Tyrique Jones

Tyrique Daniel Jones (born May 3, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Olympiacos of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Xavier Musketeers.

Early life Jones grew up playing football as a tight end and defensive end and idolized Dwight Freeney. However, while attending Bloomfield High School in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Freeney's alma mater, he began to focus on basketball instead. As a junior, he averaged 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game, leading his team to the Class S state semifinals and earning First Team All-State honors from the Hartford Courant. He played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for the New York Rens and Expressions Elite. For his senior season, Jones transferred to Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vermont, averaging 13.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He led his team to the Class AA New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Finals and was named to the Class AA All-NEPSAC Second Team. Jones played a postgraduate season, averaging 19.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.5 steals and 1.7 assists per game. He led Vermont Academy to its first ever NEPSAC title and was a Class AA All-NEPSAC First Team selection.

Jones was considered a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals, and a three-star recruit by 247Sports. On June 29, 2015, he committed to play college basketball for Xavier over offers from Florida State, Cincinnati and Texas Tech, among other high major programs.

College career As a freshman, Jones started four games in the NCAA Tournament and helped Xavier reach the Elite Eight. Coach Chris Mack praised his attitude and demeanor, calling him one of his favorite players.

On November 10, 2018, Jones scored 19 points and had a career-high 20 rebounds in a 91–85 win over Evansville. He posted a career-high 22 points and had 11 rebounds in a 78–76 overtime loss to Texas in the second round of the NIT, but missed a layup to tie the game at the end. As a junior, Jones averaged 11.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Following the season he declared for the 2019 NBA draft but ultimately returned to Xavier. On November 22, 2019, Jones posted 17 points with 11 rebounds in a 75–74 double overtime win over UConn and blocked a potential game-winning shot at the end of regulation. Jones averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds, 1.1 steals and one block per game as a senior and had 20 double-doubles, the fourth-most for Division I players. He was named to the Second Team All-Big East.

Professional career

Early years On September 21, 2020, Jones signed his first professional contract with Wonju DB Promy of the Korean Basketball League.

On December 31, 2020, he signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. In 2020–21 he was third in the Israel Basketball Premier League in blocked shots per game (1.4), 6th in offensive rebounds (2.6), and fifth in two-point field goal percentage (67.2 per cent).

Jones joined the Phoenix Suns for the 2021 NBA Summer League. On August 21, 2021, he signed with Victoria Libertas Pesaro of the Lega Basket Serie A.

On July 23, 2022, Jones signed with Türk Telekom of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). On June 21, 2023, he mutually parted ways with the Turkish club.

Andaolu Efes (2023–2024) On June 24, 2023, Jones signed a two-year contract with Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes, following his Türk Telekom coach Erdem Can.

Partizan (2024–2026) On August 20, 2024, Jones signed with Partizan Mozzart Bet of the ABA League, Basketball League of Serbia (KLS) and the EuroLeague. In his debut season with Partizan, Jones averaged career-high 11.6 points and 6 rebounds over 32 EuroLeague games. During the 2024–25 season, Partizan managed to lift the record eighth ABA League championship, and the Serbian League championship, the first one after 11 seasons.

Olympiacos (2026–present) On January 5, 2026, Jones signed with Olympiacos of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) and the EuroLeague. In March 2026, Jones was injured during the Greek League Derby. He left the game with 2:23 remaining after first falling to the floor and requesting a substitution. He was taken to the hospital for further tests on his calf.

Unsportsmanlike conduct

At the beginning of the 2025–26 season, Tyrique Jones was reported to be not in optimal physical condition, as he frequently dealt with minor injuries. Due to a minor injury, he missed a game against ASVEL in the EuroLeague.

Although he was not included in the game roster, Jones was present at the arena and became involved in a verbal altercation with a referee following a disputed decision. Head coach Partizan Željko Obradović intervened and removed him from the situation.

Following Obradović’s departure from the Partizan bench in late November 2025, Jones reportedly became less popular among Partizan supporters. In the first game after Obradović’s exit, on 4 December against FC Bayern Munich (basketball) in the EuroLeague, he was booed by a section of the home crowd.

Three weeks later, during a game against Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C., Jones was involved in a verbal confrontation with Partizan fans. Following these events, speculation increased regarding his potential departure from the club.

On 13 June 2026, during the third quarter of Game 5 of the Greek Basket League Finals between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, Jones was ejected after an on-court incident with Kendrick Nunn, during which he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after grabbing Nunn around the neck.

Following the game, which Olympiacos won, an additional altercation reportedly occurred in the Panathinaikos locker room area, where tensions escalated further.

Career statistics

EuroLeague

EuroCup

Domestic leagues Year Team League

College

Personal life Jones' mother, Petronia "Winnie" Bailey, emigrated with her brother from Jamaica to Connecticut at age 11. His father, Lester, was born in The Bahamas to Jamaican parents. On May 1, 2002, when Jones was four years old, his father jumped into Connecticut River and died by drowning, following an encounter with the police.

Jones was nicknamed "Eighty-Eight" by his father because his birth weight was eight pounds and eight ounces. The number was tattooed on Jones' right bicep when he was 16 years old; it was his first tattoo. He has a tattoo of the number 32 on his right shoulder and upper arm to honor his father's high school basketball jersey number at Weaver High School.