Tyus Jones

McDonald’s All-American Recap:

As usual, Jones stood out by doing all the “simple things” consistently and productively. He did a great job leading his team in practice, using his handle to get into the lane and create for others. Offensively, he dissected defensive pressure in the half court, and made several floaters inside the arc. He still needs to work on his perimeter jump shot, but Jones got to his spots on the floor, and always made the correct “basketball play.” His ability to turn the corner on ball screens and make split-second pass or shoot decisions will make him an effective floor leader right away at Duke.

However, Jones struggled defensively. Emmanuel Mudiay was once again able to use his 6-5 size to power through Jones, and Tyler Ulis used his quickness to get around Jones.

It was a small sample, though. Overall, Jones was efficient and effective running his team, breaking down the defense and setting up teammates with precision and accuracy. Not the best athlete, but Jones compensates with a tight handle and excellent court vision.

McDonald’s All-American Preview:

Jones is the ultimate playmaker, and his ability to run a team at this level is nearly perfect. While he’s not a great athlete, Jones can play at various speeds, and is a exceptional on the high ball screen. He can turn the corner for a floater or short jumper, or he can thread the needle and hit the roll man. He has a good crossover to maintain space in the half court, and his basketball IQ is second to none. Most people believe Jones is a top-5 player in the class.

All that said, I’m not totally convinced.

At 6-1, limited athletically and just an average shooter, Jones may struggle to create space against bigger/stronger players. At the Elite 24 Showcase last July, he struggled against not only 6-5 Emmanuel Mudiay, but guys like Rashad Vaughn and Romelo Trimble. Mudiay easily beat him off the dribble, and isolated Jones in the post. The college and NBA level are more matchup-oriented, and Jones is a favorable matchup for bigger/more athletic guards.

He’ll get another crack at Mudiay in Chicago. Jones must prove he play against bigger guards, both offensively (handling the ball against length) and defensively (staying in front of his man).

Elite 24 Showcase 2013 (New York, NY)

Observation 6: Tyus Jones is a great player, but I’m not convinced he’s a game-changer on the NBA level

Among “pundits” and “scouts,” Jones is a unanimous top-5 player in the class. But right now I don’t see it, and here’s why.

Yes, Jones is the ultimate playmaker at the high school level. His ability to run a team is nearly perfect. While he’s not a great athlete, he has the most consistent handle in the class, is one of the best decision makers, understands how to run the pick-and-roll and can thread the needle. He’s single-handedly dominated games throughout his career.

Problem is, at 6-1 and without an elite jump shot or leaping ability, I think Jones will struggle to create space against faster, stronger defenders. We saw him struggle against not only Emmanuel Mudiay, but guys like Rashad Vaughn and Romelo Trimble. Mudiay took him in the post, and scored with ease.

If Jones can hone his decision-making to the point where his basketball instincts are perfect, I think he will be very successful. All I’m saying is, it’s not a shoe-in.

After a very poor summer, I’m not convinced Jones, who many claim is the top PG in the nation, is a one-and-done player.

Nike Global Challenge 2013 (Washington D.C.): This wasn’t Jones’ best performance (his USA Midwest team lost in the consolation game), but he still played well. He threaded the needle like few others can, and showcased a polished floater that is essential for a below average athlete. Jones understands his own strengths and weaknesses better than most players, which is why he’ll always produce at a high level. Jones wasn’t the floor general we’re used to seeing, but he nonetheless controlled the tempo of the game when he wanted to, and offensively kept the defense honest with a handful of hesitation moves.

Nike Peach Jam 2013 (North Augusta, SC): Often compared to Chris Paul, Jones is a special point guard. I’m not making that comparison, but one thing is certain: Jones is the ultimate playmaker. He’s mature beyond his years, and while he’s not supremely athletic, he has the best handle in his class, understands how to run the pick-and-roll and just finds a way to dictate the tempo of the game. The defense responds to him; not the other way around. He doesn’t waste dribbles, and always seems to make the correct play. He can drive, shoot, orchestrate a game and just take over when needed. He has young Jason Kidd qualities, in my opinion.