HAMPTON, Va.—Arguably the Duke coaching staff's top priority in the recruiting class of 2014, Tyus Jones is the No. 1 point guard in the class. The Minnesota native has a list of seven schools at the moment. Over the weekend, each of those schools closely tracked the 6-foot-1 floor general during the live evaluation period at the Hampton Nike EYBL tournament. Jones spoke about his recruitment over the weekend with The Chronicle.
Question: What does your list of prospective schools look like at this point?
A: Baylor, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan State and Ohio State.
Q: What are you looking for in a school and program?
A: I’m looking at a lot of things. You have to look at the education piece, the other recruits they are bringing in with you, the style of play and how the coaching staff has relationships with players on and off the court.
Q: What kind of style of play is most appealing to you?
A: Up and down, more of motion. Just a style where you can really play basketball.
Q: Over the course of this summer, what do you think you can improve upon the most?
A: Overall speed and strength. You can never be too fast, too quick or too strong. So, you just want to keep improving.
Q: How do you handle the fact that there is a handful of A-list head coaches in attendance for every single one of your games?
A: You really got to just pay no attention. They are here to watch, so you have to be really focused on the game. You just have to play your game and stick to your strengths.
Q: Who have you had in-home visits recently?
A: Duke, Baylor, Ohio State, Kansas and Michigan State have all been in for in-home visits.
Q: What exactly was Coach K's message to you during the in-home visit?
A: We were just really talking about how he feels I can fit into their system and what they can bring to the table for myself not only as a player but also a person. So it was really just good visits all around with all of the schools. Nothing too uptight or stressful.
Q: Did your outlook on any of his schools change in light of the in-home visits?
A: Nothing too major good or bad. Like I said, it was really just going back and forth with the coaches. I have good relationships with all of the coaching staffs. It was really just a stress-free thing and I enjoyed it.
Q: Duke is going to have Quinn Cook on the roster when you would be a freshman. Has the coaching staff talked to you about it? Does that dynamic have any sort of any sort of impact as you look at Duke:
A: They have talked to me about it. Every college is going to have a point guard on the roster and any college is going to have players at your position. So, it’s something you look at, but like I said every college has that situation.
Q: So, you would you be comfortable playing with Quinn Cook at the next level?
A: Yeah, I would. He’d be a senior, a veteran, a guy that you can learn from. Like I said, every college has players at every position.
Q: Are you and top-ranked 2014 center Jahlil Okafor still planning on attending the same school?
A: Yes sir.
Q: Have the two of you discussed any more about where you want to go recently?
A: Yeah we have talked a little bit about it.
Q: Do you plan on playing with the Team USA 19U team this summer?
A: Most likely.
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