Tang Signs Transfer Max Jones
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang has strengthened his backcourt for the 2024-25 season by signing transfer guard Max Jones (Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater/University of Tampa/Cal State Fullerton) to a Financial Aid Agreement on Friday, May 10.
Jones, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard, brings extensive experience to K-State, having played two seasons at Division II University of Tampa (2020-22) in Florida and two seasons at Cal State Fullerton (2022-24). Throughout his career, he has accumulated nearly 1,400 points in 84 games, with 81 starts. He boasts a 43.2% field goal percentage, a 36.3% three-point percentage, and a 79.9% free throw percentage. Jones has achieved 26 20-point games and six 30-point games, with a career-high of 39 points against Florida Tech on March 16, 2021, while at Tampa.
“It’s always a great day to be a Wildcat, and we’re excited to welcome Max and his family to K-State,” said head coach Jerome Tang. “Max is a proven and versatile shot-maker. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and is always in attack mode on both ends of the floor.”
At Tampa, Jones was the 2021 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Freshman of the Year, a two-time First Team All-Sunshine State Conference selection (2021, 2022), and a 2022 D2CCA All-Region Team member. He averaged 22.1 points per game on 45.4% shooting despite playing just 28 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At Cal State Fullerton, he earned All-Big West Honorable Mention as a sophomore in 2022-23, finishing second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg), assists (2.2 apg), steals (0.9 spg), and minutes (31.9 mpg), contributing to a 20-win season and a Big West Championship game appearance.
In the most recent season, Jones increased his scoring average to 15.3 points per game on 38.3% shooting, including 38.5% from three-point range, while playing in 24 games with 21 starts. He ranked 11th in the Big West in scoring and posted six 20-point games, including a season-best 30 points against Nebraska on November 26, 2023, featuring five three-pointers. He also ranked third in the conference in steals (1.7 spg), recording at least three steals in six games.
Over his two seasons at Cal State Fullerton, Jones averaged 13.7 points on 41.5% shooting, 39% from three-point range, and 78.6% from the free throw line, along with 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in 56 games with 53 starts. He scored in double figures in 40 of his 56 career games.
Jones began his college career at Division II Tampa, where he played seven games as a freshman during the COVID-19-impacted 2020-21 season. Despite limited play, he averaged over 20 points per game each season, with 18 games of 20 or more points and five games with 30 or more points. He scored 20 or more points in five of his seven games during the 2020-21 season, including a career-high 39 points in the season finale against Florida Tech. He was named the 2021 SSC Freshman of the Year and earned First Team All-SSC and All-Newcomer Team honors.
In his first full season at Tampa in 2021-22, Jones led the team with 21.9 points per game on 44.5% shooting, adding 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He scored in double figures in 19 of his 21 games, with 15 games of at least 20 points and four 30-point efforts. He earned a spot on the D2CCA All-Region Team and repeated as a First Team All-SSC selection. He was also twice named the Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Week and the D2SIDA National Player of the Week after consecutive 30-point games.
A native of Clearwater, Fla., Jones scored over 1,000 points during his career at Clearwater High School, where he was named the Male Athlete of the Year as a senior in 2020. He was also selected as the Pinellas County Athletic Conference (PCAC) Player of the Year and a PCAC and Florida All-Star.
Jones is the sixth player to sign with the Wildcats for the 2024-25 season, joining five Division I transfers and top-50 high school prospect David Castillo. K-State concluded the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 record, tied for ninth in the Big 12, and advanced to the NIT, achieving four victories over Top 25 teams, including three in the Top 10. The team has won 45 games under head coach Jerome Tang, with consecutive postseason appearances.
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