Washington State’s Isaac Jones passes around Drake’s Conor Enright during the second half of an NCAA Tournament game Thursday in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Washington State’s Isaac Jones passes around Drake’s Conor Enright during the second half of an NCAA Tournament game Thursday in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

WSU star goes from loading trucks to playing for for Sweet 16 spot

Isaac Jones had no college offers after high school. Five years later, he’s helping the Cougars to a historic season.

OMAHA, Neb.— Five years ago, Isaac Jones was fresh out of high school and working 9-to-5 pulling industrial pipes from a storage yard and loading trucks for a company in the Seattle area.

“Same thing over and over again,” he said Friday.

Saturday night, Jones will be in the starting lineup for Washington State playing in the NCAA Tournament against Iowa State for a spot in the Sweet 16.

It’s almost unfathomable how far Jones has come, from being a raw and undersized high school player who had no college offers to a 6-foot-9 first-team All-Pac-12 pick and the Cougars’ leading scorer and rebounder in his one and only year with them.

Jones recorded Washington State’s first double-double in an NCAA Tournament game when he had 20 points and 11 rebounds in the seventh-seeded Cougars’ 66-61 win over Drake on Thursday.

“It’s an unbelievable story,” WSU assistant Jeremy Harden said. “What I tell everyone is he hasn’t taken any shortcuts. He’s been through the wringer.”

Jones gives much of the credit for his rise to Harden, who was his head coach for three years at Wenatchee Valley College, was on the staff at Idaho when he played for the Vandals last season and now is with him at WSU.

“From a development standpoint, he’s huge,” Jones said. “In the area I grew up, I didn’t have coaches to teach me or develop me. I didn’t play AAU. I didn’t know much. When I came to him, he taught me a lot about basketball and looked at my strengths. He knew I had soft hands and a long wingspan. Pushing me to my limit and not breaking me is what got me where I am today.”

Jones grew up in Spanaway, Washington, and went to high school in Orting. He was 5-foot-7 when he was a freshman and 6-4 when he was a senior. He was a good player on a bad team, and he figured his basketball days were over when he graduated.

He got a job at Puget Sound Pipe & Supply and fell into an unhealthy daily routine of going to work, going home and playing video games and overeating.

Meanwhile, one of his best friends, high school teammate Joseph Lowe, was looking for a place to play and cold-called Harden to see if a roster spot was open at Wenatchee Valley, about three hours east of Seattle. Harden said he asked Lowe if he knew anyone who stood 6-8 or 6-9, and if he did, both could join the team.

Lowe convinced Jones to come with him, even though Jones would have to get financial aid and take out loans to pay tuition and costs in the tens of thousands of dollars. But Jones said his mom wanted him to go to school, and Harden told him he could help develop him into a player worthy of a Division I scholarship.

First, Jones had to get in shape.

Harden’s reaction when he met Jones: “He was 6-9, 275, real sloppy. But I noticed he had long arms, big hands and I thought: ‘Hey, I can work with this.’”

Harden put Jones through three workouts a day to get him in shape. It paid off. Jones lost 40 pounds and played three seasons at the junior college — he got an extra year because of the pandemic. He was named his conference’s player of the year in 2022 after he averaged 25 points and 13 rebounds per game.

He dominated at Idaho last season and was named Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year, and WSU coach Kyle Smith was able to sign him to play a final season with the Cougars.

“I owe Joseph Lowe a lot,” Harden said, adding that Jones’ buddy played all three years with him at Wenatchee Valley and now works in the insurance business.

Jones, the son of a pastor, said his journey was God’s plan. Harden doubts it will be over after this season.

“No level has been too big for him yet,” he said. “I don’t think the top professional level will be too big for him, either. He rises to the occasion everywhere he’s been.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks offensive line needs work

A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

UW men stumble in second half, fall to Nebraska

The three-pointers that fell so frequently — and from a… Continue reading

Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 4

Parker powers Seagulls to district berth.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.