INDIANAPOLIS -- Tyus Stones.

It’s a nickname that was coined by teammate Amile Jefferson on Jan. 31, after a win over Virginia in which Duke freshman point guard Tyus Jones made yet another clutch shot, that one a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Jones delivered yet again in the national championship game, hitting a critical 3 with 1:24 remaining that helped the Blue Devils put away Wisconsin, just moments after his 3 with 4:08 that had put Duke ahead to stay.

Now the question becomes what Jones will do for an encore.

Duke big man and fellow freshman Jahlil Okafor will be picked either first or second in the upcoming NBA draft. He has always been considered a one-and-done guy due to his size and skill level. Justise Winslow’s stock has soared as much as anyone other than Sam Dekker's over the past couple weeks, and most NBA executives maintain the 6-foot-6, athletic wing's ceiling is as the third pick overall, with his floor at No. 10.

Jones was always an enigma to the NBA folks who had kept tabs on him with USA Basketball and in high school all-star games. His perimeter shot was questioned, his size disputed and his athleticism picked apart by those at the next level. The most common comparison was to D.J. Augustin -- a solid NBA point guard considered a high-quality backup -- or Tyler Ennis.

But after making clutch shot after clutch shot to warrant his moniker of Tyus Stones, Jones has become more vocal and displayed the court vision, an off-the-charts basketball IQ (which includes the ability to draw fouls) and an unflappable, poised demeanor that made him the last point guard standing on Monday and also the most outstanding player of the Final Four.

Tyus needs to take his game to the next level. Now.

"He needs to enjoy the moment," his father, Robert, told me as his son was preparing to cut down the nets at Lucas Oil Stadium. "Be grateful. Be humble."

That's all good.

Then, he needs to get paid.

Let's face it: His stock will never be higher than it is right now.

"That’s true," his father admitted.

Jones isn't going to suddenly grow a couple inches. He could improve his quickness and defensive ability with another season in college, but it's unlikely he'll show a marked improvement in those areas. He also runs the risk of being exposed a bit without the country's top interior presence, Okafor, on the court to help space the floor.

Next season's Blue Devils team will be perimeter-oriented, with Grayson Allen, Matt Jones and incoming freshman Luke Kennard all expected to play huge roles. There's no low-post presence to ease the pressure and provide uncontested shots.

Jones will have more pressure on him, and it's difficult to imagine that group pulling off a repeat -- or even getting back to the Final Four.

Almost every NBA figure I reached Monday agreed that Jones will be drafted somewhere in the 20-30 range. Those I asked also conceded it would be difficult to envision his stock soaring much higher.

"It's hard to see his star being higher," one high-level NBA executive told me after the game. "He still can't guard and is a below-average athlete, but he has [guts], is smart, poised, is a solid shooter and can play pick-and-roll. He should probably leave."

"He needs to decide how much time he wants to spend in the D-League or on an NBA bench next season versus trying to repeat," another NBA guy said. "If he goes pro, he's top 20 or 25. He had a fantastic performance tonight and throughout the year. His teams always win, and he elevated his team throughout the tourney."

One NBA general manager said simply, "He's got to go out."

In fact, not one of the 10 executives contacted immediately after Duke's victory said Jones' best move would be to return for another season in college.

"It's a weak draft," one NBA scout said. "He'll never be hotter. I'm still worried about his size and frame, but I just can't see him staying now. Not after that."

That was a 23-point performance in which he made two of three shots from beyond the arc, an area many felt was a weakness for him coming into college. He also made all seven free throws, including a pair that sealed the national title with 35 seconds left.

"He's clutch, and he proved it all year," Wisconsin point guard Bronson Koenig said. "He's hard to guard."

"Tyus Stones," laughed Duke's 27-year-old assistant coach Jon Scheyer, who was the last point guard to lead this program to a national title. "I haven't called him that, but I think I will now."

It’s certainly warranted -- as is Jones' jump to the NBA.