Back to the Arkansas Razorbacks Newsfeed

'Pork Chop' to the SEC's best: Jones' transformation a true success story

FAYETTEVILLE — Adam Donyes' first impression of Mason Jones was that he didn't look like a basketball player.

In all honesty, Donyes, head basketball coach at Link Year Prep, thought Jones had spent too much time eating Twinkies prior to arriving on the campus, which sits on the bluffs overlooking Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Mo.

He was out of shape, and 15-20 pounds overweight, that one visiting college coach even nicknamed him "Pork Chop."

Jones, named The Associated Press Co-SEC Player of the Year on Tuesday, was also fighting through some knucklehead tendencies at the time.