LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State head men's basketball coach Paul Weir continues to build his team for the 2016-17 season, landing South Plains College transfer Marlon Jones.
 
Jones, a 6-9 sophomore, earned all-conference honors this past season after averaging 10.8 points and 5.5 rebounds for South Plains. He also shot 57-percent from the floor in Western Junior College Athletic Conference play and 81-percent from the free-throw line.
 
"Marlon is an absolutely perfect fit. His size, toughness, and motor are exactly what we need to form our new culture. I wanted to bring Chicago kids back to State and he is hopefully the start of re-engaging that pipeline.  We are excited he selected us over some tremendous programs and look forward to welcoming him into a raucous Pan American Center."
 
The Chicago, Ill., product also recorded double-figures in 14-of-24 games this past season, including a season-high 26 points and 14 rebounds on 10-of-11 shooting to go with a 6-of-7 effort from the line.
 
As a freshman, Jones helped guide SPC to the National Junior College Athletic Association Championship game and averaged 7.6 points that season.
 
Through 53 career games for the Texans, Jones started in 28 of them and averaged 9.0 points in 18.1 minutes per game to go with his .525 shooting clip.
 
Jones was a stout prep player in his own right with ESPN and 247sports.com listing him as a three-star recruit out of high school. He was also ranked the 14th top prospect in the state of Illinois according to both websites, including a No. 43 ranking in the region by the World Wide Leader in Sports.
 
As a senior at Orr High School, Jones led the Spartans to a 25-4 overall mark – the second-straight season with 20-plus wins. He also guided OHS to the semifinals in the state playoffs his junior and senior campaigns. As a junior, Jones also guided the Spartans to a league title thanks to an undefeated run in league play (8-0).