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Ex-UNLV player Derrick Jones Jr.: Fans will ‘know who I am’ after slam dunk contest

NBA fans may not know the name Derrick Jones Jr. yet, but the former UNLV basketball player says that will change on Sunday at the Verizon Slam Dunk contest.

“Not a lot of people know who I am,” Jones Jr. told the NBA.com’s Lang Whitaker during a NBA Hang Time podcast this week. This is my rookie year in the NBA…but as soon as I get on that floor, they’re going to know who I am.”

The Phoenix Suns forward, 20, left UNLV last year after one season and declared for the NBA draft after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA when his standardized text score was ruled invalid.