Lutley who played in 2 Final Fours lost to Wheeler in the state quarterfinals this year as she transferred from Pensacola to American Heritage. Wheeler only shot 11 for 33 at the state tournament with 31 total points. Jones scored 43 points in two games and shot 15 for 29 from the field.
According to the CBS affiliate in Orlando, Fl (WKMG Local 6), 5’10’’ senior guard, Ashley Jones has received the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year Award. Jones led Lake Howell High School to a 29-2 record this season and the Class 5A Championship. Jones is only the second player since the inception of the award to win it from Seminole County (Nikki Washington won it for Sanford Seminole in 1993). Jones is the first player from Florida to win the award and go to the SEC since Vanessa Randall (now Hayden) went from Boone High School to the University of Florida in 2000.
Jones committed to Mississippi State after being overlooked by nearly every major Division I school in the state of Florida. “As for the schools in Florida, I do not have any hard feelings, they did not think I was good enough, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.” Even more disappointing was that Jones was not even nominated for the McDonald’s All American game in the state of Florida. Jones beat out McDonald’s All American game participant Erica Wheeler for the Gatorade Player of the Year Award.
After losing two early season games minus Jones, Lake Howell rallied to win 28 straight games beating perennial powers Winter Haven, Nova, and Bishop Moore in the process. Jones scored 31 points in the state semi-finals against Pensacola Pine Forest. In the regional semi-finals Jones scored 28 points and added 15 assists. Full Court is the only media outlet to have Jones ranked in the top 100 nationally. 2009 was the first basketball state championship for Lake Howell High School, but the second for Jones who won one at Orlando Christian Prep her eighth grade season where she was a member of the varsity team.
Jones also was a member of the Tennessee Flight travel team which won the 2008 Nike National Championship. “Playing for the Flight opened numerous doors for me that would have never been opened. Playing for the Flight was one of the smartest decisions I ever made.” "Ashley worked as hard as anyone we have had in the Flight program. I felt like a lot of schools overlooked her but know she had the fire inside to be a great player at the next level. Ashley was a difference maker for the Flight last summer and a key member of our Nike National Championship." said Tom Insell Director of the Tennessee Flight.
While Jones is the 2009 winner of the Gatorade award she follows similar foot steps as the 2008 winner in Tiffany Hayes who is now a starter at the University of Connecticut. Hayes was the Nike National Championship the year prior to her senior year and won a state championship in Class 5A. Only time will tell if Jones can replicate that success at the next level.