In the middle of the troubles that the Memphis Tigers have been facing, the ascent of 21-year-old David Jones feels like a resurrection of their squad. Jones scored 36 points and five steals to help Memphis upset No. 20 Arkansas 84-79 in a Battle 4 Atlantis semifinal game. After his impressive performance, Jones was praised by Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway.

Despite the recent charges against the 2023 recruit Mikey Williams related to the use of guns, Hardaway’s recognition demonstrates the high value he places on the young talent.

David Jones’ unsung NCAA anthem

David Jones made his NCAA debut playing for the DePaul Blue Demons. Throughout nine games, he averaged 14.3 minutes and scored 5.1 points per game. In his second collegiate game against Providence, he achieved a season-high of 10 points.

During his final year at DePaul, the team was ranked ninth in the Big East, averaging 14.5 points per game. He reached double digits 21 times in 28 appearances, including seven games with 20 points or more and one game where he scored 30. His field goal percentage was 44.5, and he had a deep shot percentage of 29.7.

Jones led the team and was ranked 10th in the league with an average of 7.4 rebounds per game. He recorded five double-doubles, one of which was a triple-double for DePaul. Additionally, the Blue Demons were in the lead with 47 steals.