Herb Jones, one of the key recruits of the Bob Huggins era at the University of Cincinnati and the leading scorer and rebounder for the Cincinnati team that reached the Final Four in 1992, died Monday morning after a battle with liver and lung cancer. a family member confirmed to The Enquirer.
Jones was 51.
"He loved Cincinnati and obviously loved the Bearcats," Huggins told The Enquirer. "Without him, none of that stuff would be possible. None of it. He's the guy. He's the guy who really led us and led the resurgence of Cincinnati basketball. Cincinnati basketball and the entire university owes him a tremendous debt of gratitude."
More:Former Bearcats hoops star Herb Jones highlights 2021 UC Athletics Hall of Fame class
Jones, who was inducted into the UC Athletics Hall of Fame in September, averaged 18.1 points and 7.1 rebounds en route to leading the Bearcats to a 29-4 record and to the Final Four of the 1992 NCAA tournament. It remains the program's last Final Four appearance.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Herb Jones and our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time," UC Director of Athletics John Cunningham said. "Herb was one of the greatest basketball players in Cincinnati history and his legacy as one of the leaders of the 1992 Final Four team will forever live on. He left an immeasurable impact on the Bearcats community. Herb will be dearly missed by all.”
Jones had 23 points and 13 rebounds in the Elite Eight against Penny Hardaway and Memphis State. The 6-foot-4 forward was named the Region’s Most Outstanding Player.
"Herb was a great person," Huggins said. "(He had) tremendous compassion for other people. In a lot of ways, he put other people ahead of himself. And I think from a basketball standpoint, Herb Jones is the guy responsible for us being able to turn what was a very dismal Cincinnati team into one of the best teams in the country. He was our best player. To a man, they would all say that."
Huggins, who coached at Cincinnati from 1989 to 2005, is now the head coach at West Virginia. Mountaineers assistant coach Erik Martin, who played for Huggins and now coaches alongside him, asked for prayers for Jones via Twitter last week. As did UC basketball radio commentator Terry Nelson, another former teammate of Jones.
"He was too tired to attend (the UC Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Sept. 10 at Fifth Third Arena) after receiving chemo treatments so he invited us over to have a special party with him at his clubhouse," Nelson told The Enquirer. "That's when he shared with each of us individually that he had cancer."
Jones is the only player in school history to score at least 1,000 career points in just two seasons played at Cincinnati. Jones finished his Bearcats career with 1,097 points and 475 rebounds.
"Herb was funny and purely a simple man," Nelson said. "All he wanted to do was fish and referee basketball. People never knew he was a star player that led his team to the Final Four after not making the NCAA tournament for decades. He never talked about himself. He never boasted. He called me after every Bearcats basketball game and wanted the inside scoop on why they lost or how good the Bearcats looked."
Before his Cincinnati career, Jones was a two-time junior college All-American. Jones averaged more than 28 points per game at Butler Community College in Kansas.
An Atlanta native, Jones played professionally overseas in Spain, Italy, the Philippines, Greece and Argentina. Jones won a championship with his Spanish team.
"Herb played like he practiced," Nelson said. "He never took a day off and he was always available. He passed away without every using a sick day at hs job. We will carry on his legacy. Rest in Heaven, brother."
Jones is survived by his wife, Lilo.
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