Jacob Gilyard

Jacob Gilyard is a professional basketball player from the United States. He currently plays for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri and attended high school there before attending college at Richmond University in Virginia.

Gilyard stands at 6’3″ and weighs 195 lbs., making him an undersized guard by NBA standards. However, his athleticism & quickness have made up for his height discrepancy on the court as well as enabled him to become a reliable defender for whichever team he plays on. While at Richmond, Gilyard earned All-Atlantic 10 honors twice and was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2020-21 season after leading the conference with 2 steals per game (2nd nationally). His great defensive play also resulted in being selected to participate in both 2021 Naismith Defensive Player of Year Award watch lists & National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-Defensive Teams two times; once during his senior season & another during his junior year when he led all NCAA Division I players with 3 steals/game mark overall setting a new Richmond record while doing so too!

Following college basketball career – Jacob declared himself eligible for 2021 NBA Draft where he was selected by OKC franchise with 48th pick overall; marking first time since 2013 draft they’d use second-round selection on point guard outta collegiate ranks (they did spend 31st pick on Hamidou Diallo back 2018 but didn’t pursue any big guards then). In summer league prior joining Thunder roster fulltime – Gilyard averaged 12 points over six games showing off ability penetrate opposition’s defense & convert tough shots near rim despite minimal height advantage against other guards participating this event thus why it wasn’t that big surprise some front office personnel believed Jacob could be valuable piece moving forward into future considering amount value today’s market puts into smaller speedsters like him!
He has been playing for OKC ever since then and is continuing to impress many people around the league who are watching how far he can take this current situation under head coach Mark Daigneault who has trusted young man enought o give him considerable minutes due lack depth behind star Shai Gilgeous Alexander especially when Luguentz “Lou” Dort isn’t available due injury or rest purposes like recently happened due playoffs race push late April – early May period which ended up benefitting both parties involved long term confidence wise…