Despite national attention, don’t expect 15-year-old Apple Valley High School point guard Tyus Jones to announce his college choice soon.
Local basketball authority Rene Pulley and others rate Jones the No. 1 point guard in America for the class of 2014. Pulley, who is CEO of Howard Pulley Basketball, has been involved with local basketball for years, but thinks Jones could be considered the greatest Minnesota prep ever by 2014.
Jones told Sports Headliners he has college scholarship offers from nine schools but is in no hurry to choose a college and might wait until his senior season at Apple Valley. “I don’t think I’ll make an early commitment, probably (decide) later in my high school career,” he said.
The offers are from Arizona, Baylor, Iowa, Iowa State, Marquette, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Providence. “I don’t think I have any favorites,” Jones said.
While some local preps might be overly dazzled about leaving the state, expect Jones to give the Gophers fair consideration. He’s an intelligent and mature young man who values classroom work, staying modest and treating others with respect.
Jones has a family connection to former Gophers captain Al Nuness. Jones’ dad, Robert, is Nuness’ nephew. Jared Nuness, Al’s son, is part of the basketball support staff at Baylor.
Al Nuness told Sports Headliners almost two years ago that Jones was better as an eighth grader than former North High and 1997 Minnesota Mr. Basketball Khalid El–Amin. Pulley said last week that Jones, already 6-foot-1 compared with El-Amin at 5-6 as a 15-year-old, is the better player at that age.
Jones, who admires New Orleans’ point guard Chris Paul’s “pass first, score second” approach, likely will be taller than 6-1 when he arrives on a college campus. “My dad is 6-7, so hopefully I will still have a growth spurt and get a few inches…in the years to come,” he said.
Jones said he won’t play football this year for Apple Valley, but might go out for baseball in 2012. He has experienced a busy spring and summer of basketball including being named the youngest player for the USA development team for players 16 and under.