Jones was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, where he was a standout in football and track. As a junior, he sustained a broken ankle early in the season, but still managed to rack up 800 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. He was named the Tulsa World Player of the Year following his senior season, after rushing for 2,282 yards and 48 touchdowns, leading his squad to a 13-1 record and a state runner-up finish.