By Oscar C. Woodall, Jr./HWM
Thursday, December 30, Sam Jones a two-year U.S. Army veteran Died at age 88, due to an undisclosed cause. Jones played college basketball at North Carolina Central University (1951–1954, 1956–1957), before being selected by the Boston Celtics as a first round (8th overall) pick in the 1957 NBA Draft. After playing for the Celtics (1957– 69) the 6’4” shooting guard retired as a player, then later became an assistant coach for the New Orleans Jazz (1974–75), thereafter, the five-time NBA All-Star and ten-time NBA champion totally retired from the NBA, before eventually becoming a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.