NASHVILLE-Newport-native Dr. Chris Jones has been named to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
Jones, a 1958 graduate of Cocke County High School, was named to the Hall of Fame for his impact on Carson-Newman College basketball.

Jones was Carson-Newman's first All-American athlete in any sport and led the Eagles program to its first tow national basketball tournaments.

Jones, was one of the highest scorers in the nation in the 1961-62 season and was the first Carson-Newman player to score more than 2,000 points.

Following his Carson-Newman playing career, Jones played professionally for the Cincinnati Royals, Kansas City Steers, Oakland Oaks and the Louisville Colonels. He was also instrumental in convincing the National Basketball Association that the Atlanta market was viable for a professional team.

Following his playing days, Jones was later named basketball coach at Carson-Newman, where he compiled a 191-62 record and led the Eagles to 31-win seasons in 1983 and 1984.

Jones is currently a professor at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate and a motivational speaker.

He won the international Three-Point and Free Throw State Champion award in 1996 and speaks to many basketball teams as "The Swish Doctor."

Jones will be enshrined to the Tennessee Sports Hall of  Fame on May 4 at the organizations annual induction banquet on May 4 at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.

Joining Jones in the 2013 Hall of Fame class are, Rick Byrd, head basketball coach at Belmont University; Penny Hardaway, University of Memphis and NBA star; Leonard Hamilton, former UT-Martin athlete and current basketball coach at Florida State University; Kelly Holcomb, NFL football player and Middle Tennessee State University star; Larry Seivers, All-American wide receiver at the University of Tennessee; Trey Teague, football center for the University of Tennessee and Denver Broncos, and Frank Wycheck, All-pro tight end for the Tennessee Titans.

In addition, former Vanderbilt basketball star and Nashville community leader John Ed MIller will be the Hall's Lifetime Achievement inductree. Also to be inducted posthumous will be longtime radio and TV announcer Bob Bell and standout Morristown athlete and later coach Ermal Allen.

The Sports Hall of Fame, which held its first induction banquet in 1966, has as its goal to enshrine successful teams and individuals who display sportsmanship, good character and success, creating a legacy for others to follow. The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Museum is housed the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Tennessee's sports heritage while honoring the contributions of legendary individuals and teams that have significant ties to the state.  Through this mission we recognize the positive attributes of our inductees such as hard work, team work, dedication, focus and how these attributes are needed to achieve success in life.