Celtics legend, NCCU alumnus Sam Jones to have jersey retired

http://www.wncn.com/story/28128795/celtics-legend-nccu-alumnus-sam-jones-to-have-jersey-retired



Celtics legend, NCCU alumnus Sam Jones to have jersey retired

Posted: Feb 17, 2015 5:41 PM GMT
Updated: Feb 17, 2015 5:41 PM GMT
by WNCN Staff
DURHAM, N.C. -


N.C. Central University announced Tuesday that the school will retire the jersey of alumnus and Boston Celtics legend Sam Jones on March 5.

The school will hold a ceremony on the day NCCU women's and men's basketball games against rival North Carolina A&T at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium on Central's campus.

Jones played at NCCU from 1951-54 and 1956-57. He remains the university's second-leading scorer with 1,745 points in four seasons.

Born in Wilmington and a graduate of Laurinburg Institute, Jones was selected eighth overall in the 1957 NBA draft by the Celtics. He was a key member of the great Boston teams led by Red Auerbach.

Jones' 12-year career with Boston included 10 NBA Championships, five All-Star game appearances, and three All-NBA Second Team selections.

Jones was nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” and scored 15,411 points (17.7 points per game), 4,305 rebounds, 2,209 assists in 871 games.

Jones is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the NCCU Athletics Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. He was named to both the NBA 25th and 50th Anniversary All-Time teams and was named as a top 50 player in NBA history after his selection to the 50th anniversary team.

Tickets for the ceremony and the doubleheader against NC A&T can be purchased at NCCUEaglePride.com or through the NCCU ticket office at 919-530-5170.


Photo Courtesy N.C. Central University



Photo Courtesy N.C. Central University



Photo Courtesy Wikimedia Commons


bob
MY NOTE:  I wonder what took them so long?  Not a very good sales pitch for a place of learning...


.

A retired number is nice, but I've been trying to get him a statue (without his knowledge).  Unfortunately, this gesture will only slow or nix that possibility.

Sam