Photo by: Chuck Marvel
Keonte Jones Collects Preseason All-Big West Honors, CSUN Picked Sixth
10/15/2024 2:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Senior forward Keonte Jones was one of six selected to the 2024-25 All-Big West All-Big West Preseason Team while CSUN was picked to finish sixth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday as announced by the league office.
Originally from Madison, Wis., Jones returns to CSUN for his second season after leading the Matadors in rebounds per game (6.9), blocks per game (1.5) and steals per game (1.6) to go with averaging 11.4 points last year. Jones registered a team-best five double-doubles a season ago and scored in double figures in 19 games. His 1.5 blocks per game topped the Big West while his 50 total blocks were the fourth-best in CSUN history. Jones also ranked fourth in the Big West in field goal percentage (53.6) and rebounds per game and sixth in steals per game.
Jones helped CSUN post its first conference tournament win in 10 seasons with a 24-point performance against UC Santa Barbara in a first round game at the Big West Championship. He would average 19.5 points on 74.6 percent shooting and 9.5 rebounds in the Matadors' two conference tournament games last season.
In the 2024-25 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll, CSUN was selected to finish sixth with 57 points. The sixth-place finish in the poll is the highest for the Matadors since 2019. UC Irvine was picked to repeat as Big West regular season champions after finishing first in the poll with 92 points and eight first-place votes. UC Santa Barbara was second with 85 points and two first-place votes followed by UC San Diego in third with 77 points, UC Riverside in fourth with 75 points and one first-place vote and UC Davis in fifth with 67 points. Hawai'i (46), Long Beach State (39), Cal State Bakersfield (28), Cal State Fullerton (22) and Cal Poly (11) rounded out the poll.
Head coach Andy Newman returns for his second season leading the Matadors. In his first season at the helm, Newman guided CSUN to the fifth-best turnaround in the nation as the Matadors went from seven wins in 2022-23 to 19 wins last season. The Matadors registered their first winning season in 15 seasons while the team produced its most wins since the 2007-08 campaign. In 2024-25, CSUN returns three letterwinners and adds 15 total newcomers. Nine of the new faces are transfers with seven coming from Division I schools.
2024-25 All-Big West Men's Basketball Preseason Team
Barrington Hargress, So., G, UC Riverside
Justin Hohn, Gr., G, UC Irvine
TY Johnson, Sr., G, UC Davis
Keonte Jones, Sr., F, CSUN
Stephan Swenson, Gr., G, UC Santa Barbara
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, Sr., G/F, UC San Diego
2024-25 Big West Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UC Irvine - 92 points (8)
2. UC Santa Barbara - 85 points (2)
3. UC San Diego - 77 points
4. UC Riverside - 75 points (1)
5. UC Davis - 67 points
6. CSUN - 57 points
7. Hawai'i - 46 points
8. Long Beach State - 39 points
9. Cal State Bakersfield - 28 points
10. Cal State Fullerton - 22 points
11. Cal Poly - 11 points
() - First Place Votes
#GoMatadors
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Originally from Madison, Wis., Jones returns to CSUN for his second season after leading the Matadors in rebounds per game (6.9), blocks per game (1.5) and steals per game (1.6) to go with averaging 11.4 points last year. Jones registered a team-best five double-doubles a season ago and scored in double figures in 19 games. His 1.5 blocks per game topped the Big West while his 50 total blocks were the fourth-best in CSUN history. Jones also ranked fourth in the Big West in field goal percentage (53.6) and rebounds per game and sixth in steals per game.
Jones helped CSUN post its first conference tournament win in 10 seasons with a 24-point performance against UC Santa Barbara in a first round game at the Big West Championship. He would average 19.5 points on 74.6 percent shooting and 9.5 rebounds in the Matadors' two conference tournament games last season.
In the 2024-25 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll, CSUN was selected to finish sixth with 57 points. The sixth-place finish in the poll is the highest for the Matadors since 2019. UC Irvine was picked to repeat as Big West regular season champions after finishing first in the poll with 92 points and eight first-place votes. UC Santa Barbara was second with 85 points and two first-place votes followed by UC San Diego in third with 77 points, UC Riverside in fourth with 75 points and one first-place vote and UC Davis in fifth with 67 points. Hawai'i (46), Long Beach State (39), Cal State Bakersfield (28), Cal State Fullerton (22) and Cal Poly (11) rounded out the poll.
Head coach Andy Newman returns for his second season leading the Matadors. In his first season at the helm, Newman guided CSUN to the fifth-best turnaround in the nation as the Matadors went from seven wins in 2022-23 to 19 wins last season. The Matadors registered their first winning season in 15 seasons while the team produced its most wins since the 2007-08 campaign. In 2024-25, CSUN returns three letterwinners and adds 15 total newcomers. Nine of the new faces are transfers with seven coming from Division I schools.
2024-25 All-Big West Men's Basketball Preseason Team
Barrington Hargress, So., G, UC Riverside
Justin Hohn, Gr., G, UC Irvine
TY Johnson, Sr., G, UC Davis
Keonte Jones, Sr., F, CSUN
Stephan Swenson, Gr., G, UC Santa Barbara
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, Sr., G/F, UC San Diego
2024-25 Big West Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UC Irvine - 92 points (8)
2. UC Santa Barbara - 85 points (2)
3. UC San Diego - 77 points
4. UC Riverside - 75 points (1)
5. UC Davis - 67 points
6. CSUN - 57 points
7. Hawai'i - 46 points
8. Long Beach State - 39 points
9. Cal State Bakersfield - 28 points
10. Cal State Fullerton - 22 points
11. Cal Poly - 11 points
() - First Place Votes
#GoMatadors
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