Purdue basketball's Lance Jones gets to play in hometown, will do so with heavy heart
EVANSTON, Illinois − Lance Jones is getting everything he wanted so far out of his move to West Lafayette.
The former Southern Illinois standout is a starting guard for Purdue's No. 1-ranked basketball team.
On Friday, Jones will play in his hometown of Evanston when the Boilermakers play at Northwestern.
It's a perfect scenario.
Almost.
More: 'He's one of those guys': Braden Smith is flirting with Purdue basketball history
"I wish my dad was there to be able to see it," Jones said. "I know he'll be there in spirit, but I will have a lot of friends and family that will be there to support me."
Jones' father passed away in August, before he played his first official game as a Boilermaker.
Friday's game will be Jones' first time in the refurbished Welsh-Ryan Arena, which was upgraded in 2017.
He's come a long way since his last time playing in Evanston, for Evanston Township High.
Jones scored more than 1,500 points in four seasons at Southern Illinois.
Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter was seeking an upgrade in athleticism, someone who was an elite defender and could knock down outside shots.
With one caveat.
It had to be a high character person.
"He checks all the boxes. He is a good person who works hard. He's a team guy," Painter said. "He's competitive and so what we need, we needed more quickness, we needed someone who could knock down an open shot, we needed someone who could defend. He can do all those things so it worked for us."
Jones came to Purdue accepting of his new role.
At Southern Illinois, he was a go-to player and elite scorer.
With the Boilermakers, he's paired with a plethora of scorers.
"Coming here, I knew I wasn't going to be the guy," Jones said. "That was a sacrifice I was willing to make to be on one of the best teams in the country."
For the current best team in the country, at least according to men's basketball polls, Jones is averaging 10.3 points, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting better than 38 percent from 3.
"We definitely got the right person," Painter said. "That's where you start with. I am a big believer on getting the right people and that is what is going to win more for you."
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Big Ten opener a homecoming for Purdue's Lance Jones
