Kansas State Athletics
MANHATTAN, Kan. – C.J. Jones will return to K-State for his senior season in 2025-26 after withdrawing from the transfer portal.
The East St. Louis, Ill., native was one of four players who played in all 33 games in 2024-25, earning 9 starts, after two seasons (2022-24) at UIC. He averaged 5.7 points on 40.7 percent (70-of-172) shooting, including 30.9 percent (17-of-55) from 3-point range, with 1.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.5 steals in 18.9 minutes per game as a junior.
Jones scored in double figures in 5 games in his first season as a Wildcat, including a season-high 12 points vs. Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 19 and at UCF on Feb. 26.
Jones has seen action in 95 games with 59 starts in his college career, including 62 games with 50 starts at UIC. He has scored 744 points during his college career on 39.7 percent (286-of-720) shooting from the field, including 34.6 percent (71-of-205) from 3-point range and 64.7 percent (101-of-156) from the free throw line.
Jones has 31 career double-digit scoring games, including three 20-point performances. His career-high of 25 points came against Bradley on Jan. 13, 2024, while at UIC. He led the Flames in assists (159) and minutes played (1,102) as a sophomore in 2023-24, while he was second in scoring (11.4 ppg.) and steals (1.0 spg.).
Jones is one of four players who are returning to K-State in 2025-26, joining rising juniors Mobi Ikegwuruka and Taj Manning and sophomore David Castillo.