Olivia Jones hasn't had the typical freshman adjustment period most top recruits see.
She spent time with Vanderbilt women's basketball during summer workouts. But in August, she left to compete with the USA U-17 FIBA 5x5 World Cup team. Jones won a gold medal, then returned to Nashville just in time for classes to start.
The 5-star recruit is one of the youngest players in college basketball this season. Born in January 2009, she is still just 17 and played in the World Cup with primarily 2027 and 2028 high school players. Jones was the only one with any sort of college experience, even if it's just in workouts. While playing in the tournament, Jones suggested the Commodores as an option for her teammates − including 2027 5-star wing Micah Ojo,
who recently visited Vanderbilt.
"You really can't pass up an opportunity like Team USA," Jones told The Tennessean. "It was a great experience. We won the gold medal and I got to play with other great players and some players that could have the opportunity to come to Vanderbilt.
"I would say that playing on the U-17 team helped my leadership because obviously, I was the only one that had college experience there."
During the tournament, Jones was 15-for-45 on field goals, shooting 35.8% from two and 29% from the 3-point line. She recorded 19 rebounds in her seven games played and recorded 22 assists with seven turnovers, adding on three blocks and seven steals.
Jones is from Long Island, New York, which is not far from where Mikayla Blakes is from in New Jersey. Jones was familiar with Blakes from their AAU days and Jones, who was also a 5-star recruit and McDonald's All-American, prides herself in following a similar path.
"I knew that Mikayla came here to, obviously, make a name for herself and build the program up," Jones said. "She said she wanted to do the uncommon thing, so just being on that kind of wavelength and just seeing how Aubrey (Galvan) wasn't as highly recruited as a lot of other guards, but she really made herself nationally recognized, and knowing that I can be a part of that and make a name for myself is just really special."
Jones will have to find her place on the same court with Blakes and Galvan. Blakes was the 2026 SEC Player of the Year and led the nation in scoring at 27 points per game. Galvan stepped into the starting point guard role as a freshman and won SEC Freshman of the Year averaging 13.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Coach Shea Ralph sees Jones fitting right in, comparing her intensity and consistency to Blakes'. More importantly for Ralph, Jones has experience playing alongside other top players and was even a captain on her USA team.
"Olivia's had such a unique high school experience," Ralph said. "She played for (Long Island Lutheran) that had several high-level Division I players on their team. ... She understands how to play with other great players. Same with USA Basketball. There were a lot of great players, so she understands what that looks like and how she can still impact winning while being true to herself."
Listed at 5-foot-11, Jones is a bit bigger than both Blakes (5-8) and Galvan (5-6), opening the possibility that she could play on the wing as a freshman while still bringing secondary ball-handling ability. More than her on-court ability, Jones described her competitive spirit as the aspect that would fit seamlessly onto this roster.
"I'm a fierce competitor," Jones said. "I am relentless, resilient, and I think I bring a different kind of fire to this team that we may not have seen before. Just always competing in practice, using my voice, even as a freshman, because I feel like it's important to establish yourself. I think I just bring that intensity in another guard that can score for themselves and obviously get others open."
Being the youngest on the team and having missed time in the preseason, Jones knows the transition could provide challenging, but she said it hasn't been as hard as she expected thanks to help from her teammates and from Ralph, whom Jones describes as someone who is tough but always shows how much she cares about her players and doesn't bring them down.
With Vanderbilt having taken steps forward in each of the past two seasons, culminating in a Sweet 16 appearance in 2026, Jones isn't shying away from lofty goals for herself and the team.
"I want to make my mark here at Vanderbilt, but also in the SEC in general and the college basketball scene," Jones said. "I want SEC Freshman of the Year and I also just want to win the SEC championship and the NCAA championship with the team. I think that's very possible."
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Vanderbilt basketball freshman Olivia Jones aided from Team USA play | Exclusive
