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http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_14183584
Eighth-grader earns the keys to Apple Valley's offense as its starting point guard
By Ray Richardson
As an eighth-grader competing on the Class AAAA varsity level in Minnesota high school boys basketball, Apple Valley's Tyus Jones already has learned how to quash trash talking from opposing fans.
During a Lake Conference game at Lakeville South on Dec. 8, the youthful point guard was preparing to shoot two free throws when he heard a group of fans ask him, "How was recess today?"
A trip to the free-throw line in a home game on Dec. 18 prompted Eden Prairie fans to chant, "Diapers! Diapers!"
In each case, the 13-year-old Jones sank both free throws and accounted for more points a few possessions later with slick passes to teammates or floating drives to the basket.
"I didn't hear much from the stands after that," Jones said. "Those were the two games where the fans were on me pretty hard."
Jones delivered a message that might last for his high school career — a five-year run that could establish him as one of the state's most dynamic backcourt performers. The fast track to prominence started last summer when Apple Valley coach Zach Goring told Jones, a student at Apple Valley Middle School, that he would be his starting point guard.
For a Lake Conference school, or any Class AAAA varsity program, to put the ball in the hands of an eighth-grader is rare, if not risky. But Goring was willing to take his chances. Goring has seen Jones come up through the Apple Valley youth system since Jones was a third-grader.
The whispers of a future phenom in Apple Valley traveled all the way to the Bierman Athletic Center on the University of Minnesota campus. Gophers men's basketball coach Tubby Smith wanted to see for himself, so he slipped into the Apple Valley gym in late October to watch the team's first practice.
If Jones continues to improve, it is unlikely Smith will be the only NCAA Division I coach trying to catch a glimpse.
"Tyus has turned into a leader already with how calm and controlled he plays," Goring said. "We've had some pressure games and he's made big free throws to help us win. The kids look to him to settle things down and get us organized."
Jones has a baby-face appearance with his slender, 5-foot-10 frame. During Apple Valley's 8-3 start, he is averaging 14.4 points, 9.0 assists and 3.0 steals. He is shooting 80 percent (56 of 70) at the free-throw line and 41.8 percent (49 of 117) from the floor. He is not taking a gradual approach in his first varsity season.
"This has been a big goal of mine for a long time ... to play varsity as an eighth-grader," he said. "I really thought I had a chance to do it if I kept working hard. A lot of people seem amused by me being an eighth-grader. In the beginning, I got a little tired of it, but I'm used to it now."
Jones showed up on the youth basketball radar as a third- and fourth-grader when he helped lead the Minneapolis Hustlers to the AAU Nationals in 2006 and 2007. The Hustlers finished 12th in 2006 and fifth in 2007. Jones, a member of the Minnesota Magic Elite program the past two summers, helped lead Magic to the 15-under national title in 2009.
Jones' ball handling and passing are advanced. Goring has given him freedom to call plays if he sees something in the defense that might work. Eleven games into the season, Jones' teammates are far beyond the novelty of his impact.
"He's telling me things to look out for in certain situations," Apple Valley forward Tom Schalk said of Jones. "When we're out there playing, you forget sometimes he's in the eighth grade. He's so composed, and he's got great vision. He'll find you if you're open."
Jones has had four games this season with 11 or more assists, including a season-high 14 against Burnsville. In Tuesday night's Lake Conference game at Rosemount, Irish coach Bryan Schnettler had to sweat out an Apple Valley rally led by Jones, who scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half. Rosemount held on for a 76-71 overtime victory, but Jones left an impression on Schnettler.
"I got nervous when he put up those three-pointers near the end of regulation," Schnettler said. "You don't expect to see eighth-graders doing things like that."
Jones has had some tough moments. He averages 4.8 turnovers, and in two games he had seven turnovers and eight in another. The urge to do more occasionally has led to mistakes with the ball — forced shots or hard-to-handle passes.
"People think I'm supposed to have a lot of turnovers because I'm young," Jones said. "To me, it's not acceptable. I want to be better than that. I always try to use the next game to make sure I don't make the same mistakes."
Go Gophers!!
Eighth-grader earns the keys to Apple Valley's offense as its starting point guard
By Ray Richardson
As an eighth-grader competing on the Class AAAA varsity level in Minnesota high school boys basketball, Apple Valley's Tyus Jones already has learned how to quash trash talking from opposing fans.
During a Lake Conference game at Lakeville South on Dec. 8, the youthful point guard was preparing to shoot two free throws when he heard a group of fans ask him, "How was recess today?"
A trip to the free-throw line in a home game on Dec. 18 prompted Eden Prairie fans to chant, "Diapers! Diapers!"
In each case, the 13-year-old Jones sank both free throws and accounted for more points a few possessions later with slick passes to teammates or floating drives to the basket.
"I didn't hear much from the stands after that," Jones said. "Those were the two games where the fans were on me pretty hard."
Jones delivered a message that might last for his high school career — a five-year run that could establish him as one of the state's most dynamic backcourt performers. The fast track to prominence started last summer when Apple Valley coach Zach Goring told Jones, a student at Apple Valley Middle School, that he would be his starting point guard.
For a Lake Conference school, or any Class AAAA varsity program, to put the ball in the hands of an eighth-grader is rare, if not risky. But Goring was willing to take his chances. Goring has seen Jones come up through the Apple Valley youth system since Jones was a third-grader.
The whispers of a future phenom in Apple Valley traveled all the way to the Bierman Athletic Center on the University of Minnesota campus. Gophers men's basketball coach Tubby Smith wanted to see for himself, so he slipped into the Apple Valley gym in late October to watch the team's first practice.
If Jones continues to improve, it is unlikely Smith will be the only NCAA Division I coach trying to catch a glimpse.
"Tyus has turned into a leader already with how calm and controlled he plays," Goring said. "We've had some pressure games and he's made big free throws to help us win. The kids look to him to settle things down and get us organized."
Jones has a baby-face appearance with his slender, 5-foot-10 frame. During Apple Valley's 8-3 start, he is averaging 14.4 points, 9.0 assists and 3.0 steals. He is shooting 80 percent (56 of 70) at the free-throw line and 41.8 percent (49 of 117) from the floor. He is not taking a gradual approach in his first varsity season.
"This has been a big goal of mine for a long time ... to play varsity as an eighth-grader," he said. "I really thought I had a chance to do it if I kept working hard. A lot of people seem amused by me being an eighth-grader. In the beginning, I got a little tired of it, but I'm used to it now."
Jones showed up on the youth basketball radar as a third- and fourth-grader when he helped lead the Minneapolis Hustlers to the AAU Nationals in 2006 and 2007. The Hustlers finished 12th in 2006 and fifth in 2007. Jones, a member of the Minnesota Magic Elite program the past two summers, helped lead Magic to the 15-under national title in 2009.
Jones' ball handling and passing are advanced. Goring has given him freedom to call plays if he sees something in the defense that might work. Eleven games into the season, Jones' teammates are far beyond the novelty of his impact.
"He's telling me things to look out for in certain situations," Apple Valley forward Tom Schalk said of Jones. "When we're out there playing, you forget sometimes he's in the eighth grade. He's so composed, and he's got great vision. He'll find you if you're open."
Jones has had four games this season with 11 or more assists, including a season-high 14 against Burnsville. In Tuesday night's Lake Conference game at Rosemount, Irish coach Bryan Schnettler had to sweat out an Apple Valley rally led by Jones, who scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half. Rosemount held on for a 76-71 overtime victory, but Jones left an impression on Schnettler.
"I got nervous when he put up those three-pointers near the end of regulation," Schnettler said. "You don't expect to see eighth-graders doing things like that."
Jones has had some tough moments. He averages 4.8 turnovers, and in two games he had seven turnovers and eight in another. The urge to do more occasionally has led to mistakes with the ball — forced shots or hard-to-handle passes.
"People think I'm supposed to have a lot of turnovers because I'm young," Jones said. "To me, it's not acceptable. I want to be better than that. I always try to use the next game to make sure I don't make the same mistakes."
Go Gophers!!