What made Tre Jones a great Duke basketball point guard

Tre Jones as a Duke basketball sophomore

The role that Tre Jones played in his sophomore season was quite different than the one he played as a freshman. He also became a team captain and leader for yet another young Duke team.

As a sophomore, Jones was responsible for scoring, distributing, and defending; simply put, he was everything for Duke. As a freshman, Jones was the straw that stirs the drink; but as a sophomore, he was both the straw and the drink. He was the heart and soul of the 2019-20 Blue Devils and also their best all-around player.

The improvement of his play from his freshman to sophomore year was staggering. Jones increased his numbers in almost every meaningful statistical category. He went from scoring 9.4 points per game to over 16 in his second year. He also increased his 3-point shooting percentage from 26 percent as a freshman to over 36 percent as a sophomore, going from a guy you could leave open to a legitimate 3-point threat.

The main difference, though, between his scoring from his freshman to his sophomore season was his aggression. Jones looked to create his own shot a lot more often and became proficient at the pull-up jumper in the lane.

He also constantly pushed the ball up the floor, looking for seams to attack almost like a running back. His speed and ability to finish with both hands in transition made him almost impossible to defend in the open floor. Jones also showed his proficiency in the pick-and-roll, as he and Vernon Carey Jr. carved teams up in those situations.

Jones single-handedly carried Duke to multiple victories. He had a 31-point, six-assist performance early in the season to avoid an upset at home against Georgia State. He then continued his magic with a 20-point, 12-assist performance at Michigan State, where he completely outplayed Cassius Winston, one of the nation’s best point guards. He followed that up with some clutch baskets late to help Duke win at Virginia Tech for the first time in five years.

But where Tre Jones really separated himself was in the final month of the season. In early February, the Blue Devils found themselves in a dog fight at Boston College. Duke was on the ropes until Jones completely took over the game. He hit some clutch shots and made every play down the stretch, including an assist to Javin Delaurier that sealed the win. Jones followed that up with one of the most legendary performances in Duke basketball history.

I think we all can guess where this is going. Tre Jones became a Duke basketball legend on the evening of February 8 at the Dean E. Smith Center. He was the most dominant player on the floor that night. He put up 28 points, six assists, and of course, the game-tying shot. As you recall, following his intentionally missed foul shot at the end of regulation, he ran down the rebound and put up a shot before time expired.

Jones then carried that momentum into overtime as he relentlessly attacked the rim, seemingly scoring every Duke basket. Jones was once again in a position to be the hero, but this time his shot attempt came up short; fortunately for Duke, Wendell Moore was right there to clean it up. It was a thrilling and unbelievable game, one of the most improbable wins the Blue Devils have ever pulled off. And it immediately became an instant Duke basketball classic.

Tre Jones continued his dominance against UNC with a 21-point, 11-assist performance at home in what would be his squad’s final game of the season. Sadly, it was the last time Jones would ever put on a Duke basketball jersey.

So if Jones never won a championship, then what exactly made him so special?