The Hayes Twins: Both Paths Lead to Charlotte

23 January 2008 2,315 views One Comment

When Belmont Abbey College takes the floor at Bobcats Arena to prepare for today’s 3 p.m. men’s basketball game against North Greenville College, Crusaders’ assistant coach Jonas Hayes will be following in his twin brother’s footsteps in many different ways.But don’t get the impression Jonas wishes he was taking NBA jumpshots — like twin brother Jarvis Hayes did 12 days ago in the same building for the Detroit Pistons — instead of coaching.

When Jarvis and Jonas Hayes were on the market during their college years, they came as a package. Neither of them was willing to separate from the other and they let scouting teams know that. Granted, they would have been in far higher demand had they marketed separately, but their togetherness drew only three teams to maintain interest in the Hayes’ twins.

Georgia won the gamble and they were not to be disappointed. Jarvis, who specialized in dunking and long balls, averaged about 18 points and shot 47% from the field over his two years for the Bulldogs. Jonas, on the other hand, liked to earn his stats on the glass and through nitty-gritty defensive efforts and averaged around 10 points and 6 rebounds per game while averaging 51% from the field.

Jonas even saw a little light of his brother in him when he nailed the first collegiate 3-pointer he had attempted- at the buzzer. The 30-foot downtown bomb downed Colorado in Boulder, 71-70.

Today, we all know where Jarvis Hayes is- but where Jonas stands is not so well-known.

Jonas Hayes remains an assistant coach for Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina- and he loves every minute of it.

“I get the same feelings coaching that I did when I was playing,” Hayes said recently. “The same nervous energy, butterflies before the game and all that. And I love it.”

When Jarvis was asked if he had any advice for his brother, he replied as any decent twin brother would:

“Nah, I’m just happy that he’s happy.”