The recruiting journey for many high school basketball prospects has changed dramatically in the era of the NCAA Transfer Portal, with many college programs now placing a greater emphasis on recruiting experienced college players. As a result, many talented high school prospects have been forced to find alternative paths to achieve their goals of playing Division-I basketball. Former St. Mary's High School 2025 graduate Caspian Jones is a perfect example of a player whose patience, determination and work ethic ultimately paid off. Jones, a 6-foot-7 postgraduate and a 2025 graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix, made the decision to attend the prestigious CATS Academy in Boston for a postgraduate year in an effort to improve his recruitment, while also continuing his academic development.
CATS Academy is recognized as one of the premier prep schools in the country and a highly respected academic institution. Jones excelled both on and off the floor, taking college-level coursework, while developing his game through daily training and competition against elite talent.
On the basketball court, Jones had a tremendous season, averaging 25 points per game and earning First Team All-NEPSAC honors. The recognition was especially impressive as the other four players selected to the First Team also signed with Division-I programs. Jones was the final member of that elite group to secure his Division-I opportunity.
That opportunity came with UC Davis, where Jones has now signed with Head Coach Jim Les and his staff. UC Davis is a highly respected academic Division-I institution currently competing in the Big West Conference, before moving into the Mountain West Conference next year. The timing creates a tremendous opportunity for Jones to come in, compete for early playing time, and help the program transition into one of the nation’s strongest basketball conferences.
Jones’ recruitment was slow at times due to the current climate of college basketball, but he never stopped believing in himself. Through daily workouts, a commitment to improving his craft, and perseverance through adversity, he ultimately achieved his goal of becoming a Division-I basketball player, despite major challenges presented throughout the recruiting process. His journey serves as a reminder to young prospects across the country that patience, hard work, and continued development can still open doors.
Congratulations to Caspian Jones and his family from our Arizona Preps staff, as well as the CATS Academy coaching staff and also Dinos Trigonis and his Belmont Shore (CA) program. We look forward to following his career and success at UC Davis.
Arizona Preps Scouting Report: Jones is a nice overall talent that is just beginning to reach his potential as a player, coming into his own as a player and prospect. He is a versatile wing prospect that is capable of playing multiple positions on the court, especially after spending a year developing his ability to play on the perimeter and consistently make plays for himself and others off the dribble. He enjoys having the ball in his hands and creating off the dribble, while being able to make shots from the perimeter. He has really improved the consistency on his jump shot from longer ranges. He has a very good handle of the basketball that he has developed through hard work, and is much more effective as a playmaker, which he has proven that he can be. He is an active rebounder and finisher around the basket, and also runs the floor very well and looks to get easy buckets in transition. He is a very good and willing passer that sees the floor, and competes hard. He has excellent toughness, and should blossom nicely over time with continued work ethic and hard work on his craft.
