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In a groundbreaking moment for South Sudanese basketball, Carlik Jones propelled the team to its first-ever Olympic men’s basketball victory with a 90-79 win over Puerto Rico on Sunday.
Jones scored 19 points, secured seven rebounds, and dished out six assists.
Jones, a Cincinnati native and Aiken High School alum, showcased his talent earlier this month with a triple-double performance in a narrow 101-100 exhibition loss to Team USA in London. This game served as a prelude to the Paris Olympics.
The 26-year-old, who played in China last season, had a brief stint with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, appearing in seven games during the previous season. Despite not being selected in the 2021 NBA draft, Jones has built an impressive career.
Jones played college basketball under former Xavier Musketeers head coach Chris Mack at the University of Louisville, after transferring from Radford. In his sole season with the Cardinals, he led the team with averages of 16.8 points, 4.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, earning a first-team all-ACC selection. At Aiken High School, Jones was twice named Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
