Tar Heel Great Bobby Jones Steps into Fayetteville
Published on February 24, 2003 under NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., February 21, 2003 â New Century Bank of Fayetteville and the Fayetteville Patriots will present a luncheon featuring University of North Carolina basketball legend Bobby Jones on March 11 at Highland Country Club in Fayetteville.
The luncheon begins at noon with a meet and greet session. Afterward, the first-place Fayetteville Patriots face the North Charleston Lowgators at 7:30 p.m., at the Crown Coliseum. The Jones luncheon is the second installment of the Fayetteville Patriots legend series.
David Thompson started the series when he spoke at the Crown Coliseum Hospitality Room on January 24. Jones and Thompson were named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team as two of the ACC's top 50 players of all time in September.
A ticket to the March 11 luncheon and game can be purchased for $25 at the Fayetteville Patriots office located at 400 Westwood Shopping Center, Suite 220 or by phone at (910) 213-1001. Season-ticket holders can purchase tickets for $15.
Jones, a native of North Carolina, is often regarded as one of the best defensive players in ACC and NBA history. He was not limited offensively, however. Jones averaged 13.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists and he shot an impressive 60.8 percent at UNC.
Jones' 66.8 percent shooting percentage as a sophomore in 1972 stood as the ACC single-season record until Brendan Haywood broke it (69.7) in 2000.
Jones, a Hall of Fame nominee in 2000, led the Tar Heels to the 1972 Final Four. The same year, he was also a member of the silver-medal winning Olympic Team.
During his senior season at UNC in 1974, Jones provided two of the most memorable moments in Tar Heel history. Jones stole a Duke Blue Devil inbound pass and drove the length of the floor for a layup to give the Tar Heels a 73-71 buzzer-beating victory.
A few weeks later, he scored four points to help the Tar Heels rally from eight points down with just 17 seconds remaining in regulation. He scored 24 points as the Tar Heels won the game 76-72 in overtime in Chapel Hill.
The Associated Press and UPI named Jones a second-team All-America during his senior season.
Professionally, Jones also enjoyed success in his 12-year American Basketball Association/NBA career. His career started in the ABA for the Denver Nuggets, where he was a member of the ABA's All-Rookie Team in 1975.
The 6-foot-9, 210-pound Jones was a two-time ABA All-Defensive Team selection. After playing four years in Denver (1974-78), he joined the Philadelphia 76ers in the fall of 1978 after being traded. He was named to NBA All-Defensive first-team eight consecutive seasons (1977-â84) and won the NBA Sixth Man Award in 1983. It was the same year he helped the 76ers win the NBA title.
NBA G League Stories from February 24, 2003
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- Tar Heel Great Bobby Jones Steps into Fayetteville - Fayetteville Patriots
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