Jones Tops Final Scouting Rankings for Draft Defenseman Seth Jones, the most highly regarded African-American prospect in N.H.L. history, was ranked the top North American skater available in the draft, which will be held June 30 in Newark. Jones, a member of the United States national team that won the gold medal at the World Junior Championship in Russia last January, is the son of Popeye Jones, a former N.B.A. player and now an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets. Jones, 18, had 14 goals, 56 points and a plus-46 mark in 61 regular-season games for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League this season. The Winterhawks have won two rounds in the W.H.L. playoffs and are currently in the league semifinals, with Jones contributing 3 goals, 10 points and a plus-9 in 13 postseason games. Jones, a 6-foot-4 right-handed shot, was born in Arlington, Tex., but grew up in Denver, where the Colorado Avalanche star Joe Sakic suggested to Jones's father that Seth be given skating lessons. As a 6-year-old, he sat along the glass with his mother and brothers when the Avalanche won Game 7 of the 2001 Stanley Cup finals. The Avalance will most likely hold the No. 2 spot in the N.H.L. draft lottery on Monday, giving them a good chance of drafting Jones. N.H.L. Central Scouting rated Aleksander Barkov, a 17-year-old Finnish center, the top European skater in the draft.