Tyler Jones ’25 Signs to Play Basketball at the University of New Mexico

July 22, 2022. Atlanta, Georgia. It was a day that could have ended the young basketball career of Tyler Jones ’25. She suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a torn meniscus, and a medial collateral ligament sprain. Her right knee had been devastated, and she would have been forgiven for being devastated, too. But Tyler is different.

“For sure, there was always some doubt,” she said. “But one of the main things that I focused on was saying what God brings me to, He'll get me through. So I knew at some point down the road, even though I was going through a hard time, I would still see the good on the other side of it.”

December 4, 2024. Memphis, Tennessee. Welcome to the other side. 

On Wednesday, Tyler signed to play Division I basketball as a guard for the University of New Mexico, something that would have been hard to fathom two years ago. “It felt like that’s where I was supposed to be in this next chapter of my life,” she said. “I get a lot of questions about why I picked New Mexico, but I try not to question what God has already prepared for me and what I feel is right. So I went with what I felt like was right.”

She said that she felt it was right because of the relationships she’s built and because of the school’s commitment to the sport. “I was always familiar with one of the assistant coaches: Coach (Keith) Freeman. I kind of had a relationship built with him when he was at Mississippi State. That kind of kept going even when he went to New Mexico and my interest stayed too,” she said.

“Basketball is one of the main priorities out there and that’s going to help me get ready for the next stage or whatever is prepared for me.”

If you ask Hutchison varsity basketball head coach Thomas Jones, he’ll tell you just how much he loves the talented senior. “Tyler Jones is one of the greatest kids I’ve ever coached,” he said. “I’m not even talking about her basketball skills. I’m talking about her personality. She’s family-oriented, sets big goals, and wants to get better. Every group text, every message I send to her she’s gonna send out, she’s right on time.”

Tyler said her focus was sharpened through adversity. Because of her injury, she had to stay on the sidelines from July 2022 to October 2023. “I just knew when I got back on the court, I didn’t want to take anything for granted.” Her hard work has helped to set a high standard for this year’s team, already 7-1 on the year after a win Tuesday night in Marion, Arkansas.

Coach Jones added, “And here’s the truth: When I tell Tyler she’s not doing well, you know what she says? I understand. I can do better.”

Being the team’s leader and most talented player means you’ll be coached harder than anyone else, Tyler said, and that’s not always easy. “Of course it’s tough, but I think it’s understanding that it’s not personal, which is something that Coach Jones talks about all the time. It’s just taking the good with the bad and seeing what you need to fix.”

“It’s not necessarily, ‘Oh man, he’s on my butt today, I guess I’m gonna give up.’ It’s more so, ‘Oh, he’s on my butt, that means he sees something in me, so I need to keep pushing.’ ”

It’s that kind of attitude that has helped Tyler gain the approval of her coaches and her teammates. She’s got leeway to make some individual decisions on the court other players don’t have. And while there’s pressure to make the right decisions, Tyler feels energized by the role. “I think a lot of confidence comes with being a leader because I know that the people I’m leading trust me,” she said, “and that makes me feel more belief in myself to be on my A-game all the time.”

She feels that this year’s group has a chance to do some big things, calling them a resilient team that’s eager to improve. “We had a tough loss against Knoxville Catholic, but we came together and said this isn’t how we want our season to keep going and decided to fix what we need to fix.”

“I feel like moving forward after that game, that’s what we’ve been doing, capitalizing on things like rebounding, playing with tempo, just the small things. But there’s also a big concentration around just loving each other and being a true team, and I think that’s going to help us in the long run.“

That same love extends to her school, where she feels like she’s had a special opportunity to achieve her very best both on and off the court. “Hutchison has helped me get to a place where I’m going to the next level. Off the court, as far as academics are concerned, I’ve been pushed and challenged every day. On the court, I have an amazing coach and a fantastic team, and it’s taught me to love the experience and the journey.”

It has been an incredible journey so far, and there’s still a long way to go. Coach Jones summed it up best: “She will be dearly missed next year, but she will be appreciated at the next level.”