When Darryl Jones signed with the Nelson Giants last November, he came without fanfare just the way the 23-year-old likes it.

But after making a significant impact in his first season with the ecogise Giants in the national basketball league, Jones is going to have to get used to being the stuff of sports page lead stories.

The quietly-spoken swingman yesterday became the first key player to commit to Nelson for the 2010 season, inking a one-year deal to stay with the team that gave him an insight into how valuable he could become in the NBL.

In return, Jones provided defence, rebounding, surprising scoring ability and, as Chris Tupu puts it, "that mongrel that you just can't coach into someone".

"I knew he could rebound and he could defend a number of positions and I would willingly give him the toughest defensive assignment on maybe seven nights out of 10," Giants head coach Tupu said.

"His shooting was ahead of where I thought it might be and that's a bonus. It will be a key part of what takes DJ to the next level."

Jones was already more than useful in his debut season with Nelson, after falling off the basketball radar in Otago.

A former Junior Tall Black, he saw inconsistent court time and played accordingly in the south before averaging 10 points, five rebounds and 46 per cent three-point shooting with the Giants.

"I thought I did well, but I have that mentality that I know I could do better," Jones told the Nelson Mail."It was a first step for me last season. A good step, but just the first step."

His initial aim is to put in the gym work that will help him to an injury-free season next year.

A series of leg injuries, including a hamstring tear in the finals series against Waikato, hampered his ability to be the hardest-working player on the floor.

The gym sessions and a dedicated programme from Giants trainer Claire Dallison should also improve his athleticism.

"I don't play the game above the rim, but I'd love to and I think I can definitely improve in that area," Jones said.

"I think I ask a lot of my own body, so this year I want to look after it better, read the signs better and prepare better so my game can keep improving."

He did enough to earn a Tall Blacks trial at the end of the past season and knows that door remains open, if he can keep adding to his game.

Tupu said the growth will come as Jones gets more experience as a perimeter player. His height 1.93m means there's little international future in the frontcourt.

"DJ has a very good skill set, but his improvement will come as he adds more guard skills, handling the ball, working on the perimeter, those things.

"He'll never lose that forward's mentality to rebound and bang guys around and play hard-nosed ball. Those things will always be there for him."

Jones' signing is likely to be the first in a wave of commitments as Tupu assembles his roster. As always, he intends to get his key Kiwi players in place before looking for an import or two to complete the mix.

"We run a programme in Nelson and we try to build that programme with some kind of plan in mind. It's never been about the quick fix or buying a title," Tupu said.

"Darryl gives us the first piece; we'll add more of those pieces in the next two weeks and then we can examine the budget and see what else we need."