all time based on pre-season hype, recruit expectations, and existing talent. On October 26, 2011, Jones participated in Kentucky's annual Blue vs. White scrimmage, scoring a school-record 52 points. In 2011–12, he averaged 12.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 38 game (34 starts). In the NCAA tournament that season, Jones helped Kentucky win their eighth national championship. In April 2012, Jones was one of six Wildcats to enter the NBA draft, along with Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague, Doron Lamb, and Darius Miller. All six players were drafted, setting a record for most players from one school drafted in the NBA draft. College statistics |- |style="text-align:left;"|2010–11 |style="text-align:left;"|Kentucky |38||35||31.5||.442||.329||.646||8.8||1.6||1.1||1.9||15.7 |- |style="text-align:left;"|2011–12 |style="text-align:left;"|Kentucky |38||34||29.3||.500||.327||.627||7.2||1.3||1.3||1.8||12.3 |} Professional career Houston Rockets (2012–2016) Jones was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 18th overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft. During his rookie season, he had multiple assignments with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League. On February 4, 2013, Jones was named to the Prospects All-Star roster for the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star Game. However, he was replaced by Chris Wright because he was later recalled by the Rockets and thus was not an "active" player on a D-League roster. On January 18, 2014, Jones scored a career-high 36 points, along with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks, in a 114–104 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He became the second youngest Rocket to score 30 points or more behind Hakeem Olajuwon. After playing the first four games of the 2014–15 season, Jones went on to miss the next 41 games due to nerve inflammation in his left leg. He returned to action on January 28, 2015, against the Dallas Mavericks. On February 27, 2015, he scored a season-high 26 points in a 102–98 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He later missed six games in late March with a partially collapsed lung. Jones again had an injury plagued season in 2015–16, going out in the preseason with a concussion and during the season with a lacerated eyelid and stitches that scratched his eye. Then on February 3, 2016, Jones crashed into another vehicle on his way to the Rockets' flight to Phoenix, remained in the hospital for two days of tests, and was out for the remaining three games before the All-Star break. He returned to action on February 23, but lasted just four games before being deactivated indefinitely on March 2