Washington Wizards 2015 NBA Draft Prospects Primer: The Point Guards
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Tyus Jones (5) reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second half in the 2015 NCAA Men
Tyus Jones: Fr., Duke
On a team boasting likely top 10 picks in Jahlil Okafor and Justise Winslow, it was undersized point guard Tyus Jones who stole the show in the NCAA Tournament, winning the Final Four Most Outstanding Player as Duke took the title.
While Jones did get the chance to dish the ball to one of the best assemblages of talent in the NCAA, the kid from Apple Valley, Minnesota was impressive in his own right in his only collegiate season.
A superb passer with an unselfish approach and great court vision, Jones excels in transition, and while he usually looks to create for others he can make opposing defenses pay with a surprisingly reliable jumper and the ability to finish around the rim.
Jones has some built-in limitations, mainly relating to his less-than-ideal size and athleticism, that likely will constrain him to a bench role – his defense, especially, leaves a lot to be desired, as he routinely struggled to stay on quick guards.
But put quite simply, no one on this Earth has bigger cojones than Tyus Jones. He’s the kid that always wants to take the last shot, and he’s gonna hit it. He’s absolutely fearless, and stepped up biggest when the lights were brightest and the opposition the toughest – Tyus Jones is the absolute last person I ever expect to be intimidated by the NBA.
Tyus Jones is going to be in the league for a long time, and it seems like even odds that he’ll be there at #19. Delon Wright would be my first choice, but I wouldn’t mind seeing this kid in a Washington Wizards uniform.