While celebratory champagne spilled out of a golden bottle, tears welled from the eyes of Rozeita Jones.
Hugs were offered.
Cheers echoed through the room.
But, while others celebrated, the mother of three reflected on every memory from the past 22 years that led to this moment. As a single parent with her children’s father absent, Jones made raising two twins, Dillon and Courtney Jones, and their older brother, Eric Washington, her life’s dedication.
There were triumphs and tribulations. In prayer, she found patience and grace.
Finally, after her son Dillon was selected 26th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2024 NBA draft — following four successful seasons at Weber State in Ogden — she knew her tears were worth waiting for.
“I wanted to raise my kids right,” Rozeita told The Salt Lake Tribune. “Once I did get them, I wanted to build a foundation for them and help them achieve that foundation, so that they will have a prosperous life and be productive citizens.”
That’s where basketball came into play.
By 6 years old, a then-lanky Dillon found love for the sport fostered by Washington, a veteran in the EuroLeague, and his mother. From dribbling the ball, to swishing shots and avoiding his mom’s relentless defense, he quickly showcased his talent in basketball.
In many ways, the sport deepened his family ties and entrenched his commitment to education and athletics. Dillon often studied Washington’s EuroLeague tape and modeled his own game after his brother’s as a youth.
Dillon’s questions for Washington, who now plays professionally in Germany, turned into impassioned conversations with time. He was, and still is, Dillon’s rock for anything ranging from basketball to difficulties in life.
At Weber State, Dillon frequently phoned his older brother to discuss his games or how to remain grounded in his process as a collegiate athlete. Even if he was 5,172 miles overseas, Washington remained committed — a promise he made to himself when Dillon was born — to supporting his little brother.
“I didn’t think what I was doing was out of the norm,” Washington told The Tribune. “I wanted to help him in anything that he could do, and it just so happened that he came out liking basketball.
“He always wanted to be around me. I had the energy to entertain it when I was young. My mom always made sure that we were paired together, and we really grew into that. My friends were his friends and his friends were my friends.”
Through his familial bonds, Dillon has discovered his purpose. In news conferences, he’s soft spoken and calm, while delivering every word with meaning. The Columbia, South Carolina, native doesn’t drink or smoke. His process is consistent and, for many, boring.
But, that’s how he likes it and wants it, following the same template laid out before him.
“I always wanted to make it to the NBA, but I didn’t want to do it for myself,” Dillon said. “I always wanted to do this for my family growing up”
That’s why, even on the draft night, Dillon sat in the corner and soaked everything in. He didn’t smile or jump on any couches. The true joy came from seeing his mom, sister and brother celebrate for him.
“Everybody was asking me, ‘Are you good?’” Dillon said. “But, in all honesty, it was the best moment for me just because I knew why I wanted to make it.
“I wanted to make it for them.”
(Godofredo A. Vásquez | AP) From left to right, Weber State forward Dillon Jones passes the ball while defended by Saint Mary's forward Mason Forbes and center Mitchell Saxen during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Moraga, Calif.
‘We did it together’
Nearly a decade ago, playing alongside fellow 12-year-olds and chasing a dream that became reality just days ago, Dillon, then nearly 6 feet, was already catching the eyes of college head coaches.
Rozeita, like always, was perched on the silver bleachers in Columbia watching Dillon dominate the competition, when she heard an unusual inquiry echo inside the gym.
“Who is that kid? Where is his mom?” the unnamed coach shouted.
After finally finding Rozeita, she broke the news to him.
“He could not believe it,” Rozeita said. “He said ‘He’s what? He’s only 12 years old?’ He was playing ball really well in that game. … We could see he was special.”
Recognizing his skill at an early age, Washington and Rozeita made it their priority to commit to Dillon’s passions. When his older brother was playing basketball, Dillon was always by his side.
When Dillon finished his homework after school, he’d shoot countless free throws at the local recreation center with Rozeita serving as his personal rebounder.
“The kids would laugh at me because I was just a straight up mom,” Rozeita said. “We did it together. From the hours that they spent in the gym or at that schoolhouse, I was right there the whole time because it was very important to let them be able to have fun but also stay out of trouble.”
Through Rozeita’s commitment and care, Dillon responded by being level-headed and committed to the process. Playing overseas and understanding what it took to be a pro basketball player, Washington quickly knew his younger brother had a chance to make it to the NBA.
When returning home from Europe, Washington guided his brother through hardcore drills and long talks about the game. At times they fought and argued. Dillon, at the time, didn’t understand what his brother was teaching him.
Washington wasn’t going to be Dillon’s cheerleader. He made sure he was Dillon’s harshest critic.
“He needed to be intentional with everything,” Washington said. “I think just putting that seed there early, even if he didn’t see it, we let him know he could make it. You’ve got to change. If you just do this, you have to do that. You can’t go crazy. You have to start to conduct yourself the right way now, right? So it’s just something that we’ve prepared for for the last seven years,”
Fast forward to his senior year, Dillon transferred from W.J. Keenan High School to Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas. There, he was afforded the opportunity to play against and with high-level players across the country after averaging 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists to lead his team to a 3A state title in his junior season in Columbia.
Alongside Dillon, 2024 NBA draftees Matas Buzelis and Bobi Klintman are also Sunrise Christian transplants. After playing one season in Wichita, Dillon ended his high school career with offers from Georgia Tech, Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State, but — in the end — he chose to enroll with Weber State head coach Eric Duft and the Wildcats.
Dillon was not highly recruited, however. His game was unorthodox and he had an incredible feel. He couldn’t shoot. Even Dillon’s 247Sports recruiting profile listed him as a zero-star recruit in the 2020 high school class.
In Ogden, Jones aimed to take his game to another level at the same school where Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard thrived.
“Dillon was probably the seventh or eighth most recruited guy on that Sunrise team,” Duft told The Tribune. “He didn’t shoot it very well. We got him as a freshman. He had about three different hitches in a shot that were not good. We just had to build it from the ground up.
“He just hung in there with us.”
(Weber State) Wildcats star Dillon Jones was named the Big Sky Conference's MVP this season after leading the league in scoring, rebounding and assists.
‘I grew up at Weber State’
When Alex Tew arrived as a freshman center from Cheshire, England, in 2021, Jones had the reputation of being a hothead.
During his freshman season in 2020, the forward rode the bench, averaged 8.2 points per game and made four 3-pointers over the course of the season. Despite the issues with his jump shot, Dillon contributed on defense and was an off-the-bench facilitator.
Still, he knew that there was untapped potential. In practices, he would shake his head or lose his temper. Dillon even stormed out of several team meetings due to frustration.
“I heard stories about him and his freshman year, before I got here, that he was really grumpy and couldn’t really control his temper,” Tew said. “He was getting annoyed all the time, that sort of thing.
He used to struggle with being happy playing basketball, like he didn’t really like it. He was just very negative in practice. But because he was one of our better players, if it wasn’t to his standard coach would let him know.”
To Tew and the team’s surprise, Dillon’s demeanor changed rapidly during his sophomore season. He started smiling more. He was leading the team in workouts. He and Tew, as roommates, would go bowling, play NBA 2K and talk about life.
In those times, Dillon leaned on his brother most. Like their childhood, the Weber State forward called his brother every day, with his phone glued to his ear. In the summer, the pair would sit across from Duft’s desk chopping it up over Dillon’s strengths and weaknesses.
But when the time came, Washington had to be real with his brother about his attitude.
“I basically let him know he was tougher than the moment,” Washington said. “When tough times come it’s a good opportunity to see how strong you are and see what you can get better at.”
As the years went on, Jones’ game improved dramatically and his commitment to Duft and Weber State thickened. It was more than a regular college program — it was his second family.
Jones started spending hours inside his college apartment studying The Last Dance, a docuseries detailing Michael Jordan’s final NBA title run in 1998 with the Chicago Bulls, and lifting weights in the gym. When Lillard would visit his former campus, Jones sat in the bleachers and soaked up his advice.
“I grew up at Weber State,” Dillon said. “I literally grew up and was able to learn those things about myself and uncovered the real truth behind things that made me angry.”
Toward the end of his career with the Wildcats, Jones filled Dee Events Center with NBA scouts in awe with his unorthodox skills as a playmaking forward. When the Wildcats traveled to Tulsa to face Oral Roberts the last two seasons, Thunder general manager Sam Presti was in attendance.
During his junior season, Presti was so enamored with Jones that he promised to draft him with the Thunder’s second-round draft pick, if he was available in 2023. In the college ranks, Jones’ phone was blowing up with NIL offers from Power 4 programs across the country before his senior year.
There was no concern in Duft’s mind that he’d lose Jones to another school. Jones was committed to the program. He was committed to their process and like his brother and mother are to him, he was committed to his newfound family on the Wildcats.
As for entering the 2023 NBA draft?
Dillon decided to bet on himself, and it certainly paid off.
In his final season, he averaged a team-high 20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game and ultimately achieved his goal of being a first-rounder.
When Duft reflects on Dillon’s decision to return, he remembers Washington flying into Utah and breaking the news to Weber State’s head coach in his office last spring.
“Hey, man,” Washington said, as Duft’s fists tightened in preparation for bad news, “Dillon won’t be leaving. He won’t be transferring. We don’t chase money here. We chase relationships. We chase guys about him. He needs to be here. He won’t be leaving.”
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Dillon Jones (3) goes to the basket as Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) defends during the first half of an NBA summer league basketball game Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
‘Never seen tears of joy before’
Duft, Tew and the Wildcats huddled around a TV in a local sports bar in Ogden as they watched 25 names flash across the screen during the first round of the 2024 NBA draft.
There was no timetable for when Jones was going to get drafted, but Duft had his phone out in preparation. Once his name was called with the 26th pick, mayhem broke out in the restaurant, as Duft cheered and other players high-fived each other.
Moments after the pick was announced, Duft’s phone buzzed from a 405 area code.
“Hey, you told us last year he wanted to go back to school and get in the first round,” Presti told Duft on the phone. “We’re ready to make that happen.”
Over 2,000 miles away in New York City, Dillon and Washington were going through a range of emotions.
He watched his mother struggle to take care of three kids without a father. Dillon navigated through his own anger during his freshman year. He’s dealt with the pressures of being a first-round prospect.
When Jones’ name was called, Washington broke down.
“He let the emotions go for everybody in the room,” Dillon said “It was like the craziest thing ever.
“That was the satisfaction for me. I’ve never seen tears of joy before.”
Now, as Dillon navigates the new waters of the NBA, he’s already left his mark in the 2024 NBA Summer League in Salt Lake City, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists in his second game.
He even made headlines after he splashed a deep 3-pointer in the face of Brice Sensabaugh after he clapped in his face on defense.
“I don’t want to say I don’t know why he was clapping, but I guess he thought that he was playing good defense or something,” Dillon said after the game. “I’m not even a trash talker, honestly.
“It was just the moment.”
As Dillon looks to make his mark in the NBA, his family — both at Weber State and at home — will be at his side.
“I’m sure there will be some ups and downs,” Washington said. “He’s just got to keep the main thing the main thing.”
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