Tyrique Jones
Tyrique Jones (born May 3, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Wonju DB Promy of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). He played college basketball for the Xavier Musketeers.
| Wonju DB Promy | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward |
| League | Korean Basketball League |
| Personal information | |
| Born | May 3, 1997 Hartford, Connecticut |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 239 lb (108 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | Xavier (2016–2020) |
| NBA draft | 2020 / Undrafted |
| Playing career | 2020–present |
| Career history | |
| 2020–present | Wonju DB Promy |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early life and high school career
Jones grew up playing football as a tight end and defensive end and idolized Dwight Freeney. However, while attending Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Freeney's alma mater, he began to focus on basketball instead.[1] As a junior, he averaged 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game, leading his team to the Class S state semifinals and earning First Team All-State honors from the Hartford Courant. He played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for the New York Rens and Expressions Elite. For his senior season, Jones transferred to Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vermont, averaging 13.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He led his team to the Class AA New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Finals and was named to the Class AA All-NEPSAC Second Team.[2] Jones played a postgraduate season, averaging 19.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.5 steals and 1.7 assists per game. He led Vermont Academy to its first ever NEPSAC title and was a Class AA All-NEPSAC First Team selection.[3]
Recruiting
Jones was considered a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals, and a three-star recruit by 247Sports. On June 29, 2015, he committed to play college basketball for Xavier over offers from Florida State, Cincinnati and Texas Tech, among other high major programs.[4]
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrique Jones PF |
Bloomfield, CT | Vermont Academy (VT) | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | Jun 29, 2015 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 115 247Sports: 138 ESPN: 95 | ||||||
Sources:
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College career
As a freshman, Jones started four games in the NCAA Tournament and helped Xavier reach the Elite Eight.[5] He averaged 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. He struggled with leg soreness during his sophomore season, which he credited to not utilizing the training room enough, and he missed two games with a shoulder injury. Jones largely played behind Kerem Kanter and Sean O'Mara as a sophomore, averaging seven points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. He focused on losing weight by eating a healthy diet as well as outside shooting and weight lifting going into his junior season.[6] Coach Chris Mack praised his attitude and demeanor, calling him one of his favorite players.[7]
On November 10, 2018, Jones scored 19 points and had a career-high 20 rebounds in a 91–85 win over Evansville.[8] He posted a career-high 22 points and had 11 rebounds in a 78–76 overtime loss to Texas in the second round of the NIT, but missed a layup to tie the game at the end.[9] As a junior, Jones averaged 11.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Following the season he declared for the 2019 NBA draft but ultimately returned to Xavier.[10] On November 22, 2019, Jones posted 17 points with 11 rebounds in a 75–74 double overtime win over UConn and blocked a potential game-winning shot at the end of regulation.[11] In his final collegiate game on March 12, 2020, he tied his career-high with 22 points in a 71–67 loss to DePaul.[12] Jones averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1.1 steals and one block per game as a senior and had 20 double-doubles, the fourth-most for Division I players.[13] He was named to the Second Team All-Big East.[14]
Professional career
On September 21, 2020, Jones signed his first professional contract with Wonju DB Promy of the Korean Basketball League.[15]
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Personal life
Jones' mother, Petronia "Winnie" Bailey, emigrated with her brother from Jamaica to Connecticut at age 11. His father, Lester, was born in The Bahamas to Jamaican parents.[16] On May 1, 2002, when Jones was four years old, his father jumped into Connecticut River and died by drowning, following an encounter with the police.[1][5]
Jones was nicknamed "Eighty-Eight" by his father because his birth weight was eight pounds and eight ounces. The number was tattooed on Jones' right bicep when he was 16 years old; it was his first tattoo.[11] He has a tattoo of the number 32 on his right shoulder and upper arm to honor his father's high school basketball jersey number at Weaver High School.[5][17]
References
- Erardi, John (December 27, 2018). "Game Face". Xavier Nation Magazine. Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- Russell, Shannon (November 17, 2015). "Xavier basketball inks two four-star recruits". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- "Tyrique Jones". Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- "Jones Joining Xavier". New England Recruiting Report. June 29, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- Amore, Dom (March 11, 2019). "Bloomfield's Tyrique Jones making his mark in the Big East at Xavier". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- Russell, Shannon (June 14, 2018). "Xavier's Tyrique Jones expanding his game, not his waistline this offseason". The Athletic. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- Broering, Rick (October 15, 2017). "Mack: One of my favorite Xavier players is Tyrique Jones". 247 Sports. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- "Scruggs, Jones lead Xavier to 91–85 win over Evansville". ESPN. Associated Press. November 10, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- "Roach scores 21 to lead Texas past Xavier 78–76 in OT". ESPN. Associated Press. March 24, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- Baum, Adam (April 10, 2019). "Xavier Musketeers forward Tyrique Jones declares for the 2019 NBA Draft". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- Russell, Shannon (November 23, 2019). "'That's what seniors do': Tyrique Jones' gutsy effort propels Xavier to thrilling 2OT win". The Athletic. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- "DePaul stuns Xavier in first round of Big East Tourney". ESPN. Associated Press. March 12, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- Clark, Dave (March 26, 2020). "Tyrique Jones, Jarron Cumberland, Lamont West among 50 ranked seniors ahead of NBA Draft". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- Baum, Adam (March 8, 2020). "Xavier basketball players honored on All-Big East Conference teams". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- Baum, Adam (September 21, 2020). "Former Xavier big man Tyrique Jones signs with Korean professional team". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- Russell, Shannon (March 4, 2017). "Xavier freshman Tyrique Jones answers nine questions about life and hoops for Shannon Russell". WCPO-TV. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- Baum, Adam (October 13, 2018). "The phone call Tyrique Jones makes before every Xavier University men's basketball game". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 18, 2020.