Due to the current coronavirus situation and all sports being shut down, there are a lot of athletes who have had their senior seasons cut short. ENC Sports Review thought it would be nice to highlight some of these seniors as a small way to celebrate their senior year, since so much has been taken from them already. Today, we will highlight Southern Nash High School Senior AJ Jones. We thank AJ for taking the time to sit down with ENC Sports Review and answer these questions for us. We had fun learning more about him and hope you will too!
How long have you been playing sports?
I have been playing sports ever since I knew how to walk!
What teams have you been on? (This can be rec ball, middle school and high school)
I have played Nash Rec Baseball, Rocky Mount Little League, Travel Baseball, Southern Nash Middle, Showcase Ball, and Southern Nash High Ball.
Who has been your favorite coach and what did he or she teach you that you carry with you through today?
My favorite coach of all time has to be my dad, Andy. He has coached me in every league I have ever played and molded me into the player and man I am today. I wouldn’t be where I am as a player without him, for sure.
What is your favorite memory and least favorite memory of playing sports?
My favorite memory playing sports was when I called my coach at Gardner-Webb University to tell him I was going to play for him, and turning around off the phone and seeing my dad and giving him a great big hug. My least favorite memory was when I was in class and found out our season had been suspended due to Coronavirus.
What is one thing or event that if you could do over again you would change?
I don’t have many regrets, but I wish I would have begun to get serious in the weight room earlier.
Who is someone you look up to and why?
You may have guessed it, but I look up to my dad. This is because he really knows how to live like a good Christian man. He is my role model and I have always wanted to be like him when I grow up.
If you could go back 5 years and tell yourself something then that you know now what would it be?
I would tell myself 5 years ago that you do not need to compare yourself to others or worry about the opinions of others. If you get caught up in that then you will never perform to your best potential in any aspect of life.
What is something you would tell someone trying to follow in your footsteps?
I would tell someone trying to be like me to never lose the “chip” on their shoulder. Always try to prove someone wrong when you play a baseball game and never take a day off. Make people think that you are crazy for all of the work that you do to make yourself better.
If you have played your last high school game, what is something that you will remember for the rest of your life?
If I have played my last high school game, something I will always remember would be freshman year against Fike. I hit a walk-off single and it was the best moment of my life at the time. Everyone chanted “He’s a Freshman!” While we were celebrating; it was a moment that I won’t forget because I always dreamed of being a Firebird baseball player and I felt like a superstar!
Feel free to add anything that I might not have asked that people would like to know about your time playing sports or your future plans.
I would like to add that even though I will be going to Gardner–Webb University to play baseball, I am still heartbroken and the suspension of this season. All of my teammates are my brothers and I love all of my coaches to death. I do not want it to end because of how close I am with all of my friends. We have so much fun together and I am praying that I can play at least one more game with them. People may not know this about me but I am a very sentimental and emotional guy; I just want one more opportunity to play for Southern Nash.
Thank you again, AJ Jones, for taking the time to be one of our 2020 senior spotlights. We wish you well on all of your future endeavors.
Attention 2020 Seniors: If you are interested in possibly being our next spotlight, please inbox us with a picture of you (head shot or action shot, or multiple pictures), your name, school, sports/positions played and answers to some or all of the questions above.
Note: All photographs have been contributed to this post from the senior’s family.
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