Cameron Jones, a Former Griffin, Is a Finalist for a National Basketball Award

In the company of some of the nation’s top college basketball players, Los Alamitos High School graduate Cameron Jones is up for a national award this month, but he needs fan votes to help put him over the top.

Jones, a senior guard with Northern Arizona University, was selected from among 500 candidates to be one of the 10 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. The award is determined by a mixture of NCAA Division I coaches, members of the national media and fan votes. The winner will be announced at the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Houston, and the contest is based upon the athlete’s achievements in the community and classroom along with the player’s character and level of competition.

Jones, who played at Los Alamitos High School and graduated in 2007, has averaged 20.2 points per game this season, ranking first in the Big Sky and 20th in the NCAA, according to Steven Shaff, a Northern Arizona University spokesman. “He also ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (48.4, 10th/108th in Division I), assists (3.0, 7th), free throw percentage (80.8, 3rd/151st in Division I) and three-point field goal percentage (57.9, 1st),” added Shaff. This season he achieved a career high of 30 points in a game against Idaho State.

“I feel like I worked pretty hard for it, and it feels pretty good to be recognized,” said Jones.

Jones has earned a 3.2 GPA while majoring in history and minoring in anthropology.

“I am very proud of myself for that,” said Jones. “My parents always raised me to get good grades. My parents got mad when I got Cs in middle school. Working hard in the classroom—it pays off on the court when you have a good work ethic. I am just going to keep working hard this year, and hopefully everything turns out good.”

Jones is a weekly volunteer at an elementary school and food bank in Flagstaff, AZ.

“It is a good thing about the athletic administration here at NAU because they encourage you as soon as you get here to reach out to the community,” said Jones. “It mainly is what I have done my whole life. It is good to be in the community, and nobody wants a one-faceted athlete.”

The 2011 men’s candidate class include Devon Beitzel, guard, Northern Colorado; Dodie Dunson, guard, Bradley; Jimmer Fredette, guard, BYU; Matt Howard, forward, Butler; Cameron Jones, guard, Northern Arizona; Jon Leuer, forward, Wisconsin; David Lighty, guard, Ohio State; E’Twaun Moore, guard, Purdue; Tyrel Reed, guard, Kansas; Kyle Singler, forward, Duke.

“I hope he is as excited about this as I am,” head coach Mike Adras said in a written statement. “Just to be nominated and make the final 10 is a tremendous honor. He has had a great career. He will be recognized not only in the West but across the country.”

After graduating, Jones hopes to play in the NBA or professional basketball in Europe.

But he’ll never forget his roots.

As the Los Alamitos High School Griffins head into CIF playoffs this week, Jones offered these words of advice: “Place some D and keep that Griffins spirit alive.”

Jones’ supporters can vote at seniorCLASSaward.com.