MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas University Department of Athletics has proudly revealed the names of eight exceptional individuals who will be inducted into its esteemed Sports Hall of Fame as the 20th class. This selection was made by the Hall’s induction committee earlier this summer.
The official induction ceremony for the 2023 class will take place on Friday, October 6, at 6:30 p.m., held in the Grand Hall of the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center. Moreover, during the Homecoming game against Oklahoma Baptist on October 7, the new class will be introduced to the public at halftime.
Among the notable inductees in the 2023 Southern Arkansas University Sports Hall of Fame is Charles Jones, a distinguished athlete with a remarkable career in both basketball and baseball.
Jones left an indelible mark on the Muleriders Men’s Basketball teams during the 1965-66 and 1966-67 seasons. His contribution as a key player played a pivotal role in the team’s back-to-back triumphs in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference championships. Additionally, they achieved consecutive appearances in the NAIA national tournament, solidifying their status as a Hall of Fame team.
The talented Jones, hailing from Banks, Arkansas, joined the university in the 1963-64 season under the guidance of first-year head coach W.T. Watson. Though the program had faced challenges in the previous three seasons, Jones’ arrival marked a turning point. He played an essential role in the team’s resurgence, leading them to 17 victories combined over the 1963-64 and 1964-65 seasons. Notably, he was the top scorer for the squad both years, showcasing impressive averages of 13.4 points per game (ppg) over 48 games played, with a remarkable 14.2 ppg as a true freshman.
As the program continued to flourish, Jones’s final two seasons saw the Muleriders achieve unprecedented success on the basketball court. The team reached new heights by securing 20 victories in consecutive seasons for the first time in its history. Furthermore, they clinched the AIC title after 31 years, claiming the championship in the ’65-66 season. Following up with another title the next year, they also enjoyed victorious starts in both national tournament appearances.
Jones, the team’s leading scorer once again during his junior year, reached a significant milestone by surpassing 1,000 points during the national tournament’s second round. This accomplishment made him just the third Mulerider at that time to achieve such a feat. Demonstrating his prowess, Jones excelled as a scorer in his senior year, setting career highs in various categories, including made field goals, field goal attempts, field goal percentage, and total points scored. He also impressed in rebounds, securing 83 during that season, with an average of 3.0 per game.
By the time of his graduation, Jones had become the third-highest scorer in the program’s history, an achievement accomplished through four consecutive 300-point scoring seasons—a first for any Mulerider. With a total of 1,375 points, he currently ranks sixth among players in the pre-three-point-shot era and twelfth overall.
Throughout his impressive career, Jones was honored with three All-AIC awards, earning a first-team selection during his senior year. In a total of 104 games played, he maintained an average of 13.2 ppg, shooting an impressive 43.1% from the field and successfully converting over 70% of his free throws. Additionally, he accumulated 280 rebounds.
Beyond the basketball court, Jones also excelled in baseball, demonstrating his versatility as an athlete. During his sophomore year in 1965, he was recognized with All-AIC Honorable Mention accolades for his outstanding performances as a starting pitcher, playing under the guidance of the esteemed SAU Sports Hall of Famer Delwin Ross. The following season, Jones continued to shine, securing a spot on the All-AIC Second Team after leading SSC to victory in five out of 11 games.
As a Mulerider, Jones’s final year showcased his exceptional talents both on the court and the diamond, as he earned an All-AIC First Team designation in both basketball and baseball. During the 1967 senior season, he added five more wins to the team’s record and demonstrated his pitching prowess with 41 strikeouts in 55 innings of work.
With such an illustrious career spanning two sports, Charles Jones undoubtedly deserves his place among the esteemed members of the SAU Sports Hall of Fame. The university and fans alike eagerly anticipate the induction ceremony, celebrating the achievements and contributions of this exceptional athlete.
