1v1 Series: Milton Panthers' Treymar Jones takes on PNJ sports reporter Lucas Semb

As quick as I won my first game, I've also lost my first.

On Thursday afternoon from Milton High School, I squared off with newest Panther Treymar Jones in a game of 1-on-1, where he walked away victorious 21-16.

With myself once holding a 13-10 lead, Jones' elite conditioning kept him alive and propelled him to the finish line. Getting better the later the game went, the 2021 PNJ All-Area Second Team player will be a massive addition for head coach Cam Belden this winter.

Taking the unbeaten path, Jones isn't playing AAU basketball this summer, and he has yet to play public school basketball.

There's a lot that he'll have to adjust to this upcoming season, but a lot that his opponent will have to learn about him, too.

Here's more about the rising sophomore, his on-court abilities and his preparation for a whole new world of basketball this winter:

1v1 Notes

Like my game a couple weeks ago versus Gulf Breeze's Jack Banks, I needed to be able to knock down the three-point shot.

"I didn't expect you to shoot as well as you did," Jones told me. "I anticipated me winning, but not in such a close game … it was a good game."

Like he insinuated, my shot was once again tickling the twine, but I just couldn't make enough to keep up with the scoring pace of Jones.

Playing last season for L.E.A.D. Academy in Pace, the guard averaged 17.7 points per game with outbursts as large as 25 versus Calvary Christian Academy, 25 versus Central, 22 versus Jay and the school's all-time single-game record of 33 in their championship loss versus Lighthouse Baptist (Ala.).

That was on display Thursday, showing just why he's such a difficult guard. From the top down, Jones has a complete scoring package. His handles are tight and he has a quick first step. He's shifty enough that he can get to where he needs even if you cut off his initial attack.

Whether that be stepping back to the three-point line or changing direction and getting to the rim, Jones showcased the capacity to do both.

Where the 6-foot-1 guard surprised the most, though, was around the rim. Jones was able to work his way down into the paint and finish with an array of different hooks and flip shots. When I chose to bump him out of the paint, he was able to show touch on some lengthier finishes as well.

Another strength he showed was in altering his shot against strong defense and still finishing. His athleticism allows him to hang in the air for tricky finishes that lots of other players may miss.

While Jones may lack true height (for now) in the basketball community, he's just 15-years old with time to grow and developing his excellent guard skills right now could come in handy when he does hit a growth spurt.

Transferring from L.E.A.D.

Before he ever took the court with the Lions, members of the Panhandle Christian Conference, Jones knew it was just a stop along the way.

One day, he wanted to be playing public school ball. But he had to earn his way there first. After going 8-13 during his eighth grade year at L.E.A.D., Jones knew there was work to be done.

He came back the following year as a freshman, leading the program to it's best ever season at 27-2, coming up just short in the championship game where he fouled out. That 19-game swing just one season apart proved to him that it was time to take his talent to the next level.

"Our time was up at L.E.A.D.," Jones said. "It was time to come to Milton for better competition and stuff like that."

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Along with him comes his brother, Ezekal Crumpton, who averaged 11.1 points per game playing next to Jones. They join at the right time, as Milton will be looking for contributors after losing a deep senior class.

PNJ All-Area First Team guard Christian Valarezo is off to the college ranks, and also graduated is second-leading scorer Cody Faulk and dirty-work contributors Jon Barnes and Dre'Von Hollis.

Though their first summer with the Panthers has been a period of adjustment, it's been one of importance. They'll be expected to come in and produce, so becoming calibrated with the rest of their teammates is vital in the team replicating or improving upon last year's 16-12 mark.

"We're good, we're well-rounded," Jones said. "We've got good guards, some bigs that know how to fight down low and the coach (Belden) is good. Everything is falling into place and over time through the summer we've got to know each other and got better."

Paving his own path

In today's world of basketball, you play AAU or you don't matter. Jones is here to prove that that's certainly not the case.

With the hype surrounding summer travel ball growing profoundly year-by-year, more and more players believe the only way to get college attention is going this route. They see the style of play; fast break, shooting threes and an offensive focus, and think this is how you have to do it.

But the new Milton Panther hasn't bought into that yet. He focuses on getting work in, all by himself, wherever he can find a gym. Whether it's a city recreation center, a local church or the school gym, Jones finds himself on a court with his father almost every day after his normal team practice, running through drills and just working on his craft.

"I've just been in the lab daily," Jones said. "I try to get in every day. Sundays I might take a break sometimes, but other than that I'm just always trying to get in whenever I can."

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His dad can basically be seen anywhere his son goes. The two of them have been working on Treymar's game together for years, but even more this summer with the jump to Florida High School Athletic Association competition pending.

It's a step in the right direction, and one that Treymar won't back down from.

He conquered the challenge of leading a program turnaround in just one short season, and now he'll try to be that same guy on this bigger stage.

"I'm looking forward to better players because they'll make me better as a player overall," Jones said. "I hope to do the same thing here that I did in the Christian league, I don't plan on changing anything."

Lucas Semb can be reached at Lsemb@pensacol.gannett.com or 850-281-7414. Follow him on Twitter at @Lucas_Semb for stories and various Pensacola area score updates.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Milton Panthers basketball player Treymar Jones takes on PNJ reporter