Wilbert Jones

Broke into league as a raw rookie with 1969-70 Miami Floridians and played through ABA's final year of 1975-76; Known throughout ABA as one of league's most athletic rebounders; Spent most of ABA career in relative obscurity with the hapless Memphis Pros and Memphis Tams; Finally signed with Kentucky for 1974-75 season and helped Colonels to long-awaited ABA title in 1975 ABA Playoffs; brother of fellow ABA player Caldwell Jones (the two briefly played as teammates on the 1975-76 Kentucky Colonels); 17th in ABA history with 17,511 minutes played; named to 1975 ABA All-Defense Team with Kentucky; played two seasons in NBA after 1976 merger (with Indiana Pacers for 1976-77 and Buffalo Braves for 1978-78)

From Jim O'Brien's Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball:
Led NAIA in rebounding (23.9 rpg) in senior season, at same school where his seven-foot brother Major Jones has enrolled as highly-heralded freshman . . . School was out on Wilbert in first year with Miami Floridians, but he's come into his own as boardman with Memphis . . . Can really sky, but lacks the muscle to really dominate boards in pros . . . Even so, he's one of the ABA's best rebounding forwards . . . Shooting is improving - in 1971-72 season he hit 47.5 percent from floor and 75 percent from free throw line and averaged almost 15 points per game . . . Credited some of his improvement to Bailey Howell, who played for Babe McCarthy in college and instructed Memphis players in rebounding during training camp last year . . . ."He taught me to keep moving on the offensive board so I can't be blocked out," Jones said. "He also gave us a drill, jumping at the basket as high as we could without losing our balance when we came down, still keeping ourselves in position." . . . "The coaches stress that the game is won or lost on the boards," added Jones, "and I just try to do my best at the job." . . . Plays respectable defense. Is a very consistent performer.