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Who are some former Bearcats players that deserve to be in the University of Cincinnati James P. Kelly Athletics Hall Of Fame? Which former players deserve to be in the same exclusive club as such names as Oscar Robertson, Kenyon, Martin, Steve Logan, Jason Maxiell, and Melvin Levett, that haven’t been inducted yet? Odds are you can think of more than one person who should be a Hall of Famer. One guy you might have passed over is Herb Jones.
Originally from Atlanta, GA Jones was considered the first big recruit that a young Bob Huggins landed for the Bearcats. Jones had been a two time junior college All-American and was one of the top junior college players in the nation. At Butler County Community College (KS) he averaged over 28 points a game.
Herb Jones (#34) was a senior for the Bearcats in 1992, a team that went 29-4, winning those 29 games by an average of 16 points a game. That same year the Bearcats marched to the Final Four. You’ll be sure to remember Nick Van Exel and Corie Blount from that team but do you remember that it was Jones that led the team in both points and rebounds with 18.1 and 7.4, respectfully. He also led the team in dunks that year with 31.
Jones is exactly the type of guy that Huggins loved to recruit, an athletic guy that was relentless on both ends of the floor. Jones wasn’t just about scoring, he led the attack in the vicious full court press the Bearcats became infamous for that season.
After putting up a double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds in the Elite Eight against Penny Hardaway and Memphis State, Jones was named the Region’s Most Outstanding Player. The 6’3″ forward Jones locked down the 6’7″ Hardaway allowing him a pedestrian 12 points. It was the Bearcat’s 4th win over the Tigers that season.
Those numbers weren’t a fluke for Jones. During the ’92 NCAA Tournament Jones averaged 17.8 points a game, which included scoring 24 points in a two point win against UTEP in the Sweet Sixteen.
For his two year career at UC Jones averaged 1.9 assists/game, shot 53% of the field and 39% from behind the 3 point line. He averaged just over 17 points a game and 7 rebounds overall.
Once he left UC he continued his basketball career overseas in Spain, Italy, the Philippines, Greece, and Argentina. Jones won a championship with his Spanish team.
It’s one thing to be remembered and supported by fans but if a guy has the support of his teammates you know he’s on another level. In a recent interview on Alex Meacham’s podcast, THE Bearcat Basketball Podcast, Herb’s former teammate AD Jackson said “I don’t know how (Herb) isn’t in the UC Hall of Fame yet. He’s pretty much the guy that carried us to the Final Four…”
Another member of that same team and now Bearcats basketball radio color commentator Terry Nelson spoke very highly of Herb as a teammate saying “Herb had such a cerebral understanding of the game and that’s why he was such a great 2-way player… He was also our best perimeter defender guarding the top guard or wing player. Nelson went on to describe Herb, “He never spoke on the court but he was our leader. He never tired on the floor and you could always catch him in the gym working on his game… He’s truly Bearcat Royalty.”
How good was he? Does he pass the eye test? See for yourself.
Some ’92 Team Highlights for you, watch out for #34.
Cheers!
*Cover photo comes from UC Magazine and Sean Hughes.
* Team photo from gobearcats.com
* A Big thanks to @UCBearcatfan92 for the Media Guide picture
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