As the Longhorns head into the final four, the light at the end of the tunnel draws nearer. And who to credit so far? Safe to say, one of them is Taylor Jones. For Taylor Jones, this journey has been plagued with impediments. The injuries, the health problems, and the transfers that have gone on for so long are sure to tire out even the most hardened soldiers. Taylor, however, has built a reservoir of resiliency based on all she has been through.
As she inches closer to the NCAA Tournament trophy wearing the orange that her mom once adored, a fairytale ending might be within reach. But behind every great athlete is a story rooted in family, and for Taylor Jones, that foundation has played a crucial role in her journey. Let’s dive into Texas’ star’s family life.
Who is Taylor Jones’ mother, Deanna? What happened to her?
Taylor’s mother, Deanna, was suffering from lung cancer over an extended period, and in 2019, tragedy struck the Jones family. Upon Deanna’s demise, Taylor wrote on her Instagram, “On January 5th, 2019, my beautiful mother’s battle with cancer came to an end. Her battle with this horrible disease showed her tremendous strength and her trust in the Lord. Right now, she is dancing with the Lord without any pain. I love you so much Momma, everything I do is going to be for you!”
Staying true to her promise, Taylor decided to transfer to Texas, as her mother always wanted her to be a Longhorn. Wearing the same burned orange she once dreaded with pride. “She just loved that school,” Jones said. “So knowing that I came back, and just knowing that she’s watching over me, it’s amazing.” While her decision to move to Texas has been famously credited to her mom, what often flies under the radar is Deanna’s impact on her daughter’s commitment to Oregon as well.
“The whole program has been there steadfast for Taylor as her mother battles lung cancer. Katie and everyone else always ask about her mom and how she’s doing and you can just tell how much they all truly care. I know that has really helped Taylor a lot.” said Taylor’s father.
In her Elite 8 matchup against TCU, Taylor had DMFJ written on her shoes. “The ‘D’ stands for Deanna, the ‘J’ stands for Jones and you can probably figure out the other two words,” Jones told USA TODAY Sports. Taylor’s heartwarming gestures don’t end there as she also has a tattoo of a Bible verse that her mother often used, Psalm 46. The Bible verse reads: “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”
Taylor also has a stepmother named Linda, whom his father married after her mother’s unfortunate demise.
Who is Taylor Jones’ father?
Taylor’s father, Keith Jones, might appear as an ally to the Longhorn fans, but make no mistake, this is an old nemesis! While the Jones family proudly wears orange to support Taylor now, there was a time when the family leaned towards maroon. “My dad is a graduate (of Texas) A&M, so I was raised to hate the Longhorns,” Jones said. “At the time, we were rooting against Texas, but now here I am.”
Although Keith has been actively involved in Taylor’s basketball career ever since high school, he rarely imposes his decisions on her. This was evident when Taylor was doing college visits with her parents before she decided where she ought to commit. Eager to know the reason behind the claim? Here’s a story shared by Keith Jones.
“Before we had left for Oregon, we had decided that we would not commit on sight. We would come back home and use the dead period week to think things over about all of our visits and then make a decision, but that’s not how it went down. We had been sitting in a long meeting inside Scott’s office, when my wife and Taylor stepped out for a few minutes. When they returned, my wife leaned over and told me that Taylor wanted to commit right now. My reaction was like ‘What? I thought we had talked about this?’ She said that is where Taylor wants to be and she’s sure of it. So, when we got back to the hotel, we had a long talk and I asked her if heading back home and taking the time to think about things would change anything and she said ‘No, I want to commit while I’m here. Tonight at Coach’s house for dinner.” Keith’s lack of interference in Taylor’s decision making reflects the confidence and faith he has in his daughter.
Keith is also known to share a good rapport with Taylor’s coaches. He and Coach Schaefer, also an A&M Alumnus, often joke about Keith wearing Longhorn orange. “I told him, ‘Trust me, brother, it will be fine,’” Schaefer told reporters.
Does Taylor Jones have any siblings?
Jones has four siblings: three sisters, Tori, Carlie, and Morgan, and a brother, Tyler. Tori is Taylor’s non-identical twin. Taylor jokes about how they have different colored eyes and hair, but admits her sister was there for her during the tough times in high school, and the pain they endured together has made them closer.
While a lot is not available on her siblings, a touching video from the Texas Longhorns Facebook page for “Senior Day” is enough to display the love and the bonds their family shares.
The post Who Are Taylor Jones’ Parents? Everything You Need to Know About Texas’ Star’s Family Life appeared first on EssentiallySports.
