother Latricia Jones said.

Also this summer, Bernard was named MVP at the 4th annual Raymond Felton basketball camp held at Mullins High School in June. His play impressed Auctioneer varsity basketball coach Mark Gerald. After phone conversation, Gerald said Jones seems to be a very nice young man.

“When I first saw him play I assumed he was from out of town and when I learned he was from Mullins I became a little excited,” Gerald said, adding that Jones was a very good player for his age.

“He’s good in all areas, including ball handling, passing, shooting, defense and confidence,” Gerald said. 

Jones played for the Cowboys coached by Marcus Graves and his all-star team was a game away from winning the district championship. Former Dallas Cowboy and current Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens is his favorite football player he said.

“He’s been playing basketball before he was five years old,” Latricia Jones said.

On the basketball court, Jones garners rave reviews from spectators with his play. He’s taller than most kids his age and utilizes his physical and athletic gifts.

Jones is an awesome rebounder and when snags the basketball, he breaks down court with blazing speed, finishing layups with ease even when drawing contact from his opponents.

However, Jones said his best attribute is shooting the basketball, which came through in a highlight moment.

“We were at a double-elimination AAU tournament in Florence and his team was down by one-point with three seconds remaining. Bernard took the inbounds pass and hit the game-winning three pointer,” Latricia Jones said.

“Get ready man,” sports correspondent Michael Jenkins told Jones during a visit to his Sports Talk radio broadcast.

Jenkins provided some encouraging words to the young ball player and said he’s heard great things.

“I play basketball everyday and go out to the recreation gym every Sunday,” Jones said of his practice habits.

Bernard is also a fan of NBA players Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Felton. 

Latricia Jones helps out the recreation department during the football and basketball season and supports her son as his “loudest” cheerleader. “He says I’m too loud at his game,” she said with a laugh.

The Palmetto Middle School student said math is his favorite subject and he looks forward to winning city championships during the season. Jones even gives props to eighth grader Paul Stackhouse as another great basketball player. His younger sister Shakiesha a.k.a “TeTe” played on the 10-year old and under district championship team.

Mullins has a history of calling up young talent from the middle school level. Don’t be surprised if you see Jones on the court in the very near future.  “If he could play varsity in the sixth grade I would probably have him on varsity this year,” Gerald said, adding that the prospects of developing the young talent is intriguing. “Things are in place for him to play in Dillon and Charlotte this summer,” he said, adding that Raymond Felton Jr. and his father Raymond Felton Sr. were very impressed with his play during the camp and hope to help him continue his progression as a player.

“He got next.”

11-year old Bernard Jones can always count on his mother Latricia Jones rooting for him in the stands when he’s playing football and basketball for the Mullins recreation department. Jones holds the money ball for the future of Mullins Auctioneer basketball.