Texas A&M Basketball player Joseph Jones has learned from the path others paved before him, and now he's leaving his own legacy behind.

He's called the "Pride of Normangee".

"I'm very proud of being from Normangee, a very small town, and a lot of my family is there and I take a lot of pride in my town," A&M Senior Joseph Jones said.

Jones, a forward center, has taken those small town roots, all the way to the Big XII.

He got his start in basketball at the young age of three, and has since drawn inspiration from some of the greats, such as Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and his mother Betty Jones.

"My mom has to be one of my role models. She taught me a lot growing up," Jones said. "She used to play basketball."

Family has always been a top priority for this top athlete. Jones says his mom taught him not only how to exceed on the court and off, but also how to act as a role model and friend to everyone. To Jones, Black History Month is a reminder of all those things.

"It just shows how far as individuals the blacks, how far they have come. From slavery to this far," Jones said. "It just means a whole lot because back in the day, my dad told me all of the struggles they went through, and it just means a lot to me how far they've come."

The 6'9" senior says he tries to provide vocal leadership to the young guys on the team. When he leaves the court at the end of the season, he wants to be remembered for just two things:

"Just as a great player, and a great person. That's about it," Jones said. "That's all you can ask for."