The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

KAI Jones set another career high in limited minutes in his freshman season for the Texas Longhorns.

Jones had a team leading five blocked shots in just 16 minutes of the Longhorns’ 76-64 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Texas improved to 12-4 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12. Jones led the team to a season high 11 blocked shots.

“I thought Kai Jones’ activity - this was probably his best game that he’s played. His activity was really good, the way he rebounded, the way he blocked shots and we need that. We need contributions from all of our guys,” said Longhorns’ head coach Shaka Smart.

“We needed everyone to step forward, we knew Oklahoma State would play with a level of aggressiveness. I think our guys activity was really good, that’s what led to the 11 blocks. They’re tough to guard with the stuff that they do, they definitely got in the paint a decent amount but our guys scrambled and helped each other.”

Jones also made his lone three point attempt and finished with five rebounds.

The Longhorns also converted a team season-high 15 three-point field goals (on 32 attempts) and tied a team season high with 19 assists. “Our players have to drive who we are, what we’re about on the floor and that starts on the defensive end,” Smart said.

Earlier in the season, Smart lauded Jones’ effort following a win over the Central Michigan Chippewas.

“One thing about Kai, he has the best work ethic of any 6’11 player I have ever coached. That really is going to serve him well moving forward. A lot of guys 6’0, 6’2” they get in the gym and work on their game, but he really works,” Smart said. “He works like a guard, most bigs don’t work great at that age. They’re still learning to work. All those guys that we’ve had at that position developed so much better work ethic during their time here and beyond. But Kai came in with a work ethic and drive to get better and he has big goals, so that says a lot about him.”

Jones, an incoming member of the 2019 freshman class, came to Texas as one of the top 50 Prep Basketball recruits in America. He was listed at No. 49 in the final ranking of the ESPN Top 100 for the Class of 2019 following his standout season at Brewster Prep Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

A consensus four-star recruit, Jones earned a scout grade of 88 overall and was ranked No.13 among all centres, No.12 in his region and No.1 in the state of New Hampshire.