Sharese Jones Ends Successful Career on a High Note

Francis Howell Central senior Sharese Jones chose to specialize in basketball during her four year career as a Spartan.  

And her decision has paid off in spades. 

Jones, a guard and forward, started her varsity career as a freshman and earned all-conference honors her sophomore, junior, and senior years. In the 2011-2012 season she was one of the top scorers in the St. Louis area, as she averaged 20.4 points per game and finished the season with 613 points.

Recently she was named the fan's choice for .

Howell Central finished the season with a 20-10 mark. 

“We progressed as the season went along,” Jones said. “We came out strong, struggled in the middle, and picked it back up in the end.” 

Central strung together a successful post-season success story this year with an elite eight appearance. Howell Central’s season came to an end on March 3 . While prep sports heroics stretch out over the course of a season, a good season is often built in the off-season. 

“I worked really hard over the summer in AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) basketball,” Jones said. “AAU basketball really helps you out with high school basketball. You’re getting in shape and competing. So, when you come to high school you have the competitive edge.” 

Central coach Brian Ricker coached both Jones and her sister Shakara Jones, who played at the University of Missouri. 

“They’re very similar kids in that they’re easy to coach,” Ricker said. “They both wanted to get better. But they were different types of players. She’s (Sharese) is more of a guard and a ball handler and her sister (Shakara) was more of an inside force. Basketball runs in the family. Her sister is playing professionally in Greece right now. They’re both quality kids.”  

Jones admits starting her varsity career as a freshman was intimidating at times, but her teammates helped smooth over the ride. 

“With the girls support, you catch on pretty quick,” she said. “You learn that it’s intense on the higher levels. So you have to come out ready in every game.” 

The all-conference basketball player credits Central guards Jazmine Davis, Katy Gerler, and Torrey Wilson with distributing the ball well. 

“I would say that are guards are very quick,” Jones said when asked about her scoring success. 

The senior started playing basketball on a team coached by her dad in kindergarten. She started playing select basketball in sixth grade and has continued to play select to this day. She’ll continue her career next year at Missouri Southern State University, a Division II school in Joplin. 

“I want to come in and help the senior girls out,” Jones said on next year. “Hopefully, they’ll get the last fill going around and hopefully get a championship.”