Olympus High point guard Rylan Jones has enjoyed plenty of accolades over his time as a Titan. Now he can add one more to the trophy case.
Jones was named the Gatorade Utah Player of the Year in boys basketball for the second straight year last week after leading his team in virtually every statistical category in his senior year. He averaged 21.2 points, 8.3 assists, 8.3 assists, eight rebounds and three steals.
Jones won the Gatorade award last year after leading his team to a Class 5A state title. He also on the Salt Lake Tribune’s Player of the Year award in April of last year.
Titans coach Matt Barnes texted Jones with the news. He told The Salt Lake Tribune that he was proud of Jones and that winning the award in back-to-back years was “pretty special.”
“The thing about him is he just plays the game the right way,” Barnes said of Jones. “He’s an all-around player. … He just fills up the stat sheet.”
Jones led the Titans to a 23-3 overall record and a Region 6 championship in Class 5A after boasting a 10-0 region record. Olympus advanced to the 5A state semifinal game, but lost to Corner Canyon.
Jones said he was “shocked” to learn he had won the award considering the Titans didn’t win the championship this year.
“It was a good feeling because I was not expecting it at all,” Jones said.
Winning the award in consecutive years is rare. Those that have done it include Karl-Anthony Towns and Chauncey Billups, both of whom currently played or have played in the NBA.
“It’s just an honor to have my name mentioned with their names,” Jones said. “I was just honored to win it two years in a row.”
Jones signed a national letter of intent in November to play with the University of Utah.
Jones is the second boys basketball player from Olympus to win the award. The last player to win it was Shaun Green for his work in the 2004-05 season.
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