When Rubin Jones arrived to the first practice of his sophomore season in the summer of 2021, there was a different pep in his step.
A new spirit to his smile.
Enthusiasm in his voice that wasn’t as present the year before.
The North Texas men’s basketball guard as a freshman kept his personality close to his chest, only seen when behind the closed doors of the locker or dorm room in the comfort of a select few.
But at this summer practice there was a complete 180-degree change.
Jones during breaks in practice was teasing support staff. He was joking around and being loud and goofy. It led even one member of the staff to ask
“Where did this Rubin come from?”.
His freshman shell had been removed.
Jones’ personality change would be critical for a North Texas team that was looking to build off its historic league championship and Round of 32 NCAA Tournament 2021 season, because Jones was now the starting point guard.
"A point guard is someone who leads," Jones said during the season. "And to lead you need to have personality."
As the days, weeks and months progressed it became clear the new Jones was not something just for show or forced. Even off the court his personality soaked up any room he was in.
But Jones knew just being a fun and goofy friend wasn't going to make him a good leader or help the team win more games.
He had to put in the work on the court.
So that's what he did.
After a slow first four games to the season where UNT went 2-2 and Jones scored just 22 total points on 2-of-17 shooting from 3-point range, it became clear to him an extra level needed to be asserted. Before every practice in the morning, Jones could be seen working on his shooting and ball-handling.
Then immediately after practice he'd do it again.
Then he'd come back at night after class for some more work.
The result...
He went on a streak where he averaged over 13 points per game and shot over 60 percent from 3-point range.
Jones had his ups and downs throughout the year as is expected with a second-year sophomore, but his value to the Mean Green was beyond clear.
UNT won over 80 percent of its games when Jones scored 10 or more points and they went 12-1 in games where he made two or more 3-pointers.
As a leader of the team, Jones helped guide North Texas to its first 25-win season in program history. They captured a third straight Conference USA trophy and earned its first National Invitation Tournament bid too. In the NIT, the Mean Green defeated Texas State in overtime in the first round, 67-63.
In the win over Texas State, Jones dropped 15 points. He sank three critical 3-pointers and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line in overtime to seal the Mean Green's first-ever NIT win.
