2. National Champion
After enjoying plenty of success during high school, Tyus Jones experienced more of the same at the collegiate level. During his one and only season with the Duke Blue Devils, Jones led the team to an NCAA tournament title, along with his friend and teammate Jahlil Okafor.
Over the course of the season, Jones averaged 11.8 points per game, 5.6 assists per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, and 1.5 steals per game. He was named to the All-ACC third team and the All-ACC freshman first team after the regular season.
When March Madness came around, Jones didn’t let it get to his head. He embraced his leadership role and led the 1st-seeded Blue Devils past stiff competition. Duke was a powerhouse that year, with a star-studded lineup including Jones, Okafor, and future NBA players Justice Winslow, Marshall Plumlee, and Semi Ojeyele. Over the tournament, their lowest margin of victory was 5 points and they won the Final 4 game against Michigan State by 20 points.
In the championship game, Duke was pit against Wisconsin, led by future Charlotte Hornets player Frank Kaminsky. Jones led both teams in scoring with 23 points and also added five rebounds as Duke beat Wisconsin 68-63. Jones was also named the tournament’s most outstanding player as he averaged 13 points per game during the course of the tournament.
Here’s a highlight of one clutch 3-pointer’s made by Tyus Jones during the championship game: