On Thursday, Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Tyus Jones returned from the team’s west coast road trip. Not long after touching down in Minneapolis, Jones was back on the road — headed back to the ‘burbs.
A 2014 Apple Valley High School graduate, Jones — who was serendipitously drafted by his hometown team — makes the trek from Minneapolis, past the Mall of America to Apple Valley, often.
Earlier this week, it was no surprise he again made the trip. Tyus’ brother, Tre, was playing in his first nationally televised game of his senior season.
The ESPN broadcast featured a game-high 39 points from the younger Jones but also an “L” as Apple Valley was surprisingly knocked off by the visiting Minnehaha Academy, 84-79.
“Obviously the wrong team won,” said Tyus after the Wolves’ Saturday-morning shootaround. “But it was fun to watch. Really good guards. My brother played a good game (39 points) and then Jalen Suggs (the Minnehaha sophomore) is a good guard already.”
Tyus said, he noticed “a lot of jitters” from his little brother in the game but described how this was understandable given the added pressure.
The defending state champions of Apple Valley knew they would have their work cut out for them this season after having lost last season’s senior captain, Gary Trent Jr., to the college game — Tyus’ alma mater, Duke.
Tre is also committed to Duke next season.
Going forward, the undersized squad will have some rebuilding to do so as to justify their preseason number-one ranking in the state’s 4A division.
Tre has the guidance of his older brother to help get through this season but as Tyus mentions, the ultimate goal is beyond that; it is for Tre to “meet me up here.” For now, Tyus says he is still the superior one-on-one player.
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