RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
Last Friday, we unveiled the top-ranked player in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, Sa’Mya Jones, who does a myriad of things well — from playing shortstop to pitching to hitting with power and for a high average.
She really exploded onto the national scene over the last few years on the Texas Bombers team coached by her father, Steve Jones, which in July moved to the Impact Gold organization.
It’s always fun to learn more about the person behind the athlete and below are some fun facts about Sa’Mya we think you’ll enjoy reading!
*****
WHEN “MULTIPLE SPORT ATHLETE” IS TAKEN TO THE EXTREME
At one time Sa’Mya was in gymnastics, ballet, basketball, volleyball, softball, track and was a cheerleader for her brother’s football team all at once. She was good at them all and loved participating in them all, but it was crazy hectic for the family especially with a multi-sport brother.
“It was really hard for her to have to start dropping activities because she wanted to do everything!” says her father. “Thankfully she’s now down to softball, track and basketball.”
PISTACHIOS AND MONEY DON’T MIX:
Well, even Superman has his Kryptonite!
Sa’Mya is quite allergic to pistachios (but not other nuts, strangely) and found out the hard way at a softball tournament when she ate a pistachio a teammate shared with her. How bad did it get? An ambulance had to drive into the park and rush her to the emergency room as her eyes were nearly swollen shut, her lips were swollen and she had trouble breathing.
She no longer eats nuts of any kind, to be safe, but fortunately the scary incident didn’t do any long-term damage. In fact, she returned to the softball field the next morning.
WHAT’S BEHIND A NAME?
Her name (“Sa’Mya” Danae) was chosen by her dad because of the Arabic meaning of her first name and the desire to keep the same initials “SDJ”.
“Sa’Mya” in Arabic means exalted, lofty or elevated status which is how everyone told her dad he’d treat her because of how much he wanted a daughter!
WHY THIS GIRL IS “MONEY”
Her nickname “Money” was given to her by her 16-year-old brother, Shamar.
He’s biased, of course, but felt like she was “money in the bank” when she came up to bat or when a ball was hit to her when she was in her early travel ball years.
TOO EARLY TO PICK A COLLEGE
Sa’Mya was offered before the rule changes by two well-regarded college programs with great coaches but decided to wait.
Actually, her dad told her she wasn’t ready to make a decision like that in 6th grade and told her she couldn’t accept until she could actually articulate well thought out reasons for choosing a school!
GREAT HITTING MECHANICS AT A YOUNG AGE GOT ATTENTION
Sa’Mya was noticed at a young age in college camps she attended including an LSU Camp where she won a $400 bat as the camp MVP (she was just 9-years-old!).
She had to give a t-shirt back she won in her group when they learned she won the overall camp MVP, but she happily returned the t-shirt to keep the bat!
Sa’Mya was also highlighted while attending University of Houston camps from as early as 6-years-old.
LOVES OF HER LIFE (Part 1): DOGS
Sa’Mya loves, loves, loves dogs, especially her mini-labradoodle, Sevyn which she named after the jersey number she’s worn since she was 6 but got creative and added a twist to the spelling.
COVID19’ing… pic.twitter.com/7WbOtRqjpp
— Steve Jones (@CoachSteveJSr) March 19, 2020
Sevyn was brought in to console a heart-broken young Sa’Mya when she lost an earlier canine to old age.
“We had a yellow lab named Shiloh for 12 years,” the softball standout remembers, “and when he died I took it really hard. Actually, we all took it kinda hard—we loved that dog. My dad surprised me with a new mini-labradoodle to cheer me up and I absolutely love him.”
LOVES of Her LIFE (Part 2): DANCING
Sa’Mya loves to dance, although sometimes she’s caught doing it when she thinks others aren’t watching!
“Here we are working on hitting in the garage,” her dad says, “and while I fixed the net, the camera—which she didn’t know was on—caught what goes on behind my back during breaks!”
What happens between garage cuts with dad sometimes comes to the light 🤣🤣🤣.@Samya07Jones pic.twitter.com/Az2s8mpYZQ
— Steve Jones (@CoachSteveJSr) September 22, 2020
Here’s another time when Sa’Mya is working out alone in the backyard and it gets a bit creative:
COVID-19 has Sa’Mya’s workouts getting just a little too entertaining & creative…..🤷🏽♂️. #cabinfever @BombersJones @IHartFastpitch pic.twitter.com/ZRqzZb31G7
— Steve Jones (@CoachSteveJSr) April 6, 2020
LOVES of Her LIFE (Part 3): SHOES
Most teen girls love their shoes, but Sa’May admits she’s obsessed with her sneakers being good. As the saying goes: “You look good, you play good!”
ANYTHING BOYS CAN DO…
Sa’Mya is competitive and that probably partly comes from growing up with only brothers. She has a big family and there are a lot of boys, especially on her dad’s side of the family. The high school freshman is the youngest of four with three older brothers and her dad is the youngest of eight children—7 boys and 1 girl!
*** Scroll down to read more fun facts about Sa’Mya that makes her the standout she is today!