Curtis Jones makes Iowa State go. He does it his way — and unlike anyone else in college basketball right now.
Primarily coming off the bench, Jones leads the Big 12 in scoring this year. Making big plays during a recent 12-game win streak, the 6-4 senior guard from Minneapolis propelled the Cyclones to a program-best ranking of No. 2 in the country after wins over perennial powers Kansas and Baylor.
The former Cretin-Derham Hall guard is the best sixth man in the game and also arguably the best player in his conference. A rare player indeed.
“Yeah I come off the bench,” Jones said. “But it isn’t like I’m missing much once I get into the game. That’s the starting lineup [coach T.J. Otzelberger] rolls with — and that’s fine. The only real thing is you get your name called before the game.”
Jones has been a starter three times in 17 games for Iowa State (15-2)this season, but he’s the Big 12’s leading scorer while averaging 21 points through six league games. A recent three-game stretch went like this: 23 points vs. Utah, 26 points vs. Texas Tech in OT and 25 points vs. Kansas.
“I still come in and play 30 minutes,” Jones said. “It’s not really that big of a deal in my opinion. I just come in with the mindset of attacking, making the right plays and taking what’s there. I’m very confident, so I feel like there’s a lot there for me.”
What makes Jones’ journey even more impressive is there wasn’t a lot there for him out of high school as far as college opportunities. No Division I offers. Not much at even D-II level. So he took the junior college route, which is almost like being on Mars in recruiting circles if you’re at the wrong school.
Jones, who played with Michigan State guard Tre Holloman in high school, viewed Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, as his ticket to the D-I level because of the program’s winning tradition and track record producing talent. He played one season there, averaging 12.1 points, 6 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
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