T.J. Jones

Classroom

T.J. Jones is a business intelligence and analytics major on track to graduate in May of 2017. Jones interned with Sanofi US IT, a global healthcare leader based out of Bridgewater, N.J., that discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Jones intends to begin his career in information technology, data science and analytics following graduation.

Character

“When we started recruiting T.J. as a junior at Ridge High School, we knew he was an excellent ball-stopper. After speaking to his coaches at the time, they assured us he would develop into a leader for our team, and that has certainly occurred. As a high school senior, he led his team to the New Jersey State Championship. Arriving on Hawk Hill as a freshman, he was in a unique situation where he was the only healthy goalkeeper on the roster for the fall semester. He took it in stride, and after getting shelled each day at practice, he still stuck around to take extra shots afterward. His progression as a player has been almost as remarkable as his progression as a young man. He is a game-changing player for our defense and one of the top goalkeepers in the country. He is a mature, even-tempered and dedicated teammate.” - Head Coach Taylor Wray

Jones was voted a team captain this year.

Community

This fall, the Saint Joseph’s men’s lacrosse program participated in the University City Classic at the University of Pennsylvania, and Jones helped in SJU’s fundraising effort for this HEADstrong Foundation event as the Hawks raised $3,000 in donations in an effort to improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their families through providing essential programs and services. In Fall 2015, Jones was involved in SJU’s fundraising efforts for the first annual HEADstrong SJU Fall Scrimmage, through which the Hawks fundraised $3,000. Jones has participated in the SJU Kinney Center Autism 5k Walk/Run three times in as many years, where he and his teammates raised the most money out of all SJU varsity teams on campus in 2014 and 2015. He has also participated in the Martin Luther King Day of Service for four consecutive years (2014-17), which has involved cleaning up public trails and blocks and renovating elementary schools to benefit the local Philadelphia community.

Competition

T.J. Jones entered his senior campaign as a 2017 Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American Honorable Mention selection after posting a 12-4 overall record and ranking third nationally in both GAA (7.47) and save percentage (.579) last spring. Jones is 26-10 (14-1 NEC) and owns a 7.798 GAA and .554 save percentage over his three-year career on Hawk Hill. The 2016 NEC Defensive Player of the Year, Jones earned 2016 NEC All-Tournament Team honors after backstopping SJU to its second NEC title game in as many years last May. Jones is an 8-time career NEC Defensive PotW and was named to the 2014 NEC All-Conference Second Team and Rookie Team as a freshman.

Jones was SJU’s 2016 Most Outstanding Performer and Most Outstanding Defensive Performer and the 2014 Co-Rookie of the Year. As a junior, Jones set SJU’s program record for single-season (12) and career (26) wins.

2016 Highlights: In a full-game 12-7 win over Delaware, Jones made 14 saves, including 10 in the second half where he stifled Delaware’s offense to two goals. Following the game, Jones made nine saves and allowed just two goals in first 54:21 in a win over Hobart. Jones then had 14 saves in a 10-9 OT victory over Bryant, his final save coming with 43 seconds left and SJU down one. Jones’ save allowed SJU’s offense to regain possession and score an equalizer with 10 seconds left. Jones then made seven saves in a 9-8 OT win vs. Penn, SJU’s first W over Penn in program history.