Oklahoma State Sent Personal Messages for Sick Texas Guard Andrew Jones Home with Texas

It’s unfortunate that this is true, but Oklahoma State knows how to deal with loss pretty well. It’s done so on a large-scale level multiple times over the last two decades. So it was no surprise when the Pokes came out in shooting shirts to honor Texas guard Andrew Jones, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.

Jones, a legitimate NBA prospect, has stepped away from the Longhorns following the diagnosis. UT coach Shaka Smart has clearly been emotional about what has unfolded.

“Speaking for our entire team and staff, we love Andrew and will do everything we can to support his family and help him get back to health,” Smart said. “I want to thank everyone for being respectful of the privacy that the Jones family needs at this time.”

Gut wrenching news to read about another player in our league. @OSUMBB sends thoughts and prayers to him, his family and all of their support system. #OneBig12 ?

— Mike Boynton (@thacoachmike) January 10, 2018

Texas was coming off of an uber-emotional 2OT win over TCU earlier in the week when the Horns came to Stillwater. And they were greeted with those shirts you see here in warmups.

But it didn’t stop there. After the game, OSU presented Texas with a basketball with notes from all of the Cowboys’ players and coaches. Top-notch stuff.

“Yeah it says a lot about Mike and his staff and their team,” said Smart. “They gave us a ball to give to Andrew with individual, personalized messages from each guy. It really means a lot and other teams show they care a lot about Andrew. Andrew is a guy that a lot of people obviously knew about and know of as a great basketball player but now for people to care about him as a person it means a lot.”

This is the ball that @OSUMBB captains presented to @TexasMBB before tip today, to support Andrew Jones, fighting leukemia. All class from a program that has dealt with adversity before. @ESPN @Big12Conference pic.twitter.com/FI0hWavKof

— Brett Dolan (@Brettdolan24) January 14, 2018

Tavarius Shine said him and Jones are old friends and it meant a lot to him to see the gestures OSU and Boynton have made towards Texas and Jones.

“I know Andrew personally,” said Shine. “We are from the same area and went to the same high school. I have seen him grow from not being known in basketball, to a McDonald’s All-American, to basically being an NBA Draft pick. It was real big for me to see Coach Boyton and Oklahoma State University do those things for his family.”