At the age of three, Jones began playing basketball in a local park. She loved the game, and would have to be literally dragged, "kicking and screaming and crying" when time to go home. She began playing AAU ball at the age of eleven, but she was playing neighborhood ball before then. She tried to interest the girls in playing, but couldn't convince them, so she played basketball with the boys. By the age of twelve, she reached her adult height, so she was taller than most of her teammates, boys and girls. Her shoe matched her age for a time, until she peaked out at size 13.