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Haywood Highsmith

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Haywood Highsmith
Highsmith in 2023
No. 24 – Miami Heat
PositionSmall forward / power forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1996-12-09) December 9, 1996 (age 27)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5[1] in (1.96 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolArchbishop Curley
(Baltimore, Maryland)
CollegeWheeling (2014–2018)
NBA draft2018: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2019Delaware Blue Coats
2019Philadelphia 76ers
2019→Delaware Blue Coats
2019–2020Delaware Blue Coats
2020–2021Crailsheim Merlins
2021–2022Delaware Blue Coats
2021–presentMiami Heat
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Haywood Lee Highsmith Jr. (born December 9, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Highsmith was born in Baltimore. He played college basketball for the Cardinals of Wheeling Jesuit University and was the NCAA Division II Player of the Year as a senior in 2018.

After not being selected in the 2018 NBA draft, Highsmith began his professional basketball career with the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League in 2018. Late in the 2018–19 season, Highsmith made his NBA debut with the Blue Coats' parent team Philadelphia 76ers. In later years, Highsmith played in multiple stints with the Blue Coats, the Crailsheim Merlins of the German Basketball Bundesliga, and is currently on the Miami Heat of the NBA.

Early life and college career

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Originally from Baltimore, Highsmith graduated from Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore in 2014 where he was classmates with NFL wide receiver Deonte Harty of the Baltimore Ravens. His high school coach Brian Hubbard told The Baltimore Sun that Highsmith drew little interest from NCAA Division I colleges.[2]

After high school, Highsmith attended Wheeling Jesuit University (now Wheeling University) and played four seasons for the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals from 2014 to 2018. He became a starter for the team towards the end of his freshman season. He averaged 14.5 points and 9.4 rebounds as a sophomore, his first full year as a starter, and was named first team All-Mountain East Conference (MEC).[3] In his junior season, Highsmith averaged 15.3 points and 10.8 rebounds and was named second- team All-MEC.[4] As a senior, Highsmith averaged 22 points and 12.6 rebounds per game and was named first-team All-MEC, MEC Player of the Year, and the MVP of the MEC Conference tournament. Nationally, he was named first-team Division II All-America by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the National Player of the Year by the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association.[5]

Professional career

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Delaware Blue Coats (2018–2019)

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Highsmith in 2019

After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Highsmith signed with the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League through a local tryout. He averaged 13.7 points per game in 21 appearances.[6]

Philadelphia 76ers (2019)

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Highsmith was signed to a two-way contract by the Philadelphia 76ers on January 8, 2019. Under the terms of the deal, he split time between the 76ers and the Blue Coats.[7] Highsmith made his NBA debut the same day, scoring three points in five minutes of play in a 132–115 win over the Washington Wizards, after also playing in a game for the Blue Coats against Raptors 905 earlier in the day.[8] Highsmith finished his first professional season averaging 1.8 points and one rebound over five NBA games and 12.2 points, 6.8 rebounds , 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals over 46 G League games (42 starts).[9]

On June 24, 2019, the 76ers waived Highsmith.[10]

Return to the Blue Coats (2019–2020)

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After his Exhibit 10 deal with the Phoenix Suns fell through,[11] Highsmith returned to the 76ers to sign an Exhibit 10 contract.[12]

Highsmith re-joined the Blue Coats for the 2019–20 season.[13] On December 31, Highsmith posted 20 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one steal in a loss to the Maine Red Claws.[14] He averaged 10.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.[15]

Crailsheim Merlins (2020–2021)

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On September 4, 2020, Highsmith signed with the Crailsheim Merlins of the Basketball Bundesliga, for whom he averaged 7.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.[16]

Third stint with the Blue Coats (2021)

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On July 27, 2021, Highsmith signed with Vanoli Cremona of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA)[17] with an NBA exit option. As an Exhibit 10 offer arrived from the Philadelphia 76ers, he decided to withdraw from Cremona and return to the U.S.[18] On September 30, he signed and was waived by the 76ers.[19]

Highsmith rejoined the Blue Coats in 2021. He averaged 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.[20]

Miami Heat (2021–2022)

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On December 30, 2021, Highsmith signed a 10-day contract with the Miami Heat via the hardship exemption.[20]

Fourth stint with the Blue Coats (2022)

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On January 9, 2022, Highsmith was reacquired by the Delaware Blue Coats.[21]

Return to the Heat (2022–present)

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On February 15, 2022, Highsmith signed a standard 10-day contract with the Miami Heat.[22] Ten days later, he signed a second 10-day contract.[23] Following the expiration of the second 10-day contract, Highsmith signed a three-year deal to remain with the Heat.[24][25]

On December 20, 2022, Highsmith scored a career-high 18 points, alongside two rebounds, two assists and four steals, in a 113–103 loss to the Chicago Bulls.[26] The Heat qualified for the play-in tournament and advanced to face the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, whom they defeated in five games in a historic upset.[27] In game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Highsmith scored a then-playoff career-high 15 points, alongside two rebounds and two steals, in a 110–97 loss to the Boston Celtics.[28] The Heat eventually defeated the Celtics in seven games to advance to the 2023 edition of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets. In game 1 of the Finals, Highsmith matched his career high of 18 points, alongside two rebounds and two steals, in a 104–93 loss.[29] The Heat went on to lose the series in five games.

On July 8, 2024, Highsmith re-signed with the Heat.[30]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

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Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Philadelphia 5 0 8.0 .400 .200 .000 1.0 .4 .2 .0 1.8
2021–22 Miami 19 1 8.6 .348 .321 .400 1.4 .3 .1 .2 2.3
2022–23 Miami 54 11 18.0 .431 .339 .464 3.5 .8 .7 .3 4.4
2023–24 Miami 66 26 20.7 .465 .396 .639 3.2 1.1 .8 .5 6.1
Career 144 38 17.6 .443 .368 .535 3.0 .8 .6 .3 4.8

Play-in

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2024 Miami 2 0 29.7 .444 .125 .500 4.5 1.5 3.0 .5 9
Career 2 0 29.7 .444 .125 .500 4.5 1.5 3.0 .5 9

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022 Miami 8 0 3.9 .429 .600 — .6 .4 .0 .0 1.1
2023 Miami 18 0 8.9 .615 .500 .800 1.3 .3 .6 .1 3.3
2024 Miami 5 0 25.1 .357 .188 1.000 2.8 1.6 .2 .2 4.8
Career 31 0 10.2 .500 .378 .833 1.4 .5 .4 .1 3.0

References

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  1. ^ "Haywood Highsmith - Miami Heat". NBA.com.
  2. ^ "Dream of playing in NBA a reality for Baltimore native, Archbishop Curley grad Haywood Highsmith Jr". The Baltimore Sun. January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  3. ^ Adornato, Gary (January 9, 2019). "Curley Grad Highsmith Gets An NBA Shot". MIAASports.net. Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association. Retrieved April 11, 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ Rine, Shawn (November 29, 2017). "WJU Men Back for More". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  5. ^ Love, Kevin F. (December 7, 2018). "Meet Haywood Highsmith, Sixers' workout attendee". libertyballers.com. SB Nation. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  6. ^ Hudrick, Paul (January 8, 2019). "Sixers sign Haywood Highsmith to two-way contract". NBCSports.com. NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  7. ^ Gies, Kurt (January 8, 2019). "Team Signs Haywood Highsmith to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  8. ^ McCaffery, Jack (January 8, 2019). "Sixers Notebook: Long road, short jump to NBA for Haywood Highsmith". The Trentonian. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  9. ^ "Haywood Highsmith Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  10. ^ Hamilton, Moke (June 24, 2019). "The Sixers have waived two-way player Haywood Highsmith". Sixers Wire. USA Today. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  11. ^ Adams, Luke (September 19, 2019). "Deal Between Suns, Haywood Highsmith Falls Through". HoopsRumors. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  12. ^ "Team Signs Highsmith". NBA.com. September 25, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  13. ^ Draper, Alan (November 8, 2019). "Blue Coats open up the 2019–20 season with a lot of promise". The Sports Daily. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "Haywood Highsmith: Tallies 20 points". CBS Sports. January 1, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  15. ^ "Haywood Highsmith: Nearly picks up double-double". CBS Sports. March 4, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  16. ^ Schmidt-Scheuber, Miles (September 4, 2020). "The Crailsheim Merlins Add EX NBA Player Haywood Highsmith". Eurobasket. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  17. ^ "Haywood Highsmith è un giocatore della Vanoli Basket" (in Italian). vanolibasket.com. July 27, 2021.
  18. ^ "Haywood Highsmith esercita la clausola di uscita" (in Italian). vanolibasket.com. August 24, 2020.
  19. ^ Maher, Rory (September 30, 2021). "Sixers Sign, Waive Haywood Highsmith". HoopsRumors.com. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "HEAT Signs Haywood Highsmith". NBA.com. December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  21. ^ "2021–22 NBA G League transactions". gleague.nba.com. January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  22. ^ Herrera, Irene (February 15, 2022). "HEAT SIGN HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH". NBA.com. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  23. ^ Wojnarowski, Adrian (February 26, 2022). "Heat signing Haywood Highsmith to new 10-day". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  24. ^ "HEAT SIGN HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH". NBA.com. March 8, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  25. ^ Armant, Jayden (March 9, 2022). "A Look At The Miami Heat's Latest Addition". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  26. ^ Reynolds, Tim (December 20, 2022). "BULLS SNAP 4-GAME SLIDE, TOP SHORT-HANDED HEAT 113-103". NBA.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  27. ^ Megargee, Steve (April 27, 2023). "HEAT RALLY AGAIN TO WIN IN OT, ELIMINATE TOP-SEEDED BUCKS". NBA.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  28. ^ Hightower, Kyle (May 25, 2023). "CELTICS THRIVE ON 3S, BEAT HEAT 110-97 IN GAME 5 TO EXTEND EAST FINALS". NBA.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  29. ^ Reynolds, Tim (June 2, 2023). "JOKIC GETS TRIPLE-DOUBLE, NUGGETS ROLL PAST HEAT 104-93 IN GAME 1 OF NBA FINALS". NBA.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  30. ^ "HEAT RE-SIGN HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH". NBA.com. July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
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