Illinois sophomore GD Jones began receiving international recognition as a member of the New Zealand Davis Cup team earlier this year. Last week, he received recognition at the collegiate level as well.

On Thursday, Jones was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for his performances when the Illini played USC, Pepperdine and Stanford.

“We just do what we can to win for the team, so it is nice (to win the award),” Jones said. “But it doesn’t really make my radar.”

Jones said he relishes the team accomplishments more than his individual recognition.

“I just do everything that I can to be as well-prepared as possible to play well on the court (and) to be of any assistance to my team that I can be,” Jones said.

Throughout the season, Jones has contributed to the lineup, including several key singles wins in the team’s recent trip to California. Jones, who is No. 27 in the nation in singles defeated No. 62 Drew Hoskins of USC 6-2, 6-2 in the team’s close 4-3 match against the Trojans.

On March 25, Jones secured one of Illinois’ two singles victories with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 win over No. 81 Scott Doerner of Pepperdine. Illinois lost the match against the No.13 Waves 5-2.

Although the Illini lost the match, the men finished their California trip on a positive note when they defeated Stanford, a perennial powerhouse in collegiate tennis.

It was at the Taube Tennis Center in Stanford, Calif., that Jones and junior teammate Ryler DeHeart secured one of their most notable victories when they defeated defending NCAA Champions Sam Warburg and KC Corkery.

“(Jones) is a fighter (and) he’s a winner,” said Illinois head coach Craig Tiley. “He won’t give you an inch on the court and he’s a great example of how you should play the game.”

In February, Jones proved he would not shy away from competition during the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Indoor Team Championships. During the semifinal round of the ITA National Indoor Team Championships, Jones defeated defending NCAA singles champion Benjamin Becker of Baylor 6-4, 7-6 (4). He also beat three-time Florida All-American Hamid Mirzadeh when the then-No.3 Gators faced the then-No.5 Illinois at the Atkins Tennis Center.

Tiley said Jones’ improvement since joining the tennis team in January 2004 can be attributed to his positive work ethic.

“From a coaching standpoint he’s got so many great qualities that I think it’s no surprise that he’s where he’s at,” Tiley said.

Jones is a player that Tiley said would like to spend more than the NCAA-allotted 20 hours per week practicing and working to improve his tennis skills.

Jones’ dedication stems from the high goals he has for the future. He would like to be a top professional tennis player, which, he said, is why he chose to compete for the Illini.

“It’s been on a pretty steady progression,” Jones said of his improvement since beginning college. “I haven’t really altered off the path that I knew I was going to come on.”

However, Jones’ career has been checkered by some disappointment as well.

“I don’t think I have progressed quite as quickly as I would have liked,” he said. “But it has been a progression and not a stalling, so that’s good.”

Although Jones said he knows he has more improvements to make before he begins his professional career, Tiley said he has already proved that by working methodically “day-in and day-out” and being consistent that he can succeed.

“He’s a winner,” Tiley said. “He will have success. I am very confident that he will get done in tennis what he wants to get done.”