Haywood Highsmith

Haywood Lee Highsmith Jr., born on December 9, 1996, is a professional basketball player in the United States, currently affiliated with the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Miami Heat team. This extraordinary player was born and raised in Baltimore and honed his talent and passion for basketball from his early years.

Highsmith’s journey in competitive basketball began in high school. He graduated from Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore in 2014, where he excelled in basketball under the guidance of his coach Brian Hubbard. Surprisingly, despite his skills and performance, Highsmith’s prowess on the court didn’t attract much attention from NCAA Division I colleges.

Undeterred by the lack of interest from top colleges, Highsmith decided to further his education and basketball career at Wheeling Jesuit University, later known as Wheeling University. Highsmith represented the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals through four seasons from 2014 to 2018, becoming a starter towards the end of his freshman year.

In his sophomore year, Highsmith consistently demonstrated his abilities on the court, averaging 14.5 points and 9.4 rebounds. This performance earned him the recognition of being named the first-team All-Mountain East Conference (MEC). The following year, Highsmith elevated his averages to 15.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per match, positioning him as a second-team All-Mountain East Conference (MEC).

Highsmith’s pivotal senior season in 2018 witnessed him averaging 22 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. This led to him being named first-team All-MEC, MEC Player of the Year, and the MVP of the MEC Conference tournament. Nationally, he received the Division II All-America first-team honors by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and was declared the National Player of the Year by the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association.

Highsmith’s professional career began in a rather unconventional manner. Despite his impressive senior year performance, he went undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft. Not one to take a setback lying down, Highsmith signed with the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League and began his professional career, averaging 13.7 points per game in 21 appearances. His tenacity attracted the Philadelphia 76ers who offered him a two-way contract in early 2019, allowing Highsmith to alternate between the 76ers and the Blue Coats.

The year 2020 saw Highsmith continue to cement his professional career. He signed with the Crailsheim Merlins of the Basketball Bundesliga, with average scores of 7.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. In 2021, he returned to the Blue Coats and decided to exercise an NBA exit option with Vanoli Cremona of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). Through persistent effort and determination, Highsmith continued to progress in his career, subsequently signing a 10-day contract with the Miami Heat in late 2021 through a hardship exemption.

After a few more stints with the Delaware Blue Coats and short-term contracts with the Miami Heat, Highsmith managed to secure a standard three-year contract with the Miami Heat, resulting from his consistently high performance. One such performance took place on December 20, 2022, when Highsmith scored a personal best of 18 points during a game against the Chicago Bulls.

The Miami Heat, with Highsmith in its ranks, upset the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs’ first round, marking a historical moment. Highsmith then delivered another impressive showing during the Eastern Conference Finals match against the Boston Celtics, scoring 15 points, which was a playoff career-high for him. Despite losing in the NBA Finals to the Denver Nuggets, Highsmith’s performance left an indelible mark.

Haywood Lee Highsmith Jr.’s fascinating journey in the world of basketball demonstrates a story of unwavering determination, resilience, and growth. From his high school years in Baltimore to achieving his dream of playing in the NBA, Highsmith’s story serves as an inspiration to young and aspiring basketball players who dream of making it big in the sport.