Ja’len Jonas has been named Lake Butler Middle School’s Athlete of the Year for 2025-26.
Jones excelled in two sports, being the team leader in multiple categories in basketball and football.
Basketball Coach Daquin “Buddy” Edwards said, “He is the definition of a student-athlete — humble, hardworking, coachable and dedicated to achieving his goals. A star on the court and a scholar in the classroom, he has set the standard for the Tigers.”
“I’ve been coaching for 30 years, and he is the most unique young man I’ve come across,” said Football Coach Bill Lang. “The first day I met him as a seventh-grader, he displayed an ability and confidence to look you in the eye and have a conversation, and that was before he ever hit the practice field. He’s a natural-born leader and the ultimate student-athlete.”
The LBMS Athlete of the Year award is about more than just talent. It recognizes leadership, character, work ethic and excellence in athletics, in the classroom and in everyday life.
