Paul Coro

azcentral sports

Derrick Jones Jr. does not dwell on the Kentucky scholarship offer that was pulled back in 2014, a Nevada-Las Vegas career shockingly shuttered in February before the season finale or a night of going undrafted in June.

He relishes where he is, even as the unnoticed teenager on a Suns team with three other buzzworthy teens.

Jones, 19, has no NBA guarantee but he has a smile that will not stop because Phoenix gave him a chance. His athleticism and effort are making it last longer into the preseason, where he is the only player among 16 to not be a returnee or on a guaranteed deal.

“I like where I’m standing right now,” Jones said.

Jones could be bitter but he opts to be better.

RELATED: Rookie Marquese Chriss comfortable with preseason impact

The Suns might have landed a 2017 first-round pick early, considering what Jones had begun to do at UNLV and how his 6-foot-7, 190-pound frame stretches for 7 feet of wingspan to complement a 45-inch vertical leap.

“He’s the most athletic player on our team and that says a lot with Marquese Chriss sitting right here,” Suns coach Earl Watson said. “He has the potential to be a defender, 3-point shooter and play above the rim. But he has to get NBA reps and get a NBA work ethic.”

He appears to be an ideal D-League prospect for the Suns’ new affiliate in Prescott Valley but his appearance in Friday's game at Portland showed he is getting more consideration.

“I feel as though I should be in the NBA right now but I know my body needs to develop a lot more and my game needs to develop,” Jones said. “I’ve got to get the game to be slower. I feel like the game is going a mile a minute. The more I play and the more reps I get, the game is going to become slower and I’m going to play a lot smoother.”

MORE: Booker flashing 'unique' scoring ability

Jones’ fast-tracked path was not his plan. He was touted as a Chester, Pa., prepster and won national dunk contests. He was ESPN’s No. 26 prospect and improved greatly during his freshman season at UNLV, where he posted 25-point, seven-rebound and 23-point, nine-rebound performances in his final two games.

At a practice readying for the season finale, the UNLV coaches called him to the office. His teammates bellowed like he had been sent to the principal’s office.

It ceased being funny inside the office. His coaches, athletic director, a compliance director and a school official were gathered to tell him that he had been ruled ineligible because his lone ACT score was at a Baltimore facility under investigation for nine months.

“That just killed me on the inside,” Jones said. “That’s one thing I don’t want someone to do – take basketball away from me.

“I didn’t cheat. I didn’t do anything wrong. I went down there to see if I was going to prep a year. I found out they had an ACT site there. I might as well take the test and see how well I do. If I didn’t pass, I was going to prep a year. I got the 27 on the ACT. Everything was downhill ever since.”

RELATED: Tucker eyes return, focuses on Suns playoff bid

Jones' score was flagged and then cleared before the season. In 30 games, he averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals in 21.5 minutes per game with 59 percent shooting.

He could have used another college year but now is on a team with five Suns teammates who spent one year in college and one who came directly out of high school.

“From college to now, I feel as though I’m 10 times, 20 times a better player,” Jones said. “I’ve matured a lot on the court. In college, I let little things like a missed shot or a bad play on defense get to me. You can’t take plays off.”

Jones played the final six minutes of Friday's preseason game at Portland, getting fouled on a backdoor alley-oop on his first offensive play. He drew a foul again on his last play when he drove from the corner to the rim to try to slam on Noah Vonleh. In between, he nearly flushed a follow over Vonleh.

MORE: Bender, an old pro at 18, knows the grind

Jones likes to dunk but he realizes defense can be an NBA ticket for him and his family. He wants to support his son and parents. His mother was laid off as a nurse and his father’s duct work jobs are on and off.

“They deserve the big house on a hill, living lavish so my mom, dad and grandma don’t have to work,” Jones said. “Nothing in my life has been given to me. I’m going to keep working until I have what I need.

“I know I’m going to play a lot in the D-League. I know my body and game needs to develop so that’s where I’ve got to go. I’m going to take the best path to be great at what I do.”

Reach Paul Coro at paul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him attwitter.com/paulcoro.

Wednesday’s game

Suns at Jazz

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City.

TV/radio: none/KTAR-FM (98.7).