Andre Jones honed his skills in the backcourt with Nansemond River High School and Winthrop University. After college, he recently had the chance to enhance his basketball portfolio with a spot in the NBA’s Development League.

“We’re considered professional players,” Jones explained. “It’s just basically the minor leagues for the NBA.”

He was picked up by a Pennsylvania squad, the Erie BayHawks, which is the farm team of the New York Knicks. This means if the Knicks agree with any of their players to bring them down for rehab or getting in shape, it would be with Erie.

Upward mobility, on the other hand, is more of a wide-open process.

“Any NBA team can call us up if no other team has the rights to us,” he said.

It is that chance of being called up that drives many players in the NBA D-League. Even if it only results in a 10-day contract with an NBA team, that can still be worth $50,000.

But keeping afloat in the D-League can be quite difficult.

Its contracts “are non-guaranteed, so you can be released at any given point,” Jones said. “Just like last week, I got released out of the blue.”

The BayHawks wanted to bring in another big man, and Jones, who was averaging 6.7 points in 17.9 minutes per game, was the odd man out.

Because of these realities, Jones said being in the D-League with a shot at the NBA is “a blessing and a curse.”

Nansemond River head coach Ed Young warned Jones that the NBA Development League required one to play politics, as well as basketball. He said much of it is about having an established name, and who you know can be more important than what you know.

Jones did not blame politics on his release from Erie, but agreed with Coach Young’s assessment of the significant role they play.

Still, Young was impressed with how Jones got in.

“He really made that league strictly on his own merit,” Young said. “That’s somewhat rare for guys in that league.”

Initially, Jones got exposure to the BayHawks coaching staff through his former college roommate, who worked for the team. But then, they liked his film, and his performance at their training camp sealed the deal. They signed him in October.

Young said the good thing for Jones is that he got in, he played and started a few games.

“He built up a resume,” he said. “That’s what you do in that league.”

Young said Jones knew he was playing for a European contract.

“I think he has a greater chance now to get a contract over there than he did five months ago,” Young said.

Jones gained his first experience since high school at a different position while playing for Erie, which he believes will help his marketability.

“I played point guard here, so in college I only played shooting guard, so now that was a big transition, having to make plays for other people and having to be ball dominant,” he said. Now, at 6-foot-2-inches, “I’m a taller scoring point guard instead of a short shooting guard.”

He is currently looking for his next opportunity to play.

“I’m in talks with a few teams,” he said, referring to the European market. He continues to train in Erie with members of the BayHawks staff.

Young praised Jones for keeping in good shape since graduating college in 2012. Now, in addition to Jones’ recent professional experience, Young said, his former player will bring a pro team a trademark “I will not lose” attitude.

“I think that’s been his M.O. for his success in his basketball career,” Young said. “He’s worked for everything he’s got.”