Q&A: Tyus Jones Talks Duke, Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State

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Tyus Jones Talks Duke, Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State
By Nadine Babu

http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/131047?referrer_id=331171

Only a sophomore, Tyus Jones is a household name throughout Minnesota and across the country. He recently added to his growing list accolades as he broke Apple Valley’s school assist records when he recorded his 448th assist and he isn’t even halfway through his high school career!

GopherHole’s Nadine Babu caught up with Jones Tuesday night to learn the latest on his recruitment and thought process as he navigates the recruiting process that will only intensify as he progresses through high school.

GH: What do you like most about Michigan State?

TJ: I like the style of play, they get up and down, as well as their coach, Coach Izzo is a great guy. I haven’t visited or anything, so I can’t really tell you about the campus, or anything more than what I’ve seen on TV, or what you’ve seen.

GH: What about Ohio State?

TJ: Ohio State, I took an unofficial there. I like the campus and stuff down there, as well as their style of play as well. I like a few things down there.

GH: What do you like about Duke?

TJ: Duke, I like their style of play as well, they have one of the best coaches of all time, Coach K. There are a lot of things that I don’t know about all of these schools, that will have to go into consideration as well.

GH: The school that you probably know the most about is Minnesota, being in your backyard. What do you like about Minnesota?

TJ: I like Tubby Smith. Like I said, there are a lot of things I don’t know, being that I haven’t looked too deep into it. The school itself is going to be a major part of where I choose to go. There are a lot of things that me and my family will have to consider and there’s still a lot of time.

GH: Aside from your family, who else will help you with this decision making process?

TJ: My family, my entire family. My mom and my dad, my older and younger brother, my grandparents, my aunt and uncle are a big big help, so just my entire family is there for me.

GH: It sounds like you’re very close to your family, is staying close to home a factor at all?

TJ: Location won’t be a make or break. It won’t make me stay, it won’t make me go to a school or not go to a school. It’s not really too big of an issue.

GH: What type of player do you want to become? What do you want to improve upon?

TJ: Defense, you always want to become the best defender you can be. Getting stronger and quicker, you can always get stronger.

GH: With all of the attention you’ve been getting since you were in 8th grade, how do you stay grounded?

TJ: It’s how I was raised. Ever since I was little, it was just how I was raised. I give my mom and my dad credit for that.
 

Thanks, Nadine.

Interesting responses from Jones. Sounds about par for the course for a high school sophomore with a huge decision to make. Anything can happen in the next couple years. I'm still getting vibes that it'll be a minor miracle if he stays home, though.
 


;/

LongLiveMilesTarver said:
So he likes the style of play at Duke, Michigan State, and Ohio State.
Click to expand...

&

Staying close to home is not a factor.

GH: It sounds like you’re very close to your family, is staying close to home a factor at all?

TJ: Location won’t be a make or break. It won’t make me stay, it won’t make me go to a school or not go to a school. It’s not really too big of an issue.
 

I've heard people say he could start for the Gophers right now. I was at this game (when Nadine talked to Tyus) and I can tell you that that is a load of $%^&. He wasn't even the most effective player on the court that night against Lakeville North. Lakeville did a GREAT job defending Tyus and he forced up a bunch of bad shots. And he and his teammates all got abused on defense. Lakeville did a great job creating passing lanes and dumping the ball into the low block. The second half looked like a Lakeville layup drill.

Of course, Tyus is great. He has great speed and quickness. He is a great ball-handler, and he protects the ball even when going at a high rate of speed. He is a good passer but thinks "shot" too much. Of course, the fact that his teammates are high school kids who might not finish undoubtedly affects his decisions whether to pass or shoot. But with better teammates, his team better get off a lot better shots than what it is getting now. His outside shot was not falling the other night. But like I said, Lakeville did a great job defending him.

Go see him now, though, because you're not going to see him in the state tournament, not this year. He sounds like a good kid, grounded, as they say.
 



sunnyday2 said:
He is a good passer but thinks "shot" too much.
Click to expand...

I went to the Burnsville game last Friday, granted, Burnsville sucks, but I saw the complete opposite. First time I've seen Jones play and I went there expecting to see him hoist up a ton of shots. Didn't happen.

Think he scored a quiet 30 and had to have at least 11-12 assists. He was unselfish, almost to a fault. He got into the lane anytime he wanted and could have hit the little jumper anytime he wanted, but most every time he dumped it off to a wide-open teammate under the basket. Was very impressed. He's a big-time talent, but I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't "act" big time. He's certainly the real deal. He strikes me as a Izzo-type PG. I hope that doesn't come to fruition.
 

SelectionSunday said:
I went to the Burnsville game last Friday, granted, Burnsville sucks, but I saw the complete opposite. First time I've seen Jones play and I went there expecting to see him hoist up a ton of shots. Didn't happen.

Think he scored a quiet 30 and had to have at least 11-12 assists. He was unselfish, almost to a fault. He got into the lane anytime he wanted and could have hit the little jumper anytime he wanted, but most every time he dumped it off to a wide-open teammate under the basket. Was very impressed. He's a big-time talent, but I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't "act" big time. He's certainly the real deal. He strikes me as a Izzo-type PG. I hope that doesn't come to fruition.
Click to expand...

I thought that exact same thing. Michigan State normally has athletic wings that can get up and down the court and finish on the break or in traffic (Richardson, Brown, Torbert, Roe). With a pg like Tyus that can put his passes on a dime, guys like them would be all the more effective. That's my early prediction for where he goes as well.
 




sunnyday2 said:
I've heard people say he could start for the Gophers right now. I was at this game (when Nadine talked to Tyus) and I can tell you that that is a load of $%^&. He wasn't even the most effective player on the court that night against Lakeville North. Lakeville did a GREAT job defending Tyus and he forced up a bunch of bad shots. And he and his teammates all got abused on defense. Lakeville did a great job creating passing lanes and dumping the ball into the low block. The second half looked like a Lakeville layup drill.

Of course, Tyus is great. He has great speed and quickness. He is a great ball-handler, and he protects the ball even when going at a high rate of speed. He is a good passer but thinks "shot" too much. Of course, the fact that his teammates are high school kids who might not finish undoubtedly affects his decisions whether to pass or shoot. But with better teammates, his team better get off a lot better shots than what it is getting now. His outside shot was not falling the other night. But like I said, Lakeville did a great job defending him.

Go see him now, though, because you're not going to see him in the state tournament, not this year. He sounds like a good kid, grounded, as they say.
Click to expand...

I suspect you've only seen him play this one game. If so, you saw him against one of the top 3 teams in the state - one that is much better than Jones' cast.

Jones is forced to take more shots this year because Apple Valley just doesn't have the horses against the very elite teams. He's unselfish to a fault and only looks better when surrounded by better weapons.

Your statement is simply wrong. He would start for the Gophers today.
 

Facts34 said:
I suspect you've only seen him play this one game. If so, you saw him against one of the top 3 teams in the state - one that is much better than Jones' cast.

Jones is forced to take more shots this year because Apple Valley just doesn't have the horses against the very elite teams. He's unselfish to a fault and only looks better when surrounded by better weapons.

Your statement is simply wrong. He would start for the Gophers today.
Click to expand...

This.
 

I think that if you asked Tyus, he would probably admit that was his worst game in some time. I've seen him play eight times this year and that was his worst game. However, Apple Valley was without their third leading scorer, Harry Sonie, who is expected to miss the rest of the season. Apple Valley lacks the size that they had last year and they are not overly deep. Tyus probably tried to do too much at times. Lakeville North was physical with him and the refs did not call many fouls, which made it tough for him. North utilized their size advantage as they scored 15 of the game's last 16 points.

Tyus did not have his typical game, but I would take him every day on my team.

Chris Monter
 





Follow in McDonalds footsteps Tyus! Seal the borders Tubby!
 

I doubt he could do better than Welch right now, but I would bet a lot of money he could do better than Mav. I'm pretty sure I could beat Mav in a one-on-one game though.

sunnyday2 said:
I've heard people say he could start for the Gophers right now. I was at this game (when Nadine talked to Tyus) and I can tell you that that is a load of $%^&. He wasn't even the most effective player on the court that night against Lakeville North. Lakeville did a GREAT job defending Tyus and he forced up a bunch of bad shots. And he and his teammates all got abused on defense. Lakeville did a great job creating passing lanes and dumping the ball into the low block. The second half looked like a Lakeville layup drill.

Of course, Tyus is great. He has great speed and quickness. He is a great ball-handler, and he protects the ball even when going at a high rate of speed. He is a good passer but thinks "shot" too much. Of course, the fact that his teammates are high school kids who might not finish undoubtedly affects his decisions whether to pass or shoot. But with better teammates, his team better get off a lot better shots than what it is getting now. His outside shot was not falling the other night. But like I said, Lakeville did a great job defending him.

Go see him now, though, because you're not going to see him in the state tournament, not this year. He sounds like a good kid, grounded, as they say.
Click to expand...
 

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