Robert Woodard II

Robert Woodard II's Biography

Robert Anthony Woodard II, born on September 22, 1999, is an all-star American professional basketball player who was introduced to the world of sports as a child. Known for his court skills with the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League, his career in basketball developed from a grounding in baseball and basketball, which he began nurturing during his childhood. His love for basketball took over during his high school years, an infatuation likely fueled by his towering height. Even before joining high school, Woodard attracted attention from Division I colleges while in just the eighth grade, signifying the onset of an extraordinary career.

He plied his fledgling skills at Columbus High School in Columbus, Mississippi. His unmatched ability was evident as a sophomore when he led his school, Columbus, to secure its debut Mississippi Class 6A state title. This feat was owed to his impressive average of 20.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and four assists per game – a record that placed him firmly on the sports radar. His junior year saw him repeat this feat, further stamping his footprint in the world of high school basketball with a staggering average of 25.2 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and three blocks per game that earned him the honors of the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year.

Woodard’s senior year brought even greater glory as he, for the second time, clinched the Class 6A state championship for his school. The 6A title wasn’t his only accolade that year – he was also named the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year, marking the climax of an unmatched high school career. Packaged as a four-star recruit and ranked as the top prospect in his state, the promising basketball player accepted an offer from Mississippi State University, despite competing offers from Alabama, Memphis, and Ole Miss, amongst others.

As a freshman at Mississippi State, he averaged 5.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while playing for approximately 17 minutes. Despite playing a single game, Woodard shot an overall average of 46 percent on field goals during his freshman season. He then went on to spend his summer honing his shooting skills and strength. This hard work paid off on November 17, 2019, when he set his career highs of 21 points and 16 rebounds in a decisive 82-59 blowout win over New Orleans. By the conclusion of his sophomore year, Woodard boosted his average to 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and declared his intent to remain in the 2020 NBA draft.

Post-college, Woodard’s career soared when he was picked by the Memphis Grizzlies as the 40th pick in the 2020 NBA draft. His journey then subsequently led him to the Sacramento Kings, where he ended up alongside a 2022 second-round draft selection-a trade for Xavier Tillman. After the successful negotiation, on December 1, 2020, the Kings signed Woodard. On February 1, 2021, Woodard began his first assignment at the NBA G League for the Austin Spurs.

2022 marked the beginning of a new chapter for Woods. He was assigned to the Stockton Kings in January after overcoming an undisclosed illness. That year, he was also waived by the Kings, and later by the Iowa Wolves and the Oklahoma City Blue. However, this dip in his career did not last long. He quickly rebounded and signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs on March 4, later signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder in October. He had a short run with the Thunder and was waived after just one pre-season game. However, he resurfaced on November 3, 2022, when he was included in the opening night roster for the Oklahoma City Blue.

His career then took him overseas, where he signed with the French Betclic Élite team, ADA Blois, in August 2023. As the year drew to a close, Woodard moved to Greece to join the Greek club Maroussi for the rest of the season. The following October, he joined the Memphis Hustle.

Outside of his successful career in the United States, Woodard’s international acclaim is evidenced by his accomplishments at the 2015 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship in Argentina, where he won a gold medal with Team USA. Playing in every game, he averaged 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

Additionally, Woodard’s stellar journey has been profoundly inspired by his father, named Robert Woodard like himself. His father left high school as Mississippi’s all-time leading scorer in boys’ basketball with a record 4,274 points – an exceptional legacy that was carried forward at the collegiate level, where the elder Woodard played for Mississippi State. His father’s illustrious career has indubitably left an indelible mark, setting an exceptional standard that has motivated and inspired Robert Anthony Woodard II to reach the heights he has achieved in his basketball career.