A quartet of players past and present with Utah Jazz ties — Georges Niang, Naz Mitrou-Long, Jeff Hornacek and Jamaal Tinsley — returned to their alma mater over the weekend.
Ames, Iowa was just a bit more jazzy than usual this past weekend.
Multiple players with Utah Jazz ties were on-campus at Iowa State University. The occasion — a reunion of former Cyclone ballers and coaches organized by third-year coach Steve Prohm and the Iowa St. basketball program.
Among those making the trip were Jazz forward Georges Niang and two-way player Naz Mitrou-Long, neither of whom are that far removed from their time at the school. Just over two years ago, the duo led the Cyclones to a 23-12 record and a Sweet 16 berth before they were felled by No. 1-seeded Virginia.
Jazz legend Jeff Hornacek, who starred for the Cyclones in the mid-’80s, was also on hand. Meanwhile, former Jazzman and 11-year NBA vet Jamaal Tinsley was making just his second return since leaving the school in 2001.
The homecoming was something of a full-circle moment for Tinsley, who will be 40 in November. Said Tinsley, via the Ames Tribune —
"“It means a lot for your school to come back and reach out to you,” Tinsley said. “For a guy to come back like myself, it means a lot to me. When I was here, my mom was alive. When I left, she wasn’t.“To come back here, it’s special.”"
Undeniably, Tinsley was one of the greatest players in program history. He was a consensus All-American during his final year at Iowa St., not to mention the Big-12 Conference Player of the Year. He averaged 14 points, six assists, four rebounds and 2.5 steals per game that season, leading his squad to the Elite 8 along the way.
Although he’s remembered most for his run with the Indiana Pacers, he finished his career in Utah over parts of three seasons. Full disclosure — he’ll always be one of my favorite Jazzmen.
And at the reunion, he touched base with another member of the Jazz family in Niang…
4sho young fella, again good luck this season https://t.co/Qh3NWdlzkr
— Jamaal Tinsley (@jatinsley) August 5, 2018
…who also spent some time on the court with Hornacek —
A couple members of the Iowa State family and the @utahjazz family, Jeff Hornacek and @GeorgesNiang20. #Cyclones pic.twitter.com/La2ywb3VNX
— Iowa State Men’s Basketball (@CycloneMBB) August 6, 2018
I can’t think of two better influences for the up-and-coming Niang.
And is it just me, or would it not be nice to see Hornacek back in the 801, working with the likes of Dante Exum, Donovan Mitchell, Ricky Rubio and others on their shooting?
Food for thought, Coach Q. Food for thought.