The International Basketball League (IBL) will bring a new team to Snohomish County this spring and by all accounts, that team already has a leader.
Antwon Jones, 27, is a veteran basketball player. He’s got years of playing experience under his belt and he’s ready to rumble with his new team, the Everett Explosion.
A Shorewood High graduate and Seattle resident who also played at Edmonds Community College for one season, Jones described playing in the Northwest as ideal and satisfying.
“(Other places), you don’t get the fan base ‘cause so much is going on,” the 5-foot-11 guard said. “Up here, people want to watch.”
Nathan Mumm, the Explosion’s general manager, described Jones as “the face of the future” for the team and the IBL.
“He’ll be a great asset to the community,” Mumm said.
He has signed Jones to a three-year contract. This is very unusual for the IBL, where nearly all contracts are only for one year, Mumm said.
“I’m very confident he will be a key player— a cornerstone basketball player for the team,” he said.
Randy Redwine, the Explosion head coach, agreed. He described Jones’ intensity on the floor as team-friendly, saying that when Jones plays, all the athletes on the court improve.
“He’s like another coach on the floor,” Redwine said.
Jones said he’s spending the summer in small tournaments, both 3-on-3 and full court, and exercising in a very tight regimen.
Redwine has known Jones for six years and has gotten a feel for Jones both on and off the court. He described Jones as caring and compassionate, especially with Jones’ 2-year-old daughter.
Jones joins the Explosion from the Mountaineers, Seattle’s IBL team. Mumm feels the Seattle team didn’t use Jones as much as they should have — despite his game average of 20-25 points and 10 assists.
This week, Jones is participating in the “Battle of the Lake” basketball tournament in Seattle. Players from all over the state will attend, including some from the NBA. After that, the Explosion’s training camp will start.
The IBL season starts at the beginning of April, and Jones says he’s ready to play with a new team. “We’re bringing quite a bit from the Seattle Mountaineers,” he said. “We all know each other, we have a few local guys.”
The Explosion is working to finalize an agreement to play its home games at the Everett Events Center.
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