Ozell Jones
Ozell "Hoppy" Jones (November 20, 1960 – September 7, 2006) was a professional basketball player. Born in Long Beach, California, he was listed at 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) and weighed 235 lbs. Jones first played collegiate ball with the Wichita State University (1979–1981) and helped the Shockers reach the Elite 8 in his second year. He later transferred to Cal State Fullerton to play for the Titans in 1982-1984. He entered the 1984 NBA Draft and was chosen in the fourth round (90th pick overall) by the San Antonio Spurs.[1] On October 24, 1985, Jones was waived by the Spurs. He later signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers on March 31, 1986 but played in only three games. After his stint in the NBA, Jones first played overseas in Italy (1986–1987) then spent the rest of his professional career playing in the CBA for the Cincinnati Slammers (1986–1987), Quad City Thunder (1987–1988), Tulsa Fast Breakers (1989–1990), Tri-City Chinook (1993–1994) and Oklahoma City Cavalry (1994-1995). He also participated in the USBL with two stints for the Miami Tropics in 1987 and 1988. After retiring, Jones operated a big and tall men's clothing store in Lancaster, California.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 20, 1960 Long Beach, California |
| Died | September 7, 2006 (aged 45) Lancaster, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Long Beach Polytechnic (Long Beach, California) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 1984 / Round: 4 / Pick: 90th overall |
| Selected by the San Antonio Spurs | |
| Playing career | 1984–1994 |
| Position | Center / Power forward |
| Number | 8, 20 |
| Career history | |
| 1984–1985 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1985–1986 | Mulat Napoli |
| 1986 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 1986–1987 | Cincinnati Slammers |
| 1987 | Miami Tropics |
| 1987–1988 | Quad City Thunder |
| 1988 | Miami Tropics |
| 1989–1990 | Tulsa Fast Breakers |
| 1993–1994 | Tri-City Chinook |
| 1994–1995 | Oklahoma City Cavalry |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Death
On September 7, 2006, Ozell Jones was found by relatives shot dead in his apartment.[2] He was 45 years old. According to police reports, Jones bled to death from a single gunshot wound to the upper torso.[3] The investigation on this case currently remains open. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Long Beach, California.
Notable Awards
- USBL Championship (1987)
- CBA All-Star (1990)[4]