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Former Tennessee basketball star Jordan Bone was surprised live on SportsCenter on Friday with a virtual graduation. The current NBA rookie told his mom that he had officially graduated from Tennessee live on ESPN, where the network then turned the tables on him and surprised him with a celebration.
Rick Barnes and Chancellor Donde Plowman appeared on the screen to join the party, complete with Barnes in a Pistons jersey. Watch the moment unfold below.
.@JordanBone23 made a promise to his mom that he would graduate from Tennessee.
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) May 15, 2020
Today, that promise was fulfilled on @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/jJVuWoFaK1
Bone declared early for the NBA Draft after his breakout junior season in Knoxville. He was selected at the end of the second round 57th overall by the Detroit Pistons.
As a rookie, Bone had appeared in ten games before the pause due to the coronavirus outbreak. He’s spent most of his season in the G-League playing for the Grand Rapids Drive, which is coached by former Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall. Bone averaged north of 17 points and over six assists per game.