Local Players Connect For Pirates Jordan, Jones Find Off-Season Practices Pay Off

Tyler Jordan is working the phones like a salesman who only gets paid a commission.

It’s summertime, and the Whitworth College basketball player is hunting for a pick-up game. As usual, the only way to round up the gym rats is by hitting the touch tones with authority.

Teammate Greg Jones is a definite yes. And some of the Gonzaga players are an easy sell. A little one-on-one with GU star point Matt Santangelo could only help when it comes time to go eyeball-to-eyeball with Lewis & Clark’s point guard. Jordan always is up for a challenge from last year’s West Coast Conference co-freshman player of the year.

“It was a good summer for them,” said Whitworth coach Warren Friedrichs, referring to Jordan and Jones. “Both of them kinda got ready to play for this year … going from reserve players to starters.”

Jordan and Jones, two Pirates who came out of Spokane high schools, have made the transition nicely.

Jones, a 6-foot-7 junior forward from West Valley, is averaging 5.1 rebounds and 11.8 points per game on 52 percent shooting. Just last week at Pacific Lutheran, which was ranked 19th, Jones nailed a 17-footer with 2.3 seconds left to give the unranked Pirates a valued road win.

Since then, the Pirates (8-4, 4-2 Northwest Conference) have checked in at No. 24 in the NAIA Division II Top 25. They will attempt to keep their 36-game home winning streak alive when they play host to Seattle University (3-10, 1-5) Friday and Puget Sound (4-7, 2-4) Saturday. Jordan, a Gonzaga Prep graduate with East Valley roots, offered his share of heroics in December. The 6-foot junior iced a game at Willamette on a finger-roll layup with 5.5 seconds remaining. Jordan is averaging 10.8 points per game on 52 percent shooting. He has hit 22 of 45 from 3-point range and is averaging 4.3 assists per game.

“What thrills me is when guys like that come out of local schools and then they bide their time, work hard, get stronger, come off the bench… .” Friedrichs said. “And then as juniors and seniors, those are the guys.”

Although this is the first season Jordan and Jones are playing in the same starting five, their history dates to seventh grade.

“I remembered him from the battles we had at Hoopfest,” Jordan said. “It always seemed to end in some sort of little altercation between the parents, between the players, between the people watching. “It was that East Valley-West Valley rivalry going.”

They met up again in high school and eventually played together on a summer league Basketball Congress International team.

“I always liked playing with him because he’s a really solid player and a great passer,” Jones said. “He’s great on defense, he gives you the ball when you’re open.”

And the relationship offers equal-opportunity accolades.

Said Jordan about Jones: “He’s got all-around ability. He’s able to do it from outside, inside, drive, post up, defend the little guy and defend the big guy.”

Jones, all arms and legs in high school, is having an easier time guarding bigger players since putting on 25 pounds over the summer.

Jordan and Jones also share common interests in the classroom where both are honors students. Jones is majoring in computer science with minors in math and physics. Jordan is a carrying a double major of computer science and math.

“If my daughter was old enough, I would like her to date those kind of guys,” Friedrichs said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Coming up Friday: Seattle U. at Whitworth, 8 p.m. Saturday: UPS at Whitworth, 8 p.m. Radio: KSBN 1230