Russell Jones Jr. Heads to Europe to Play for Neuchatel
SWITZERLAND – Russell Jones Jr. closed out his college career last March on a mildly sour note, but now he’s awaiting an August flight to Switzerland, where he will suit up for Union Neuchatel Basket in the Swiss Basketball League.
“It’s just a blessing to be able to go to Europe and play basketball and experiencing different worlds and different cultures,” Jones said. “There’s going to be bumps in the road but that’s to be expected anywhere.”
Signing the contract in early July to play for Neuchatel in the 10-team league is a big move for Jones, but it sets him up for an even bigger move, a pathway to the 18-team Euroleague, the equivalent of the NBA.
“That’s three or four years away for me,” he said. “You’ve got the rookie leagues all over Europe, where I’m going to build my career up and progress and ultimately get to the Euro League.”
Jones signing with Union Neuchatel prompted a note on the EuroBasket website released July 24 calling Jones “Able to shoot from anywhere on the court and is very quick with the ball, with a good basketball IQ and good playmaking abilities.”
Jones built his basketball knowledge in years of work on and off the court, completed when Western Carolina finished 22-10 in the 2023-2024 season, but fell in overtime to Furman in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament March 9. The Catamounts had beaten the Paladins 85-77 10 days prior.
Losing the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament hurt the former Westwood High standout, but he said he had a great run at Western Carolina as well as at Winthrop, where he played his first three years.
“This year I felt like we had the team to win it (the conference title), and we had a great year,” said Jones, who averaged 12.6 points per game and 20.8 minutes per game in 31 games. “But it wasn’t meant to be. In college ball it doesn’t always bounce our way. I wasn’t content with that, but I was happy with what we did at Western. Western Carolina hasn’t had that type of buzz in 20 years. Just to have that community come out and support the team made it a great atmosphere.”
With the season over, head coach Justin Gray took a bigger and better job at Coastal Carolina. Jones— as well as teammate and friend, Blythewood High graduate Tre’ Jackson, who averaged 13.6 points and 32.8 minutes per game— were done with their college commitment, and were looking to Europe to play professionally.
Jones stayed in basketball shape over the lull, working out with friends, former teammates, and professional ballers in Columbia. After his agent and Coach Gray helped him through the process of playing overseas, he signed the contract that will have him in Neuchatel Sept. 1 and preparing for a six-month season that tips off and October and carries on through April.
Jones talked highly of Coach Gray’s influence on his career and in his decision to play ball in Europe. Gray was an assistant at Winthrop when Jones first played college basketball, and left to take the head coaching job at Western Carolina in 2021. Jones followed him to Cullowhee after the 2021- 2022 season at Winthrop.
“He played 15 years overseas and played in 10 different countries, he was a big part of the process,” Jones said. “Ever since my freshman year at Winthrop he’s been giving players all the advice he could give. He knows the ins and outs of overseas basketball and all the guys were big on helping each other.”
Jackson, who signed with Miasto Szkla Krozno in Poland’s 1 Liga league in July, will also have a career in Europe.
“He just had a showcase down in Vegas, and everything is going well for him,” Jones said about Jackson. “He’ll keep his head down and work. He works hard, is very smart and intelligent and intentional with the things he does. The two years we had at Western extended our brotherhood and we understand each other more.”
Jones understands where he is, at the beginning of realizing his dreams.
“This has been a longtime goal of mine,” Jones said. “Since I was a young kid I’ve wanted to be a professional basketball player.”