Naji Marshall

Born on January 24, 1998, Naji Maurice Marshall stepped into the world by the seashore of Atlantic City, New Jersey. He belongs to the lineage of a professional boxer, Maurice Marshall, who later transitioned to the field of basketball coaching in an elementary school. Naji shares a close bond with his mother, Rayna Whitted, who has supported the family while serving at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. His name, endowed with an Arabic origin meaning “strong warrior,” is a loving nickname given by his father. Naji grew up alongside his five brothers and a sister, with his adolescent years marked by a shared love for football and basketball within the family. However, as he stepped into his teenage years, basketball became his focal interest.

Relocating to Maryland at the tender age of nine, Naji’s early years were steeped in sports. Street games and local leagues, including Atlantic City’s Triple-B summer youth league, formed an inseparable part of his middle school life. Naji embarked on his high school basketball journey at Takoma Academy, transferring later to Eleanor Roosevelt High School under the guidance of Coach Brendan O’Connell. Despite the initial academic setback, Naji was unstoppable. During his senior year, he made impressive strides, scoring an average of 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game, contributing significantly to the 23-3 record of his team.

His brilliant performance earned him a place at Hargrave Military Academy as a postgraduate student to brush up his academics. At Hargrave, he secured an average of 20.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Simultaneously, he competed for DC Premier on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit. So outstanding was his performance that he accumulated scholarship offers from prestigious institutes like Pittsburgh, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech. However, Naji’s heart was set on Xavier University, attracted by the culture and the thirst to play college basketball for the Xavier Musketeers.

His college years saw him rise as a popular name in the Big East, earning him his high rankings from ESPN as the 20th best small forward. His splendid performance on the court, notably the 21-point score in a win against Georgetown, earned him a place on the Big East All-Freshman team. Despite declaring for the 2019 NBA draft, he chose to return to Xavier to harness his skills.

His junior years at Xavier fetched him critical acclaim. His impressive performance against Cincinnati, earning a career-high of 31 points and the game-winning three-pointer against Georgetown, cemented his place on the preseason First Team All-Big East. By this time, his average points had hiked to 16.8 per game.

In 2020, Naji declared for the NBA draft. Subsequently, he signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Erie BayHawks, their NBA G League affiliate. After his NBA debut against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021, he saw consistent game time in April due to multiple player injuries. In May, the Pelicans signed him on a multi-year contract. With an average of 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, Naji left a significant mark in his rookie season. As of 2022, he continues to play for the New Orleans Pelicans and their G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, alongside Trey Murphy III. His journey in the world of basketball has only just begun.