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Duke Basketball Player Review: Tre Jones’ stellar play in final season

By Kevin Connelly

Duke basketball point guard Tre Jones (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
Duke basketball point guard Tre Jones (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images) /
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It was a stellar second, and final, season for the Duke basketball point guard Tre Jones as he was unable to achieve the main goal he set out for in his return to Durham.

Tre Jones returned to Duke for his sophomore season with one thing in mind: win a National Championship.

Jones wanted to be held in the same light as his brother, Tyus Jones, who was named as the Most Outstanding Player of the 2015 NCAA Tournament as the Blue Devils won their fifth National Title.

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The youngest Jones brother came within a point of a Final Four berth in his freshman season, but after the heartbreak and anguish, the Minnesota native knew he had more to prove.

Jones did everything and more on the court during the regular season, improving in just about every statistical category with averages of 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and 36.1 percent from 3-point range.

However, despite all of Jones’ efforts, the outcome of the season was not in his control as the novel coronavirus pandemic forced the ACC and NCAA to cancel their respective tournaments.

The ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year didn’t get the chances to finish his mission as Jones declared for the 2020 NBA Draft days after the season was canned.

ALSO READ: Tre Jones named ACC Player of Year, Vernon Carey Jr. Rookie of Year

Jones had several memorable performances this season, setting a new career-high of 31 points against Georgia State, but none will top his second-half performance against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill when he single-handedly willed the Blue Devils back into the game and forced overtime with an intentional missed free throw, offensive rebound, and mid-range jumper.

ALSO READ: Tre Jones, Vernon Carey Jr. named as All-Americans

Tre Jones will head to the NBA, where he is projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick, as his defensive prowess will be sure to carry him in the early stages in his professional career.

ALSO READ: Tre Jones officially declares for 2020 NBA Draft

However, Duke fans will have to wonder ‘what-if’ Jones had the opportunity to try and win a second ACC Tournament and his first NCAA Tournament.

GRADE: A

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