Vandy's Damian Jones motivated by NBA potential

Vanderbilt sophomore center Damian Jones already has shown NBA potential.

But just in case Jones, a 6-foot-10, 248-pounder, needs to be reminded, coach Kevin Stallings offered this:

"There are some things he has to get better at, but as I explain to him, 'If I put a big pile of money over here in the corner and say if you do this, this and this, can you do that for that big pile of money?'" Stallings said. "His answer is always, 'Yeah, I can do it.' Well, then do it because that's the big pile of money waiting on you when you do it.

"Damian is not really a guy that needs to be motivated. … But just in case he needed extra motivation, I brought up the pile of money analogy, and he seemed to respond to it. So maybe he wants to make a lot of money."

For now, Jones needs to lead one of the Southeastern Conference's youngest teams as it prepares for the 2014-15 season, which tips off with a Nov. 6 exhibition game against Illinois-Springfield and a regular-season opener against Trevecca on Nov. 16.

Vanderbilt has five true freshmen who will play major minutes, including three starters in the backcourt. Jones, an SEC all-freshman team selection last season, is a prime example to the new Commodores that a rookie can make an instant impact.

"The freshmen are getting there. I see it in practice," Jones said. "I really believe they can do the same thing that I did. They have the same potential as I did when I came in."

Jones averaged 11.3 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds last season, playing all 31 games and starting 28 times. In year two, Stallings wants to see Jones hone his skills while not expanding his game too much.

"Damian needs to be our best player because he is," Stallings said. "He's a post player, but I think he is desperate for his game to expand so he looks like a guy that can shoot jump shots. We may let him shoot a few (mid-range jump shots). But I told him that the instant I thought he was trying to fall in love with that and to have that be his identity, we would turn that water faucet off and stick him back down (in the post) where he belongs."

Jones shot 54.3 percent from the field last season, ranked sixth-best in the SEC, but he spent most of his time in the paint.

"I understand what coach is saying," Jones said. "I want to do some of that (shooting jump shots), but I don't think I need to rely on it all the time. I also need to do more on the defensive side and be more of a presence rebounding."

Jones said he also gets Stallings' hints about the rewards of a professional career.

"Yeah, I understand what he's getting at when talks about that pile of money down the road," Jones said. "He wants me to be more physical, get rebounds and do the little things that can help your growth, and one day you'll get that money for all that hard work it took to get there."

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.