Thursday early evening the Aztecs secured the largest missing piece to their 2024-2025 puzzle of a basketball roster. It’s a piece they’ve been trying to hold down since 2018.
“I was pretty aware of SDSU back when I came out of high school actually.” says Jared Coleman-Jones, the Super-Senior big man transfer out of Middle Tennessee State.
The 6’10” 245 lb Coleman-Jones spoke with the Sons of Montezuma Podcast via YouTube Live fresh off of his return flight landing back to his home in Atlanta, Georgia. Affectionally known as JCJ, he had spent the previous 24-plus hours in San Diego on his official recruiting visit.
Jared’s awareness of SDSU came in the form of older brother Darius Jones, who played football at San Diego State back in 2008-2009. From his words, “It’s one of the best places he’s been in his life—he calls it home.”
“That was a big thing for me too, I really trust in his judgement. He’s never steered me wrong—he’s never put me in a place that would hurt me.”
Coleman-Jones who started his collegiate career at Northwestern, played one year there before making the transfer to Middle Tennessee. What makes Coleman-Jones an intriguing addition to the front court for the Aztecs is his obvious size, rebounding on the block, but also his ability to knock down the occasional 3-point shot which he shot at .442 (19-for-43) this season.
Having guard skills and a body that can get physical down in the post is something Aztec Nation became very familiar with in the play of All-American Jaedon LeDee. Coleman-Jones will be expected to aim for a very similar role to fill, as told to him by the staff.
“Jaedon is an amazing player and I watched a lot of his film. His mid post work, I was really impressed with. The way he could break it down, and take 2-3 dribbles and get to the paint—or shoot a jump shot. They made the comparison for sure and I think it’s one of the big reasons they recruited me.”
There’s only one Jaedon LeDee to have walked the halls of Montezuma Mesa, and Jared acknowledges this. But the similarities between the two players offensive versatility were enough that Aztecs coaches could not ignore.
“They really talked about me stretching the floor. They’re excited that I can shoot the ball and not to toot my own horn but, I can really shoot the ball. I can really shoot it.” Jared admits with cool confidence.
“They want me to be able to play inside and build up my aggression & physicality … as well as pairing it with my outside shooting.” JCJ explains about Coach Dutcher’s plans for him. “He wants me to play the 5 (center position) to really expose that mismatch.”
So what’s to be said for Coleman-Jones? Will he live up to the All-American LeDee’s stat line this season? Likely not and that was not the headline pitch given to him during his recruitment trip.
Defense.
“That was the biggest pitch. Like we’re going to play defense. Offense is okay—you’re going to get your shots—but we’re going to get it back on defense. I really liked that because it was a consistent message. It was a consistent message on what they were preaching.”
The son of a former NFL player and older big brother football player at a higher level, the defensive minded toughness isn’t lost on JCJ. For a San Diego State program which is used to ranking Top-25 in defensive efficiency annually, last season’s 35th place felt almost uncharacteristic.
Though admittedly the defensive side of the ball will need to have work put into that aspect of his game, it’s a visible fuel that takes him back to his early days when he was first constructing his style of game.
“As a younger player I relied on my defense a lot, because I wasn’t that skilled. Talking with the coaches I’m really excited to round my game out a lot more.“
“To pair the defensive culture at San Diego State to my game, I can only imagine how I can help this program get back to a deep tournament run.”
-Jared Coleman-Jones
The family ties to the University, the winning culture, the coaches unified & consistent message—all are factors Jared says played a pivotal role in his commitment to the Aztecs basketball program.
But it was also the way that head coach Brian Dutcher & staff proved how their words aligned with their actions.
“So today I’m texting coach Dutcher and you know where you put the number into the text message … well I already have messages with his number—I’ve communicated with his number before.” Jared says with a smile, as he recounts the recruiting advances from a first year head coach Brian Dutcher.
“Coach was talking to me about the food out in San Diego and getting me out there. And I realized, oh my goodness. Out of high school we were talking to San Diego State. So you know it was a real full circle moment for me.”
Scheduled to visit Georgia Tech, and reportedly South Carolina, and Louisville this weekend—His brief stay in America’s Finest City and everything he heard and saw, was enough to cancel all other remaining trips.
“It just reinforces the fact that I’m really wanted here—they really want to help me become a better player and they’ve been on that since 2018.”
Jared Coleman-Jones full interview with the Sons of Montezuma Podcast can be watched or listened to here. And for more exclusive content be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel as we document all the latest news & information in SDSU sports.
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