Micah Potter

Micah Potter's Biography

Micah Potter, born on April 6, 1998, has made a name for himself in the competitive milieu of American professional basketball. Currently serving a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz and the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League, Potter’s journey encompasses a wealth of experience both on and off the court. This narrative attempts to capture the athlete’s story in-depth.

Hailing from Mentor, Ohio, Potter started shaping his skills at Mentor High School, only to transfer to Montverde Academy in Florida for his senior year. His performance at both schools caught the public’s eye. As a junior, Potter averaged an impressive 20.2 points with 9.1 rebounds per game and won the First Team All-State honors.

At Montverde Academy, he continued to excel averaging 10.7 points, 5.5 rebounds per game and he was titled the team’s most valuable player. His consistency and potential marked him out as a talent to be reckoned with in the times to come.

Potter’s college career began as a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes. As a freshman, he launched into the season with the starting lineup, only to be sidelined by an unfortunate ankle injury that forced him to miss two games and be replaced by Trevor Thompson.

In his sophomore season, an ankle sprain further limited his performances, but he still managed to put up a credible average of 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. However, the growth of his teammates Kaleb Wesson and Keita Bates-Diop began overshadowing Potter’s performance. Perhaps sensing the need for a fresh start, two days before his junior season, Potter announced a transfer from Ohio State.

His next port of call was the University of Wisconsin, where he was sat out for the 2018–19 season due to the mandatory transfer rules. Even the subsequent fall semester saw no play from Potter as his request for immediate eligibility was denied by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Despite these setbacks, Potter’s stunning comeback in his junior year reaffirmed his dedication and talent for the sport. His junior year saw a season-high of 24 points and 13 rebounds obtained during the victory over Penn State. He made 21 appearances and averaged 10.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Entering his senior year, Potter was honored to be named on the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award preseason watch list. Testament to his consistency, his average score stood at 12.5 points with 5.9 rebounds per game, with him spearheading the team’s attack in 20 out of 31 games.

Potter’s professional journey began after graduating college without being selected in the 2021 NBA draft. However, proving his resilience, he joined the Miami Heat as part of the 2021 NBA Summer League and subsequently signed a contract with the team. After being one of the final cuts in the training camp, Potter joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce as an affiliate player, where he averaged 14.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

In late December 2021, Potter jumped on a short-term opportunity with the Detroit Pistons, signing a 10-day contract, only to return to Sioux Falls shortly thereafter. In the summer of 2022, Potter shifted gears once again and joined the New York Knicks for the NBA Summer League.

The pivotal moment in Potter’s career arrived in October 2022, when he signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz. However, in January 2023 he had to undergo a surgery for his right elbow, putting him out of the game for four to six weeks. He re-signed another two-way contract with the Jazz in August 2024.

Beyond his professional career, Potter’s achievements involved him serving the Wisconsin Badger alumni Nigel Hayes-Davis on the USA Basketball Select Team preparing the main roster for the 2024 Olympics.

Outside of his accomplishments in basketball, Micah Potter lives his life according to his Christian faith. His elder brother Caleb played baseball for West Virginia, and then for the Southern New Hampshire team. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Noah, was a football player for the Ohio State, Cincinnati, and North Carolina State.

Potter’s family ties also extend into basketball with his grandfather being married to the grandmother of Jon Teske. On a personal note, Potter married Elle Van Grinsven, a former volleyball player and graduate of Loyola University Chicago, on June 11, 2021, in Lomira, Wisconsin.

In conclusion, Micah Potter’s story is an emblematic representation of resilience. Overcoming injuries, setbacks, and rejections, he has etched his name in the realm of professional basketball, with a promise to achieve even more in his promising career.