Tre Jones declares for 2020 NBA Draft: How will Duke replace him?

Tre Jones has decided to go pro after his sophomore season, leaving some big shoes to fill at the point guard spot for Duke.

In news that shouldn’t come as much of a shock to anyone who has followed college basketball this season, Duke will be losing a key player to the NBA Draft. Point guard Tre Jones who returned for his sophomore season to boost his draft stock is officially going pro after two years in Durham.

Jones said goodbye via Twitter and thanked the fans and Duke for all they did for him over the last two years.

"“Duke has taught me what it means and what it takes to be the best at what I do. So many people have had an impact on me and this incredible journey — my family, my teammates, my coaches. I thank each and every one of them. My journey is just getting started as I look to begin my career at the next level. I will forever cherish everything Duke — always the brotherhood.”"

https://twitter.com/Tre3Jones/status/1241434412253937664

At this point a year ago, Jones was a fringe first-rounder so it made sense for him to return to school and work on his game. Jones made significant strides as a shooter, boosting his 3-point shooting by nearly 10 percent year-to-year, and saw all of his counting stats improve as Duke counted on Jones more on offense with Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish off to the NBA.

Another area that makes Jones an attractive prospect for pro teams is his ability as a defender, which ESPN’s draft analyst Mike Schmitz highlighted.

Jones has had to square off with numerous pro prospects at the point guard position the past few years, including Coby White, Cole Anthony and Cassius Winston, and his instincts, as well as active hands, mean he will be a good defender at the next level.

There isn’t a ton to suggest that Jones will be an impact player in the NBA, but he has a solid floor as a backup point guard who can play in the league for a decade or so. That is the trajectory that his older brother Tyus Jones has been on since leaving Duke in 2015, and if the younger Jones follows that path it will lead to a selection in the late teens or early 20’s of the draft.

The more interesting question is where Duke goes to fill Jones’ shoes. In terms of simply manning the position, the Blue Devils will likely entrust the point guard spot to incoming freshman Jeremy Roach, a five-star recruit that has drawn rave reviews for his playmaking ability and athleticism in the open floor.

The skill that Jones provides that Roach can’t replace is leadership, at least not right away. Jones was a steadying presence as a sophomore on a team full of freshmen, and having that at the point guard spot is very valuable in the college game.

Unless a player like Wendell Moore or Cassius Stanley opts to pull a page out of Jones’ book and stay for a second year, Mike Krzyzewski will have to turn to players like Joey Baker, Jordan Goldwire and Alex O’Connell to be the anchors of another baby Blue Devils’ team. The leadership aspect is where Jones’ departure will most be felt at Duke but it shouldn’t be surprising in the least to see him go pro now.

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