Stags’ Standout Ace Commits to James Madison University

Senior captain Ashton “Ace” Meeks has announced his commitment to play basketball at James Madison University (JMU). The 6-1 guard, who is the 6th best player in Maryland according to 247 Sports, made the announcement via an Instagram post on Monday, April 20.

Temple University and Oklahoma State were the other two finalists on his list. Meeks had offers from others, as well, including Mississippi State, West Virginia, and Boston College to name a few who were in the running.

“JMU and the coaching staff have been developing and playing smaller guards like myself. The playing style fits me the best over the others, academics are amongst the best in the country, and the proximity, so my family can travel and see me play [all aided in my decision],” Ace said.

As the leader of DeMatha Basketball, Meeks averaged 22 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1 steal per game. He led the Stags this winter to a 21-10 record, including an 8-4 mark in the WCAC. Ashton ended his high school career against Clinton Grace in the Maryland Private School State Basketball Tournament (MDPSSBT) semifinals. The team lost 73-63 but Ace scored 28 points. In his career, Meeks scored 1,729 pts and this year received first team honors from both the WCAC and from the private school tournament.

Head coach Mike G. Jones III wasn’t surprised by these achievements. “I think it’s all because of his work,” Jones said. “He’s a great listener and he wants to be a great teammate and he really wants to be a great player.”

Meeks could see playing time right away as the Dukes have five graduating senior guards and another in the transfer portal. Currently on the roster, JMU has one guard from Virginia in rising junior Paul Jones III. JMU is also getting two combo guards transferring to Harrisonburg in rising sophomores Gage Lattimore from North Carolina Central and K.J. Windham from Northwestern.

After he took over DeMatha’s program, Coach Jones’ first recruit was Ashton, who was on varsity all four years and helped lead the Stags to a 90-41 record, a winning percentage of .641, the best in school history over a coach’s first four years with the program.

This year they finished as the No. 1 team in Maryland according to Rivals, the No. 42 team in the country according to MaxPreps, and No. 8 in the All-Met rankings. Note, this season’s rankings were done by a newly formed organization, The All-Metropolitans. The Washington Post eliminated its sports section, and with it their high school sports coverage including All-Met teams and players. To form the new rankings, many people from around high school basketball in the DMV got a vote on the players and teams, including former Post writers.

In Ace’s time, the Stags won both the Alhambra Catholic Invitational his freshman year and MDPSSBT, where he won the most valuable player from the tournament in his sophomore year.

Meeks also achieved multiple Most Valuable Player awards including four National Hoopfest MVPs, four Hoophall MVPs, and twice each he earned first team honors from the WCAC and the Washington Post’s All-Met. 

For the Dukes, they are trying to get back up to the top. In 2024-25 they finished 20-12 overall and second in conference. This winter proved to be a bit of a struggle where they went 18-15 overall and 9-9 in the Sun Belt Conference. JMU lost their coach after the 2024 season and this was head coach Preston Spradlin’s first year of a six-year contract he signed with the school.

“I’ve built a strong relationship with Coach Preston and Coach Baker. I’m the closest with Assistant Coach Baker, who recruited me hard for well over a year now. I have developed a strong relationship with him. I trust them both,” Ashton said.

Ace is a small guard who plays like a player with a bigger frame. He plays with pace, too, possessing a quick first step and a high vertical leap that allows him to shoot over taller defenders. Meeks also has an impressive ability to make a shot from anywhere, including the free throw line where he shot 93.1%. All of these abilities and his proven production at the highest of levels in high school basketball should allow him to have a great future in Harrisonburg.

“I think he is going to be a phenomenal college player and he may have an opportunity to play after college,” Coach Jones predicted. “He was a good high school player, and next year he will be a great college player. He will have tremendous opportunities because he has shown his willingness to face adversity head-on and just give his best each and every day.”