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SAM JONES

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Samuel Lee Jones III (born April 29, 1978) is a professional basketball coach and former player. Jones is currently the Head basketball coach of SPM Shoeters Den Bosch, a professional team competing in the Dutch Basketball League (DBL). Jones played 10 years professionally before retiring in 2010. Jones played in Belgium (Blue fox Gent), Poland (Unia Tarnow), 5 season in Holland (ebbc/Tulip/Eiffeltowers Den Bosch), Spain (Caceres 2016) and 2 seasons in Cyprus (Apollon 1954 and Keravnos). Jones also suited up 2 season for the STEAL who competed in the "made for tv" sport SLAMBALL. After obtaining his Dutch Citizenship, Jones played 3 summers for the Dutch National Team. Jones is in his second season as assistant coach with The Dutch National Team.

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Samuel L. Jones III Basketball Jones

A great athlete once said, “I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.” In that statement lays the true essence of the man we know as Samuel Jones III. As the prototypical point guard, Samuel Jones embodied all the qualities of a true floor general on and off the court.

Early Life

Born April 29, 1978 in the city of Chicago, Illinois to Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Jones, who would have thought that Sam Jones III would one day, run offenses from Chicago, Michigan, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Cyprus to the Netherlands. The youngest of three children, Sam was uncharacteristically tall in comparison to his siblings and parents. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Sam first tried his hand at little league baseball. As he progressed in the sport, he soon realized that the pitching also progressed as well. It was not long before he gave up the 80 mph fast balls whizzing pass his head for the sound of the basketball swishing through the net. In an effort to perfect his basketball skills, Sam joined his high school team at Alan B. Shepard. While Samuel was not the most athletic player on this team, he proved himself to be worthy by becoming one of the most skilled and intelligent players on the floor. Through tireless work and effort, he became the starting point guard by his sophomore year. Affectionately known as Snoop by his family, it was not long before his nickname rang from the Alan B. Shepard hardwood floor to the asphalt of the neighborhood street courts. By shattering assists, steals, and various other records it was not long before the name Snoop Jones became synonymous with skill, confidence, popularity, and most importantly teamwork. By following the advice of his father who said, “stay on your own program,” Mr. Jones was able to avoid the drama that tends to follow so many young men in the Black community. Off the court Sam stayed on his own program; on the court he established himself as a leader by keeping his counterparts focused on the team agenda. After achieving “Player of the Year” honors in the Chicago metropolitan area, it was evident that Samuel Snoop Jones began walking the path set before him.

College Career

From hoop dreams, to prom king, to a full scholarship at Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, Sam not only mastered the skill of setting up plays; he also set himself up for success by majoring in Business Management. From the court to the classroom, Samuel once again proved that a strong work ethic and persistence pays off in the end. While at Northwood, Mr. Jones not only made 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-Defense, and shattered another assist record; he was respected by everyone on campus. Given the honor of introducing Mr. Stedman Graham as a guest speaker at Northwood University, Sam further proved that his leadership skills far surpass the 94ft of the hardwood.

Professional Career

From passing the rock to obtaining his first passport, Sam Jones was selected by an international team in Belgium straight out of college. Once again, Sam proved himself to be a valuable asset to his team and a nuisance to his opposition. With crisp passing, undeniable defensive skills, and a lights-out jump shot, it was not long before the international basketball world took notice. From Belgium, Poland, to the Netherlands Snoop Jones established himself as one of European basketball’s best point guards. And if that is not enough, he found time in the off-season to play Slam Ball, which became an instant hit in the states. As a gunner for the Steal, which is similar to a shooting guard, Snoop went from controlling the floor to soaring high above it with the aid of the trampoline-assisted flooring used in Slam Ball. Although he may have been performing aerial acrobatics in the Slam Ball arena, Samuel stayed grounded and always returned to his roots on the basketball court. When he is not serving as the floor coach for his own team, he serves as a youth coach for an AAU basketball under the nonprofit organization Meanstreets Sports Inc. From his community involvement to his on-court persona, Snoop is quick to point out that his greatest influences come from God and his parents.

Like the great Michael Jordan, who influenced also him, Samuel Jones finally found glory in 2006 when he won his first championship with Eiffel Towers Den Bosch. From the playoffs to the final game of the championship, Samuel Jones elevated his game and showed significant improvement in all statistical categories. While many of his critics believed that he should have won MVP for the championship series, being the consummate professional, Sam found more satisfaction in the team victory. Jones has since gone on to win a second title in 2007 with Eiffel Towers Den Bosch and led his team in scoring in the fourth and decisive game with 17points and 10 assists. During his 8th season overseas as a professional, Jones suited up for Caceres 2016 C.B in the Spanish LEB-Silver League. Leading them to a final four finish, and helped promote the team to LEB-Gold. Jones completed his 9th and 10th seasons playing in Cyprus for Apollon 1954 and Keravnos respectively.

Some define a champion as a winner, a fighter, a warrior, or maybe even a hero. If you were to spend two minutes with Samuel “Snoop” Jones III, you would soon realize that he is the personification of the word champion. As he walks the path toward his own destiny he wins because he understands that he can’t do it alone. He is a fighter because he takes each lose or obstacle set before him as a learning experience. He is a warrior because he prepares himself and his team for battle each and every time he steps on the court. He is a hero because he represents the hope and dream of all the youth from the inner city playgrounds to the suburban courts that aspire to become something greater. He was born Samuel Lee Jones III, his jersey reads S. Jones, his mother calls him Sam, his peers call him Snoop, but the champion that lives within him and movement behind it can simply be stated as “Basketball Jones.”

Coaching

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Jones got the coaching bug when he started out coaching Meanstreets AAU in 2001 with best friends Tai Streets and Carlton Debose. Their first taste of success was the 2003 16-Under AAU National Championship. Jones combined playing in Europe during the season and coaching during the summer in Chicago. After retiring from basketball in 2010, Jones started coaching full time with Eiffeltowers Den Bosch. In his first season as an assistant coach, Jones together with head coach Raoul Korner went 24-12 and finished 3rd in the Dutch Basketball League. Korner and Jones were voted to coach the DBL all star game.

In the summer of 2011 Coach Jones was the top assistant to head coach Gadi Kedar of the Dutch National Team. He is now the top assistant to Toon van Helfteren of the Dutch National Team that qualified for the 2015 European Championships. This is the first time Holland has qualified for the European Championships since 1989.

Personal

Sam Jones is married to the former Khadija Akarmas. They have 3 children and currently reside in Rosmalen, The Netherlands.