Men's Basketball | 12/21/2016 11:45:00 AM

ROCHESTER, NY - On Jan. 28, former RIT basketball legend Craig Jones will have his jersey retired in a special ceremony before the Tigers host Vassar College in a crucial Liberty League contest at 4 p.m. from Clark Gymnasium.
 
Jones, who wore No. 33, will be the first male athlete to have his jersey retired by the RIT Athletics department.
 
A member of the RIT Athletics Hall of Fame (2003), Jones enjoyed a brilliant career for the Tigers. He was NCAA Division III Player of the Year in 1996 and was a three-time National Association of Basketball Coaches All-American, earning first team honors in 1995-96 and 1996-97.
 
"Craig's contributions to our program during his time as an RIT student-athlete are immeasurable," said RIT Executive Director of Athletics Lou Spiotti. "This ceremony will be a fitting capstone to a stellar career and yet another way for us to call attention to our history of athletic excellence."
 
Named RIT's Senior Athlete of the Year in 1997, Jones won numerous awards from various national publications, associations and organizations. In 2001-02 he was inducted into the JP Morgan Chase Tournament Hall of Fame and five years later, was also named to the JP Morgan Chase Tournament 40th Anniversary Team.
 
"Out of all the accolades I have received, a jersey retirement is by far the most prestigious honor there is," said Jones, who resides in Rochester. "To know your university thinks that much of you to do so and to be the first in the modern era is a great honor for not only myself, but our entire team."
 
Jones, who earned his bachelor's degree in social work from the university in 1998, is RIT's all-time leader with 1,984 career points (18.7 average), and is also the university's record holder with 1,085 rebounds. In 1995-96, Jones led all of Division III, averaging 14.0 boards per game and scored 24.2 points per game. During his four-year tenure (1993-97), RIT went 84-22 and made three NCAA playoff appearances, advancing to the round of 16 his senior year.
 
"Craig is the most decorated basketball player in RIT basketball history to wear the uniform," said RIT men's basketball head coach Bob McVean, now in his 34th season at the university. "He had a great work ethic and while not flashy, did all of the little things that allowed us to enjoy our best four-year stretch as a team in program history."