Over the latest three-game stretch, Skylar Jones has been one steady Wildcat.
She’s come off the bench to lift her team and each time it’s just what was needed.
Against Cincinnati, it was in the second half where she scored 16 points in 17 minutes to lead the Wildcats to a 10-point win.
Against then-No. 16 West Virginia, it was in the second quarter where she contributed nine points, a steal and pulled down a key defensive rebound. She also slowed down one of the best players in the country, JJ Quinerly, on the defensive end.
Arizona guard Skylar Jones (4) slaps the ball out of the hands of West Virginia guard Sydney Shaw (5) in the first half of their Big 12 game in Tucson on Jan. 25, 2025.
Against Utah, Jones came into a difficult third-quarter situation when the Wildcats were down by 18 points and did a little of everything, starting with getting stops on defense, assists and scoring, to help get back into contention.
If you would have looked at Jones towards the end of her freshman year, in the offseason or maybe even in spurts this season, all this would have been expected. The 6-foot guard from Chicago used her length on defense to disrupt — collecting 40 steals last season — and was exciting on offense, slashing to the hoop.
She never took a day off in the offseason, working to improve her game. She added muscle and now the lefty is even harder to scout as she can use her right hand with ease.
But it wasn’t easy for Jones to get into a steady rhythm this season.
Jones said the difference now is “just letting the game come to me and not forcing shots. When I don’t force shots and just let the game come to me, I am very efficient when it comes to scoring.
“I’m not over stressing myself out about it. It’s really just going into the game not worrying about offense. I feel like that’s what I’ve gotten better at and trying to do more than just score — get a rebound or get steals or assists or something like that. Contributing in something other than scoring. If I’m so focused on scoring and I don’t, that’s where I get frustrated because I want to score for my team — to help us win. But when I don’t do that, I feel like I am failing the team and it’s frustrating. Now, it’s trying to do other things, knowing I can contribute in other ways.”
Arizona (14-9, 5-5) hopes that Jones keeps letting the game come to her as it faces Colorado (15-6, 6-4) on Wednesday in Boulder.
Arizona guard Skylar Jones (4) celebrates her long-range bucket against Cincinnati in Tucson on Jan. 22, 2025.
Jones has been extremely efficient over the last few games, going 17 for 25 from the field and knocking down four 3s in seven attempts. She’s also 5 of 6 from the free-throw line.
She’s also been doing all the other things to contribute with four steals, 10 rebounds and five assists.
It’s not just the numbers, however, it’s the moments when they occur that have really been game changers.
For example, against Utah, Arizona coach Adia Barnes called a timeout with 7:08 left in the third quarter after the Utes had taken an 18-point lead. She told her team to get stops and put in Jones, as a defensive sub.
Just look at her performance in the first few minutes she stepped on the court: an assist on Jada Williams’ 3-pointer, a steal and an assist on Breya Cunningham’s layup, a layup, and a defensive rebound. When she was subbed out at the 4:48 mark, the Wildcats’ deficit had been cut in half, to just nine points.
The Wildcats would go on to complete a 22-point swing to take the lead in the fourth quarter, before fatigue set in leading to fouls and Utah overtaking them for the win.
Regaining her steadiness
Jones’ newfound confidence and steadiness on the court coincides with finding that off the court, as well. Her biggest obstacle this season has come on the mental side of things, which is bigger than basketball. Although, it’s found its way on the court as she’s been visibly frustrated and hanging her head. This impacted her play, and she has been in and out of the starting lineup.
Jones is in a much “better space” over the last few weeks.
As she was warming up for practice on Monday, riding a stationary bike and a bit congested, she was smiling, joking and speaking candidly about what she’s been going through.
“I was struggling and it was really hard for me,” Jones said. “I was struggling wanting to come to practice or even wanting to look at a basketball. I’m glad I was able to shake out of that mental space because you could tell when I was going through something. I just looked like I didn’t really want to be here and it was apparent to everybody. I knew I wanted to be here, I was just going through a hard time in my life at that period, so I just had to pray. I was talking to my coaches, because they could tell something was off. I talked to them, we got a better understanding and things have just been better from there.
“It’s hard doing something that you really aren’t in the mood to do when you’re in a hard place. It’s hard because you have to do this. I have to come to practice. I have to be there for my teammates. And that’s why I didn’t want to be selfish, and that’s why I really turned things around, because I didn’t want to be draining to my team, because I know they need me and I need them.”
Arizona head coach Adia Barnes has a last-second chat with guard Skylar Jones before the start of the third quarter against CSU Bakersfield in Tucson, Dec. 10, 2024.
Jones said it was Barnes who really helped her through this difficult time. While Jones’s body language shows that she wasn’t in a good space, she isn’t someone who talks about her emotions. Her coach was helping her get back on track for life, then basketball.
“I talked to her and was expressing how I was frustrated,” Jones said. “I know I was struggling when I started and was in my thoughts about it. Even when I did good at UCF (17 points, three assists), I was still in my feelings about it. I realized it’s not about starting. It’s not that important. There’s 40 minutes in the basketball game. It’s not that serious.
“I knew (Barnes) was doing it for a bigger picture than I know right now because I’m still young. I’m 19, like I’m a child. I don’t know the bigger picture and she does. Just trusting the process is what I’m trying to do and being in better spirits.”
For Jones, the tactics she’s using now seem to be working. However, it’s a constant battle, as “things get hard but I’m learning how to understand how to cope with it.”
“I’m learning different strategies when things get hard to keep me lifted up high and not go back to a dark place or a sad place.”
