The former basketball star from Hale County, Alabama, has his jersey retired

MOUNDVILLE – Cheers erupted in the Hale County High School gymnasium Tuesday as Herbert Jones removed the black sheet covering his soon-to-be-retired No. 2 Wildcats jersey.

Jones, a 2017 Hale County High School graduate and former Alabama basketball star, was the first Hale County basketball player to have his jersey retired, according to coach Antwan Butler. Jones, who starts for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA (though he missed several games this season due to injury), played for the Wildcats in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, leading them to a Class 4A state championship in 2017. the program’s first and only state title. In 2017, he was named the Class 4A Player of the Year.

“I could never have dreamed of something like this, but I’m very grateful for it,” Jones said. “I will continue to do everything I can to set a good example for the children.”

A native of Greensboro, Alabama, Jones began playing basketball at age 4. He began playing varsity in seventh grade with his father, Walter Sr., at Sunshine High School. After the school closed its doors in 2015, Jones transferred to Hale County where he finished his high school career under Coach Butler. Butler stood next to Jones on Tuesday as his jersey was unveiled.

“He’s the best, best player and guy I’ve ever coached, so it was a no-brainer,” Butler said. “He was a team leader, the hardest worker on your team, so he was easy to coach. He changed the culture in Hale County as it relates to basketball.”

After graduating from Hale County, Jones played college basketball at Alabama. He played his first two seasons under Avery Johnson and his last two under Nate Oats. At Alabama, Jones was named both the SEC Player of the Year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. He was also an AP Third-Team All-American (2021) and was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year (2021).

Oats was on hand to watch Jones’ jersey retirement on Tuesday and gave a short speech.

HERB JONES:Herbert Jones: 3 things to know about the Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball player

HERB JONES:At that time, Keon Ellis impressed former Alabama basketball star Herb Jones

“He’s an elite basketball player, an elite athlete,” Oats said. “But he’s the most humble, low-maintenance, best basketball player I’ve ever been around in my life.”

Also in attendance, along with Hale County middle and high school students, were Jones’ New Orleans Pelicans teammates and David Griffin, the Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations.

Jones was selected by the Pelicans with the 35th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

“It says a lot about the teammate that Herb is, that everyone is here,” Griffin said Tuesday. “We played three games in four evenings. … It would be easy for all these guys to go home and lick their wounds, and no one wanted to do that. When they got the opportunity to come here and support. Herb, that’s what they wanted to do.

Jones hasn’t played in a game for the Pelicans since Oct. 29, as he was sidelined with a shoulder injury. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie second team in 2021-22 and most recently to the NBA All-Defensive first team in 2023-24.

“It’s deserved,” teammate Trey Murphy, who was in the same 2021 draft class as Jones, said Tuesday. “…He’s a great guy, he puts everyone before himself.

The former basketball star from Hale County, Alabama, has his jersey retired

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

Related Post

Liam Neeson fans are going to hate what January 2025 has in store

The Birmingham Bowl is a long-awaited homecoming for Georgia Tech coach Brent Key

Trail Blazers’ Shaedon Sharpe increases efficiency in strong week

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You missed

Liam Neeson fans are going to hate what January 2025 has in store

The Birmingham Bowl is a long-awaited homecoming for Georgia Tech coach Brent Key

Trail Blazers’ Shaedon Sharpe increases efficiency in strong week

OU Football vs. Navy Armed Forces Bowl Score Predictions