There are players who leave West Virginia with unforgettable moments. Then there are players who leave as legends.

Kevin Jones belongs in that second category.

When Jones arrived in Morgantown from Mount Vernon, New York, he wasn’t considered one of the biggest stars in college basketball. But season after season, he developed into one of the hardest-working and most complete players in the country. His journey perfectly reflected what West Virginia basketball has always been about: toughness, grit, and earning everything.

As a sophomore, Jones played a major role on the 2009-10 Mountaineers team that made an unforgettable run to the Final Four under Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins. Alongside Da’Sean Butler, Darryl “Truck” Bryant, Devin Ebanks, Joe Mazzulla, Wellington Smith, and the rest of that memorable group, Jones helped restore West Virginia basketball to national prominence.

That Final Four run remains one of the greatest achievements in school history, and Jones was an important piece of it.

But his story didn’t end there. After Butler and several veterans moved on, the responsibility shifted to Jones. Instead of shrinking under the pressure, he embraced it.

Every offseason he added something new to his game. His scoring improved. His footwork became more polished. His rebounding remained elite. Most importantly, he became the unquestioned leader of the program.

By his senior season in 2011-12, Jones had transformed himself into one of the best players in America. He averaged closed to 20 points and 10.9 rebounds per game while leading the Mountaineers back to the NCAA Tournament. His remarkable season earned him First Team All-Big East honors in what many still consider the greatest era of Big East basketball.

Jones wasn’t just putting up numbers. He was doing it against future NBA talent every single night.

What made him special wasn’t flashy athleticism or highlight dunks. It was consistency. He played through contact. He battled on every possession. He rebounded with relentless effort. He could score inside, knock down mid-range jumpers, and stretch defenses when needed. Every night, Mountaineer fans knew exactly what they were getting from Kevin Jones: maximum effort.

By the end of his career, Jones ranked among the greatest rebounders and most productive forwards in West Virginia history. His basketball journey continued professionally, including time with the Cleveland Cavaliers organization before building a successful career overseas.

Yet for Mountaineer fans, his greatest legacy will always be what he accomplished wearing the Flying WV.

From helping lead a Final Four run to becoming an All-Big East star and one of the faces of the program, Kevin Jones embodied everything West Virginia basketball represents. Hard work. Leadership. Loyalty. Toughness.

That is the WVU Brotherhood.

 

Q: Tell Mountaineer Nation about your journey growing up in Mount Vernon, New York. How did basketball become such a big part of your life?

A: Basketball was always a big part of Mount Vernon, although I didn’t really understand the city’s basketball history until I got into high school. I was just a regular kid who loved being outside and playing with friends. I was always taller than the other kids, and my older brother, Gerard, introduced me to basketball because of my height. He thought it would help me burn off energy, stay out of trouble, learn discipline, and understand how to work with others as part of a team. As the years went by and I got better, I fell in love with the game.

 

Q: What made West Virginia stand out during the recruiting process?

A: Being coached by a legend like Bob Huggins was a huge reason. I also looked at what he had done with players at my position. On top of that, there were other Tri-State guys already there like Da’Sean Butler and Wellington Smith from New Jersey, and Truck Bryant from New York. Seeing guys from where I came from choosing WVU made me feel like there was something special there, and that definitely intrigued me.

 

Q: What were your first impressions of Morgantown when you arrived on campus?

A: It was definitely a culture shock. Growing up, I mainly went to school with Black and Hispanic students, so seeing the diversity on campus was something new and really cool to experience. Morgantown also had that small-town, home-like feeling. From the beginning, it just felt like the right place for me.

 

Q: You were part of the 2010 Final Four team. What do you remember most about that incredible run?

A: I remember the grind it took to get there. It was a total team effort, and everyone truly believed we could do something special. But winning the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden was probably the most special moment for me because all of my family and friends were there to experience it.

 

Q: What was it like sharing the court with players like Da’Sean Butler, Darryl “Truck” Bryant, Joe Mazzulla, Devin Ebanks, and Wellington Smith?

A: Those guys are my brothers for life. We had an all-Tri-State starting lineup, so I always felt like New York embraced WVU as its own team. Playing alongside that much talent pushed you to get better every single day, and I loved how we constantly challenged each other to become the best versions of ourselves.

 

Q: After that Final Four team, you became one of the leaders of the program. How did your role change?

A: Once Da’Sean left, I felt like it was my responsibility to carry the torch over the next two seasons because of the sophomore year I had. I also learned how difficult it is to lead a team at that level. I struggled early during my junior season, but I eventually found my footing and carried that confidence into a great senior year.

 

Q: By your senior season, you were one of the best players in America. What allowed your game to reach another level?

A: By the end of my junior year, I had complete confidence because I knew what it took to become great. I also cut out a lot of personal distractions and really locked in. We had a very young team, so I knew it was going to take everything I had if we wanted to have a chance to be successful.

 

Q: What did earning First Team All-Big East mean to you, especially considering how loaded that conference was?

A: It meant a lot. It validated all of the hard work I had put in over the years and showed me that all the sacrifices were worth it. I also felt like I had earned my place among the best players in the country.

 

Q: Bob Huggins is known for demanding toughness. What are some of the biggest lessons he taught you that still apply today?

A: Coach Huggins taught me to hold myself accountable every single day. No matter how you felt, you had a responsibility to be the best version of yourself. He never allowed you to settle for less, and that’s a lesson I’ve carried with me throughout my basketball career and into life.

 

Q: Looking back, what game at WVU stands out as your favorite memory?

A: There are a lot of great memories, but beating Kentucky to reach the Final Four has to be No. 1. Nobody believed in us except the people inside our locker room and Mountaineer Nation. We proved everyone wrong and doing it against a program like Kentucky made it even more special.

 

Q: The WVU Coliseum has one of the best atmospheres in college basketball. What was it like playing in front of Mountaineer fans every night?

A: At first, it was intimidating, even though I knew they were cheering for me. The year before I arrived, the program had made a huge run, and being part of Coach Huggins’ first recruiting class came with a lot of pressure and expectations. Once I settled in, though, I realized it was the best atmosphere in college basketball.

 

Q: Who was the toughest player you faced during your college career?

A: There were so many great players, but DeJuan Blair stands out. As a skinny freshman, I had to guard him, and the combination of his physicality and skill showed me exactly where I needed to get stronger if I wanted to survive in the Big East.

 

Q: What part of your game are you most proud of when you look back at your career?

A: I’m proud of my consistency. No matter what team I played for, I found ways to impact winning, whether it was scoring, rebounding, defending, or doing whatever my team needed.

 

Q: After WVU, you reached the NBA and played professionally around the world. What did that experience teach you?

A: Making the NBA was the ultimate dream, and it proved to me that with enough hard work and belief, almost anything is possible. Playing around the world also exposed me to different styles of basketball and taught me how to adapt and embrace whatever role helped my team win.

 

Q: Looking back today, what accomplishment means the most to you?

A: Making the NBA is my biggest accomplishment because only a small percentage of people can say they reached the highest level. Another cool accomplishment is that I was able to play at Madison Square Garden in high school, college, and the NBA. Being from New York, that’s something I’ll always appreciate.

 

Q: How special is the bond between members of the WVU Brotherhood years after leaving Morgantown?

A: It’s incredibly special. Being able to come back and always be welcomed with open arms means a lot to me. Many of us still live in Morgantown, have built businesses, raised families, and created lifelong relationships. That’s what the WVU Brotherhood is all about.

 

Q:  What advice would you give young players who dream of playing Division I basketball but may not receive all the attention early on?

A: Never give up on your dreams. It may sound cliché, but I truly believe hard work eventually beats talent. Today there are so many ways to promote yourself and get your name out there. You just have to be willing to embrace the grind and understand that success doesn’t always happen overnight. Someone will notice if you keep putting in the work. Also, it’s great to go somewhere you’ve always dreamed of, but it’s even better to go somewhere you’re appreciated and valued. That applies to basketball and to life.

 

Q: If you could walk back into the WVU locker room one last time before tipoff, knowing it would be your final game as a Mountaineer, what would you tell your younger self?

A: Don’t take these moments for granted. Every time you play basketball after college, it becomes a job. This is the last opportunity you’ll have to play purely for the love of the game and the competition. Go out there and leave a lasting impression.

 

Q: When you come back to Morgantown now, what emotions hit you the hardest?

A: I actually live in Morgantown during the summers when I’m not playing overseas, so it’s always great coming back into the facility and the Coliseum. Seeing all the banners and remembering everything we accomplished during my time there fills me with pride. It’s also special seeing fans who still remember and appreciate those teams.

 

Q: Finally, what message would you like to leave for Mountaineer Nation that supported you throughout your career?

A: I just want to say thank you. Thank you for all of your support during my playing days and for continuing to support me throughout my professional career. I also appreciate everyone who has supported the work I’ve done to give back to a place that has given so much to me. Mountaineer Nation will always hold a special place in my heart.