Mike Tummings kept waiting. He knew, at any time, that Aderio Jones would explode.
This would mean more points, and a chance for his Anne Arundel Community College men's basketball team to stay competitive.
The former shooting guard at Annapolis High got off to a slow start with the Pioneers, scoring eight points in a win over Chesapeake CC on Nov. 22. But he has reached double figures in every game since, including 37 in a victory over Harford CC earlier this month.
He had 24 points against Montgomery-Germantown, 23 against Garrett, 22 against Dundalk and 15 at Montgomery-Takoma Park, though Anne Arundel lost each game.
"He's a great shooter and he slashes very well," said Tummings, Anne Arundel's coach. "I figured it was only a matter of time. And he's still got a lot of offense left in him."
He didn't have much when he arrived at Annapolis. His junior year was spent largely on the bench, while more gifted players consumed the minutes.
Panthers coach John Brady sat down with Jones after the 1988-89 season and explained what areas he needed to improve, like defense and outside shooting. "And he did everything we asked him to do that summer," Brady said.
It showed. Jones became a starter as a senior, averaged around 15 points a game and helped Brady win his first 4A state championship.
In the final, Annapolis had the ball and a two-point lead over High Point with 12 seconds left. During a timeout, Brady told his players that the Eagles immediately would foul whichever Panther had possession.
"I asked them, 'Who wants the ball? Who wants to shoot the free throws?' " Brady recalled. "And Aderio said, 'I'll take them.' "
Jones gathered the inbounds pass, was fouled and calmly sank both shots. Annapolis held on for the 106-102 victory, and Brady said, "I don't know if those were his biggest free throws ever, but they were mine.
"In my 18 years here, he improved more than any kid I've had. He's one of those guys who's a late bloomer."
It almost was too late. He went to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore for two years, but wasn't academically eligible to play, "and things just didn't work out," he said. With money scarce, he eventually moved back home and considered going to a local college, which wouldn't require having to pay room and board.
In the meantime, Jones didn't stray far from basketball. He played in the Annapolis Summer League at Truxtun Park, where he impressed Anne Arundel assistant coach Jeff Brooks.
There was only one hitch: Jones wasn't that impressed with Anne Arundel.
"At first I was kind of shaky," he said. "The reputation of Anne Arundel is not like a top school. When you think of junior colleges, you think of Allegany or Howard or Hagerstown. But it's always been a goal of mine to play on the college level, so I took a chance. And it's been working out pretty good."
That's an understatement. Jones was averaging 21 points a game before Wednesday's 95-86 loss to Essex CC, when he got into early foul trouble and finished with 12. He also had eight assists and two rebounds, as Anne Arundel fell to 2-5.
"It took me awhile to get adjusted, since this is my first college experience," said Jones, who will have two years of eligibility left if he chooses to attend another school after this season. "I had to adapt to different players and get a feel for the college game. I started off slow but I've picked it up. It's been coming along good.
"I always wanted to play on the college level, and I always knew I could, but I didn't know if I'd get that chance."
He got it, and he's making the most of the opportunity. On the court, and in the classroom.
"Not only is he a great player," Tummings said, "but he's also a good student."