Freshman Wildcat Skylar Jones finds way to overcome early challenges, brings a spark off the bench

Getting a concussion at the start of her freshman season wasn’t exactly what Skylar Jones had in mind when she decided to be an Arizona Wildcat.

Still, she pushed through.

And she keeps pushing through any of the little things that might hold her back a little.

The 6-foot guard just finds a way, even though she said those first few games of the season were “rough.”

“I felt like as a freshman, it’s kind of hard getting your groove back at such a different level because everybody’s older, faster, stronger,” Jones said. “I think in the Bahamas is when I really had my little breakthrough in my game because I was finally able to make a disruption on defense but also getting my offense going. That was a good step for me and get my confidence back.”

Her teammates hope that Jones continues being a spark off the bench as Arizona (6-1) takes on UNLV (7-0) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Mountain West app and the Stadium channel and can be listened to on 1290-AM.

Jones was in the concussion protocol and sat out the two exhibition games this season. She couldn’t even be in McKale Center to cheer on her teammates because of “the light, the noise, everything,” Jones said.

She added: “It was really hard for me to not be around my teammates for practice, not being able to practice and be with them.”

In the second exhibition against Point Loma, Arizona had only five players available. Breya Cunningham was cleared to play during the matchup and subbed in the final 39 seconds after Sali Kourouma’s shoulder popped out and then back into place.

“That’s why I feel like we’re such a good, tight group because we know that even if we’re not all physically there we all have each other’s back,” Jones said. “I’m just proud that they went out there and did that with five people because that’s something really hard to do.”

Jones was cleared in time to play in the games that counted. But it wasn’t as easy as just walking back on the court and performing just as if nothing had happened. There were moments when it was clear to see what Jones could do like when she used her length to grab three rebounds, block a shot and pick a steal in the home opener against NAU. Or dishing out four assists against LMU.

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But it took a little while for Jones to feel comfortable shooting — and making those attempts.

In the 61-52 win over South Dakota at the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, Jones put up an efficient eight points (3 of 4 from the field) — all in the second quarter — including a steal and finishing on a break.

Jones didn’t play in the loss to Ole Miss the day before, and she was intentional when she got in the next game. She also got a pep talk from Arizona coach Adia Barnes.

“(I knew) the moments that I (was) out there I had to do something to make an impact so I (could) stay on the floor as much as possible. That’s really what was going through my head,” Jones said. “Then coach Adia talked to me as soon she subbed me in, ‘Just be confident, don’t overthink.’ That’s why I tried not to overthink and it worked in my favor.”

Jones is keeping this top of mind when she faces UNLV, as well as not letting her emotions get to her. Barnes said one of the top traits of a great shooter is to have amnesia. When they miss a shot, they forget about it and get right back on defense.

At times when Jones misses a shot, she becomes her own worst critic and puts her head down. It’s really not something she wants to become a habit.

“It’s kind of hard for me to set my emotions aside because I want to be great,” Jones said. “I always want to do everything perfect, but I know in basketball, that’s not going to happen. You’re not going to always shoot 100 for 100. That’s just not going to happen. That’s not realistic. Instead, when I try not to put my head down, try to do something on defense. I’m long, I’m fast, I’m quick. I can like be disruptive and make a little chaos on the court on defense. That’s my goal, if my offense isn’t going.”

It helps that Jones has a few veterans like Esmery Martinez, Isis Beh and Helena Pueyo around to keep her on track. They boost her up and tell her to keep going. And it doesn’t hurt that her freshmen class of Cunningham, Montaya Dew and Jada Williams are always there for each other. There has been a lot of support during the first few months of their collegiate careers as each one has battled an ailment — Dew (season-ending knee surgery), Cunningham (knee) and Williams (sore Achilles).

Her teammates aren’t the only ones who are reminding Jones every day why she is a Wildcat, how high her ceiling is and what she brings to the court. Barnes is also in her corner and giving her those pep talks every day.

“It makes me feel like I picked the right place to be, that somebody is so invested in me, even when I feel like I’m not at my best and at my lowest (coach Adia) is still encouraging me and that makes me feel like I really did choose the right place,” Jones said.