MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – There’s no question as to who’s the biggest name at the Minnesota state high school boys basketball tournament Wednesday at the Target Center.

“We drove 2 1/2 hours to watch Tyus play,” said one fan.

John Calipari, the head coach of college men’s basketball powerhouse Kentucky, traveled from even further away – all in the name of watching Tyus Jones of Apple Valley.

The junior is ranked No. 2 in the country in his recruiting class. And Wednesday marked his first appearance at state.

“I just take it in stride, just go with it and try to block out all the extra stuff that’s off the court,” Jones said. “I try to focus on what we got to do to win.”

In the Class AAAA quarterfinal, Tyus led his team to a 81-67 win over Brainerd, as he tallied 19 points, seven assists and six steals.

Now, onto the state semifinals.

“You always go into it wanting to win,” he said. “That’s the most important thing. And we came out with the ‘W’, so I can’t complain.”

Apple Valley now plays Eden Prairie at 6 p.m. at the Target Center.