Denver Jones joins exclusive company after receiving national honors

The Auburn Tigers Men’s basketball team had an impressive week, with two road victories over Vanderbilt and No. 2 Alabama. However, one player stood out in both games and was recognized at the national level.

Senior guard Denver Jones had already been awarded SEC Player of the Week but is now the third player in program history to win Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week recognition. Jones joins Walker Kessler (2022) and current teammate Johni Broome (2024). 

In Tuesday's 12-point victory over the Commodores, Jones scored 21 points on 70% percent from the field with five 3-point attempts made. 

He followed up that performance with another impressive outing against the Tide with 16 points and three made 3-point attempts while holding opposing point guard Mark Sears to 23% on field goal attempts and 2-for-11 on 3-point attempts. 

“Honestly, it was just listening to the game plan. Our coaches put a great game plan in — how to guard their actions, especially the hardest actions. Honestly, it was just listening to that and trusting my teammates,” Jones said of his performance on Saturday following the win against the Crimson Tide.  

Across the two games, Jones shot 12-for-19 from the field, eight-for-12 on 3-point attempts, and 100% on five free throw attempts this week, surpassing his season averages of 10.7 points per game and 44.3% from the field in both contests. 

“You know, ‘how do you stay in front of Mark Sears?’ Hardly anybody can. Denver Jones did, and nobody talked about it. He doesn't have enough blocked shots, or he doesn't have enough steals. He's one of the best defensive players in college basketball. He needs to be on the Naismith All-Defensive team,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said after the Tigers’ win in Tuscaloosa, AL on Saturday evening. 

In his first season transitioning to a full-time point guard, Jones made his impact felt and helped hoist the top-ranked Tigers to first place in the SEC this season.