He receives the inbounds pass and dribbles up the court, motioning to teammates and calling out the play. Point guard Johnathon Jones can practically do this stuff in his sleep.

For fans of Golden Grizzlies basketball, this has been an all too familiar sight at the O’Rena for the last four years.

Since coming to Oakland University from Okemos High School four seasons ago, Jones has been a constant for head coach Greg Kampe’s basketball program, starting every single game of his career — 124 games and counting, a school record.

That’s 4,461 minutes of game action, always as the leader on the floor and the so-called “quarterback” of the offense.

“He’s kind of our Peyton Manning,” Kampe said.

Jones is a multi-dimensional player with the ability to shoot, score and defend, but his calling card has unquestionably been his passing and his ability to set up his teammates.

“Johnathon knows what I want and why I want it. He has the freedom to call out plays and really do anything he wants out there,” Kampe said. “We collaborate and we talk a lot, but basically when the game starts, it’s his show.”

Earlier this season, Jones became the Summit League’s all-time leader in assists in a game against Central Arkansas on Nov. 28.

The soft-spoken Jones is humbled by the numerous school and conference records he’s broken this season and is sure to thank his teammates for their part in the record.

“I think the assist record stands out because a lot of people think it’s just an individual award but it’s also one of the best team awards,” he said. “Even though I get the assists, it’s the other players who are knocking down the shots, so I do think that it’s a big achievement.”

As for his school records for games and minutes played, Jones views these as a testament to the consistency he’s shown throughout his career.

Junior Larry Wright, the other half of the Grizzlies’ starting backcourt this season, said Jones’ patience and calm at point guard are what set him apart. The two players were re-united at Oakland this season after playing AAU basketball together in high school.

“J.J. sees the floor better than anybody I have seen play that position,” Wright said. “He takes what the defense gives; he doesn’t force anything. He can shoot, obviously. If he doesn’t score, he doesn’t get mad. He strives to make the team better and I commend him for that.”

A senior now, Jones makes his play on the court look effortless, but both he and Kampe remember how his career began and all of the learning he had to do to get where he is today.

A star rising

Prior to the 2006-07 season, Kampe said that his initial plan was to go with Keith MacKenzie as the team’s starting point guard. But during a team basketball trip to Canada over Labor Day weekend that season, Jones made a huge impression on the coaches and beat out MacKenzie. Kampe entrusted the offense in the hands of a freshman; something he’s rarely done in his 26-year career.

“We sort of gave him the keys to the car, and just like you would with your own son when he’s 16 years old and he’s driving, you’re on his butt,” Kampe said. “He better have his seat belt fastened, put his blinker on, and he better do everything proper when he’s driving.”

Jones said that the way Kampe eased him into the role helped him to be successful in the early going and not to feel overwhelmed.

“He gave me a lot of responsibilities, but at the same time, he coached me through it,” Jones said. “He would tell me what I’m doing wrong, but also what I was doing right.”

The Grizzlies advanced all the way to the Summit League championship game that season, but lost to Oral Roberts.

In the years that followed, Jones continued to develop into a well-rounded player, becoming more comfortable leading the team with every passing game.

“Four years later, now Johnathon is out there driving with one hand on the wheel with his arm out the window,” Kampe said. “He can do whatever he wants because he’s proven that he knows how to get the car where he needs to go.”

Everything seemed to come together for Jones last season as a junior. He was selected as a co-captain and continued to fill up the score sheet with assists. In 2008-09, Jones led the entire country in assists per game, averaging 8.1 per contest. He earned national recognition as a Mid-Major All-American selection, but his Grizzlies once again suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the conference championship game on a last second shot.

Leading the way

Jones is one of just two seniors on the team this season, and serves as a captain alongside Derick Nelson.

“I embrace being a leader,” Jones said. “I’m just trying to go out here and lead the young guys so we can get to the NCAA tournament.”

Nelson has known Jones since a young age and has seen him progress into the player that he is now.

“I have watched him grow from the beginning playing basketball. He is just an excellent floor leader,” Nelson said. “He does everything extra that you need your point guard to do and he controls his team.”

In addition to his actions on the court, Jones maintains his leadership qualities wherever he goes. Whether it’s an interview session with the media or community service work with his teammates, Kampe said he’s the perfect guy to be the face of the Grizzlies’ program.

Dan Stolz, Jones’ former coach at Okemos High School, said they’ve remained in close contact over the years.

“He’s been a big influence to our kids and our program. He’s still active within our basketball community,” Stolz said.

Unfinished business

This season, Jones is determined to make the most of his senior season — his final chance at taking part in March Madness.

He was voted as the preseason conference Player of the Year and received numerous other accolades heading into the year.

The Grizzlies — off to their best start in conference history — will need to win the Summit League championship in early March in order to receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament this season.

But regardless of how this season plays out, Jones will have been at the helm for several of the most successful seasons in school history.

“In 26 years, I’ve coached a lot of great players and I’m not going to get into the habit of saying who the greatest is, but from a statistical standpoint, (Jones) has a chance to leave here as the winningest player in the program’s history,” Kampe said. “That tells you right there where I’m going to rank him because the most important thing to me is winning.”