Professional Basketball Player, Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He was a member of the 1948 United States basketball gold medal squad. Born Wallace Clayton Jones, he attended Harlan High School in Kentucky and played collegiate basketball and football at the University of Kentucky. While with the Wildcats, Jones had the distinction of playing for two legendary coaches. Paul 'Bear' Bryant (football) and Adolph Rupp (basketball). He was a key member of the Kentucky basketball squad which captured two consecutive NCAA titles (1948 and 1949). In 1948, he earned a spot on the United States Olympic basketball team which captured the gold medal. Selected by the Washington Capitols during the 1st round of the 1949 BAA Draft, he signed with the Indianapolis Olympians of the NBA and played three seasons as a power forward (1949 to 1952). He totaled 140 regular season games. After retiring from basketball, he served as sheriff of Fayette County, Kentucky. Additionally, he had an unsuccessful bid for a congressional seat in his home state. He is a member of the University of Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. His uniform number 27 has been retired by the school for both basketball and football.
Professional Basketball Player, Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He was a member of the 1948 United States basketball gold medal squad. Born Wallace Clayton Jones, he attended Harlan High School in Kentucky and played collegiate basketball and football at the University of Kentucky. While with the Wildcats, Jones had the distinction of playing for two legendary coaches. Paul 'Bear' Bryant (football) and Adolph Rupp (basketball). He was a key member of the Kentucky basketball squad which captured two consecutive NCAA titles (1948 and 1949). In 1948, he earned a spot on the United States Olympic basketball team which captured the gold medal. Selected by the Washington Capitols during the 1st round of the 1949 BAA Draft, he signed with the Indianapolis Olympians of the NBA and played three seasons as a power forward (1949 to 1952). He totaled 140 regular season games. After retiring from basketball, he served as sheriff of Fayette County, Kentucky. Additionally, he had an unsuccessful bid for a congressional seat in his home state. He is a member of the University of Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. His uniform number 27 has been retired by the school for both basketball and football.
Bio by: C.S.
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