Jenks’ Jaedyn Jones
By Mike Moguin
You’ve heard of Kaydin Jones and his father, Kejuan, famous running backs in Jenks High School football history. Kejuan made his mark in college football playing at the University of Oklahoma over 20 years ago, and Kaydin is now committed to Kansas after decommitting from Oklahoma State after Mike Gundy was fired as coach.
Well, there is another Jones in this athletic family, and she plays on the hardwood and runs track. And that’s Jaedyn Jones, known to her teammates as “Jaed,” and she has some favorites in women’s college and professional basketball.
Jaed is influenced by her brother, “because of the way he has progressed and been successful in football,” she said. “It has pushed and inspired me to want to be like him.”
The best advice she has ever been given, she said, is “not everyone will clap when you grow. Some people feel safer when you stay small. Just keep growing.”
She and her Trojan girls teammates took a memorable trip to Chicago before school started.
“We were playing in front of a lot of college coaches this summer,” she said. “We were meeting professional athletes and even met Gino Auriema (Legendary University of Connecticut women’s basketball coach).”
The younger Jones claims South Carolina as her favorite women’s college basketball team, the league champion Las Vegas Aces as her favorite WNBA team, and Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings as her favorite player in the league.
As with most athletes, there are values they learn from their sports, and Jaed Jones has hers.
“(Basketball) has taught me discipline and self-control with my actions and work ethic when no one is watching,” she said.
Former teammate, Jill Tweihaus, a 2024 Jenks graduate now playing college basketball at Rice, is another athlete admired by Jones.
“She taught me that confidence doesn’t have to be loud and how to lead by example,” she said.
When she is wearing the maroon and white uniform, Jaed Jones loves “being able to make a name for myself at Jenks the way my dad and brother have.”
And then there are classroom favorites.
“My favorite teacher is Mrs. T because she has always treated me as one of her own, even since I was in her class last year, and she is one of my biggest supporters. I’m so thankful for her.
“I want to say thank you to my parents for always believing in me, being by my side through everything, and pushing me to be my best.”
Follow Jaedyn on Instagram @jaedyn_jones_
