![[Original size] DJ's Sports Show.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/75856f_7f4ffe7f83c14d209a701ef21c02c17d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_120,h_120,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/%5BOriginal%20size%5D%20DJ's%20Sports%20Show.png)
Jeff Hanisch/Imagn Images
It’s still very early in the college basketball season. We’re only a handful of games into the early part of the season, and conference play does not kick off until around Christmas. Despite it being early, it's crucial to note that some players, including Marquette star senior guard Kam Jones, have already separated themselves from others in the early going in the Big East.
Jones, 22, has been magnificent in helping lead the Marquette Golden Bears to a 5-0 start. This season, he’s been amongst the top many categories in the Big East, averaging 22.8 PPG (3rd in Big East), 6.0 APG (3rd), 1.6 steals (7th), and 63.8 FG% (3rd) while also shooting 48 percent from three on five attempts per game per ESPN. What makes it more impressive is that he’s shooting over 60 percent from the field as a guard! It's simply unheard of.
If you thought those numbers were impressive, the former All-Big East Second Team selection had perhaps the best game of his career against No.6 ranked Purdue on Tuesday, recording the third triple-double in Marquette history of 17-13-10 while shooting 58 percent from the field in their 78-56 victory. It was the first triple-double in program history since NBA legend Dwyane Wade did it in 2003 in the Elite Eight against the Kentucky Wildcats when he recorded 29-11-11 to lead the Golden Bears to the Final Four.
The other former Golden Bear to record a triple-double was Tony Miller on Dec. 31, 1994, where he recorded 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists against Wisconsin. Jones adds his name to the historic company in an emotional game due to his former high school coach, Terry Tippett, passing away on Saturday at 79 who coached Jones at Evangelical Christian in Memphis, Tennessee.
"I wanted to really dedicate this game to him and dedicate the rest of the season to him," Jones said.
Jones came into the season with a more prominent role, with 2022-23 Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro now in the NBA after being second-round draft picks. Jones was always known as a scorer, but now he has rounded out his game, putting up career-highs in rebounds (13) and assists (10) in their victory over Purdue, a clear sign of his evolution as a player.
His coach has taken notice as well.
"He's always had better ability as a playmaker than people might think, but his role was a little different when we had Tyler and Oso because those guys were such good passers and distributors, and we needed him to think, score, score, score," Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. "We still need him to score, but he also has the ball in his hands more, and we need him to create opportunities for other guys.
Even Purdue coach Matt Painter had high praise for the Marquette guard: "He came here as a shooter. Now he's a player."
Elevated production and a more polished arsenal have helped propel Jones up the NBA Draft Boards. Despite that, Jones could improve from the charity stripe (68%), and as a defender. He has the right attitude that every NBA organization wants on their team.
"They say what's done in the dark will come to light," Jones said. "I was in the gym with Coach watching film -- watching film before games, watching film late nights, early mornings, trying to constantly figure out ways to get better. That's the name of the game."
Jones will now look to lead Marquette to 6-0 in their next matchup Saturday at 11 a.m. ET against Georgia and their first Big East title since 2019. With the way he’s playing right now, anything is possible.
Comments