The Tribune

George Washington Colonials women’s basketball senior Jonquel Jones has been named Preseason All-American by Sporting News last week. In addition, the Colonials were ranked in the preseason top 25 by several publications.

Jones, who was tabbed to the Preseason All-America First Team by Sporting News, averaged 15.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per game last season. The reigning Atlantic 10 Player and Defensive Player of the Year, Jones was the only player in the conference to average a double-double in 2014-15, leading the league and ranking sixth nationally in rebounding while finishing sixth in the conference in scoring, and she posted a league-best 20 double-doubles, 10th-most in the NCAA.

A seven-time A-10 Player of the Week last season, Jones was named an All-America Honourable Mention by both the Associated Press and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and she was one of 30 midseason candidates for the prestigious Naismith Trophy, which recognises the national player of the year. In addition, she was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Atlantic 10 Championship after leading the Colonials to their first conference title since 2003.

The 6-foot-4 forward from Freeport, Bahamas, set a school record with 375 rebounds in 2014-15, and she enters her senior season needing 124 points and 295 rebounds to reach 1,000 for her career in each category.

Coming off a record-setting 2014-15 campaign, GW has been recognised nationally in a number of publications’ preseason rankings. Heading the list, Sporting News slotted the Colonials at No. 7 behind 2015 Final Four participant South Carolina, national champion Connecticut and national runner-up Notre Dame, as well as perennial powers Baylor, Ohio State and Florida State.

Elsewhere, Lindy’s ranked the Colonials 17th and Athlon Sports rated them 21st, with both publications citing GW’s impressive frontcourt.

The defending Atlantic 10 champion, GW (29-4) spent 10 weeks in the top 25 last season, and finished the year ranked 19th by the Associated Press and 25th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

The Colonials, who won a school-record 29 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008, lost just one player from that squad and return four of five starters.