Syracuse men’s basketball: Orange contacts CSUN transfer Keonte Jones

A forward who does a bit of everything

Syracuse Orange men’s basketball has contacted CSUN transfer Keonte Jones, according to a report by College Basketball Content on Twitter.

Jones, a 6’ 6” forward, averaged 13.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game for the Matadors this season, shooting 50.6% from the field, and making 13 of his 34 three-point attempts. The only other players in the country who averaged those numbers were UAB’s Yaxel Lendeborg and Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Doctor Bradley. He finished third on the team in scoring, but tops in assists, rebounds, steals, and blocks, and shot a solid 59% at the rim.

CSUN plays at a very fast pace under former Division II head coach Andy Newman, but unlike many teams whose offense is based around pace, the Matadors don’t take many outside shots. It’s all about getting to the rim as quickly and as often as possible, something Jones helped with a ton.

67% of Jones’ field goal attempts this season came at the rim, a frequency rate that ranks in the 82nd percentile, but he wasn’t just catching balls in the paint and going up. He was one of the top options to drive to the basket for CSUN, and created plenty of opportunities in transition with his steals and blocks. He ranked in the 74th percentile in efficiency on ball screen possessions, including passes, which is a credit to his playmaking ability.

Jones ranked in the top 10 in the Big West in offensive rebounding rate, defensive rebounding rate, assist rate, steal rate, and block rate, a rare combination of skills.

Many other high-major schools have also reached out to the Madison, Wis. native, including Michigan, West Virginia, Iowa, and USC. Jones started his career at Mineral Area Junior College where he was an All-American, so he’d have a 5th year of eligibility in 2025-26.