Derrick Jones Jr. twice has sat in a room this year when the words from his basketball coaches and their bosses made his heart sink.
His heart fell the first time in March when he was informed that he could not finish his freshman season at Nevada-Las Vegas because his ACT score was ruled invalid.
His heart dropped in a different way this week when Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough and coach Earl Watson told the 19-year-old that he had made the team’s opening night roster.
“There were a lot of smiles,” Jones said. “I think my mom cried.