Michael Arcieri is thrilled about Jones’ arrival: “Lajae is pure basketball talent and physical strength”
Pallacanestro Trieste has officially announced the signing of Lajae Jones, a U.S. small forward born in 2004. “The player joins the Trieste roster after a basketball career entirely spent in the United States, culminating in his final season with the Florida State Seminoles in the NCAA and his subsequent selection by the Golden State Warriors in the 2026 NBA Draft,” 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 pure 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 of play, on both ends of the court, under both baskets, in the open court during transition, 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 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 the talent and dedication of our staff recognized in this way! His integration into our roster will be seamless: he’ll be a key contributor both in the backcourt and in the paint, 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 our warmest Triestine welcome to him.”
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 in blocks per game (1.0), in addition to being named to 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 for them in the NBA Summer League.
His basketball profile stands out for his defensive solidity across multiple positions—from guard to small forward, with the ability to read the game even in the low post on defensive switches—and for his ability to consistently make an impact from the perimeter, characteristics 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.
