Tuti Jones Collects State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award

ST. LOUIS – On Friday, April 24, the Missouri Valley Conference announced Belmont University women's basketball's Tuti Jones as one of 11 2025-26 winter State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award recipients. The graduate guard, who will complete her master's degree in May, has been an active member of the Nashville community while excelling both in the classroom and on the court.
 
A recent Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) "So You Want To Be A Coach" program graduate, Jones was selected as the 2025-26 MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
The three-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District^® honoree has volunteered her time at several local organizations, including Harvest Hands, Dream Streets Mobile Food and Second Harvest Food Bank. Additionally, Jones has been a willing participant in the Bruins' yearly community service initiatives, which include "Shop with the Bruins" – a shopping spree for local children that provides holiday gifts for economically disadvantaged families – and TAK PAK – an on-campus fundraiser providing backpacks and school supplies for Nashville-area foster children.
 
The only Belmont player in the Bruins' NCAA era to record 1,500 points, distribute 500 assists and gather 700 rebounds, Jones is a three-time Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (ADA) Scholar-Athlete Team selection, three-time MVC Scholar-Athlete Team member, and was the 2024 DI-AAA ADA Postgraduate Scholarship award winner.
 
Named All-MVC Second Team this past season, Jones landed a spot on the MVC All-Defensive Team for a third consecutive year. The Troy, Alabama (Charles Henderson HS), native broke Belmont's all-time steals record on Jan. 15 in a win at Indiana State and finished her illustrious career with a school-record 449 steals.
 
Jones completed her career with 1,766 points, 729 rebounds and 520 assists. Her 169 games played rank fourth-most all-time in NCAA Division I women's basketball history and her 168 starts are also a program record.
 
Maintaining an unblemished 4.0 cumulative grade point average while pursuing her Master of Sport Administration degree, Jones graduated with her bachelor's degree in sport administration in May of 2024.
 
In order to be eligible for the State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award, a student-athlete must be in good academic standing, must demonstrate good citizenship through good sportsmanship and significant community service, and must participate in a sport during the season of recognition. The Valley recognizes 11 student-athletes three times annually (fall, winter, spring), for a total of 33 honorees. MVC member institutions select their State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Award recipients.
 
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