Tre Jones, Duke
Slash Line: 8-for-14/5-for-7/1-for-2
Stat Line: 22 points, eight assists, four rebounds, one steal
When Duke dropped the surprise news of Cam Reddish’s absence due to injury, it required someone to step up. They only run six or seven players as is, so few options existed for this. One of them, though, was Tre Jones, who rose up as the second-leading scorer Friday night to help defeat Virginia Tech.
Jones’ 22 points were not only the first time he crossed 20 this season, but a career high. His previous mark was 18 in a conference tournament win over Florida State.
Eight assists helped the Blue Devils’ point guard dish to his superstar teammates, Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett, who combined for 41 points.
Jones, only a freshman, has NBA upside as a backup or the occasional starter. Court vision is there, but his athleticism is not overwhelming. Despite making five three-pointers against the Hokies, he shot just 23.2 percent from behind the arc, including a 1-for-8 night against UCF in the Round of 32.
There is a case for Jones to return for another season and work on his game, but if Barrett, Reddish and Williamson — all potential top-10 picks — all depart for greener pastures after the NCAA Tournament, will he follow? If so, and if the New York Knicks want another point guard, this is an interesting pick if he makes it to the second round.