JONESVILLE — While K.J. Jones may be a 6’1”, 285-pound ball handler for Block High School’s basketball team, the senior reserves all ball carrying for skill position players in football.

The reason? Well, Jones likes to roll up his sleeves and get dirty in the trenches.

“I like hitting people,” Jones said. “Now, if they were to need me to run the ball, that’s what I would go and do. That’s what I do. I’ll do anything they need me to.”

Add summer interim coach to the long list of duties Jones has taken responsibility for this summer. While Block was without a head coach in June, Jones would call his teammates and make sure they came to work out.

“I made sure everybody had to be here,” Jones said. “One person can’t change the whole game. Now, 10 or 11 can. At the time, we didn’t have a coach, so we were just trying to find our identity. (Teammate) Michael Barber pushed me even harder to go in the weight room, so he helped me do it. That earned respect from everyone on the team, and we made a lot of bonds through that.”

Jones, who said he ran a 4.9 40-yard dash at a football camp this summer, is moving from left tackle to right tackle this season. The Bears’ former right tackle Edgar Franklin left the team for personal reasons, prompting Jones to make the switch.

“He was a big part of the right side for us, so I’m going to need to move over there and work hard,” Jones said.

New Block coach Danny Adams hasn’t had a lot of time interacting with the players since taking the head coaching position July 7. However, Jones was one of the first players Adams got to know. The long-time head coach in Mississippi and Alabama said Jones’ leadership and work ethic impressed him.

“K.J. has good size, moves really well and has a tremendous attitude,” Adams said. “He works hard, and he’s trying to be a leader for us. I think he’s got great potential.”

Jones’ good attitude extends beyond from what he may play on the field. Entering his final season for Block High School, Jones wants to ensure that he goes out on top. In order to do so, he’s made sure he and his players have positive attitudes going into the 2015 season.

“I don’t see any negativity from anyone,” Jones said. “We’re just trying to put in a system to make sure we’re going to win over these next couple of years. Everybody here is tired of just winning, though. We want to get to that next level.”