Peach Jam: Jones proves his spot at #1 PG
The Howard Pulley Peach Jam ended Saturday afternoon with a loss to Bradley Beal Elite. With an impressive performance Tre Jones proved himself as the top lead guard in the nation.
Facing Darius Garland, the commonly rated other top point guard, Tre Jones made half of his 22 shots for 30 points. Garland didn’t defend Jones but Tre was on Garland the majority of the game and held him to only nine points.
The Panthers didn’t get the win, but Tre Jones earned the respect of the high school basketball community nation wide. However, what Jones cares about is winning so to bow out with a .500 record was frustrating.
“At the Peach Jam you have to bring it every game. In the games we lost, we weren’t there mentally or physically. After the loss we sat down as a team and talked we about what we have to do. Intensity is a big thing for us. We have to come ready to play right from the start.”
The Peach Jam is a Jones family tradition. Between Tyus and Tre they each played at multiple Peach Jams and their experience at these events is second to none.
“There is nothing like the atmosphere at the Peach Jam,” Tre said to Prep Hoops writer Matt Reynolds. “Any high school basketball anywhere, this is the best. This is the best of the best competing. Every college coach is here. Some of the best players in the country are here. Every game you are game you are playing against elite competition. There is nothing like it.”
Jones talked to several reporters this weekend and the programs following him remain the same. Duke, UCLA, Minnesota, Oregon, USC, and with the Butler staff going to Ohio State you can now add the Buckeyes to the mix in the place of Butler.
Who was at the games most commonly? Coach K of Duke and Richard Pitino of Minnesota took turns seeing who would get the mid-court spots. Both the Blue Devil and Gopher staffs were regulars at all of the Howard Pulley games.
Oregon also had a big presence watching Tre. Dana Altman and/or his assistants were at the games in multiples. Same could be said about USC who always had one or two coaches looking on. UCLA and Ohio State weren’t quite as consistent or as big in numbers but they were there at times.
It’s clear who is after Jones but we looked for clarification more of when Tre will start looking strong into recruiting and right now he’s more worried about finishing his time with Howard Pulley.
“Recruiting has been fun but also, it’s been a lot, for sure,” Jones said in a weighing tone. “I will start taking my official visits in the fall if not at the end of the summer. I’m really just trying to take recruiting slow. I’m focused on getting wins in AAU.”
Jones also mentioned that he will spent the final third of his summer in California training with brother Tyus Jones who of course plays with the Minnesota Timberwolves. While there Tre plans on taking visits to USC and UCLA.