Pallacanestro Trieste Announces Its New Forward
Pallacanestro Trieste has officially announced the signing of Lajae Jones, a U.S. forward born in 2004. “The player joins the Giulian roster after a basketball career entirely built in the United States, culminating in his final season with the Florida State Seminoles in the NCAA and his subsequent selection in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors,” reads the club’s press release. “This addition brings talent, defensive solidity, and high-level experience to the red-and-white roster for the upcoming season.”
Giuliano’s general manager, Michael Arcieri, welcomed the new player: “Lajae possesses a combination of raw basketball talent, physical strength, power, explosiveness, and positional versatility that is rarely found in a single player. He is the prototype of what has become known as ‘positionless basketball’: a player who impacts the game every single second, on both ends of the court, under both baskets, in the open court during transitions, and at the basket in traffic.”
“His selection in the NBA Draft this past June is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and immense basketball potential. His decision to proudly wear our Trieste jersey and to continue pursuing his basketball dream and his development as a player with us is a testament to the great confidence he has in our team, our staff, our fans, and the potential for a truly special 2026–27 season. Our collaboration throughout the season with the Golden State Warriors’ staff regarding Lajae’s development represents an incredibly exciting opportunity for our staff and our organization; it gives me great satisfaction to see that the talent and dedication of our staff are recognized in this way! His integration into our roster will be seamless: he’ll be a key contributor both in the backcourt and under the basket, playing with and without the ball, bringing out the best in his teammates on one possession and attacking the rim with relentless force on the next. We are extremely excited to welcome Lajae and his family into our Biancorossa family and extend to him our warmest Triestine welcome.”
Born on May 21, 2004, in Neptune Beach, Florida, Lajae Leo Jones stands 2.01 m tall and weighs 100 kg. His college career spanned four programs: after his freshman season with the Tarleton State Texans, he made his mark at Barton Community College, where he won the JUCOR national title and was named MVP of the finals. He then moved on to St. Bonaventure, where he averaged 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds as a starter during the 2024–25 season, before finally concluding his college career with the Florida State Seminoles in the ACC.
During the 2025–26 season with Florida State, Jones averaged 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 33 games, ranking among the team’s top rebounders and leading the team in blocks per game (1.0), in addition to earning a spot on the ACC All-Conference Second Team. That same season, he put up a 36-point performance with 10 three-pointers, tying the Seminoles’ franchise record. At the end of the season, he was selected in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors with the 54th overall pick, and subsequently played in the NBA Summer League with the team.
His basketball profile stands out for his defensive versatility across multiple positions—from guard to small forward, with the ability to read the game even in the low post on defensive rotations—and for his ability to consistently make an impact from the perimeter, traits that made him, during his final college season, one of the most highly regarded prospects among NBA scouts in the “3&D” player category. Rounding out his game is excellent ball-handling, evidenced by one of the lowest turnover rates among players at his position in NCAA Division I.
