Trent Forrest

Landon Trent Forrest, born on June 12, 1998, is an esteemed professional basketball player in America. He currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and has a two-way contract with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League. His journey to the professional leagues had its roots in his college basketball career with the Florida State Seminoles.

Forrest is a native of Chipley, Florida, where he attended Chipley High School. His high school career cemented him as a formidable player, scoring over 3,000 points during his time there. Notably, as a senior student, he led his high school team to a state championship. Forrest shone during the title game against Paxton High School, where he scored 26 points.

Outside of his high school career, Forrest also took part in the Amateur Athletic Union competition, playing with the Alabama Challenge and the Georgia Stars. His skill earned him a spot within the top 50 of his high school class. Such potential naturally attracted offers from numerous prestigious schools like Miami (Florida), Georgia Tech, Tennessee, UCF, and Wichita State. However, Forrest was drawn to the Florida State Seminoles because of a common vision he shared with coach Leonard Hamilton.

During his freshman year at Florida State, Forrest averaged 4.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals. He played as a backup point guard to Xavier Rathan-Mayes. By his sophomore year, Forrest ranked fifth in team scoring with an average of 7.9 points per game and stood third in rebounding with 4.9 per game. This performance helped his team reach the Elite Eight.

Forrest is notable for his resilience. During a game with Villanova on November 25, 2018, he suffered from torn cartilage on the bone in his big toe but continued playing, not missing a single game. In the 2019 NCAA Tournament, Forrest made a significant contribution with 20 points and five rebounds in a Sweet 16 loss to Gonzaga, leading to his selection for the West Regional All-Tournament Team.

As a junior, his game statistics consisted of 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per match. He graduated from Florida State in December 2019, with a sports management degree. His diligence was not restricted to his sport; he boasted a Grade Point Average of 3.43 and won the Skip Prosser Award for best scholar-athlete in the ACC.

Forrest demonstrated consistent improvement, as shown in his selection on the Second Team All-ACC and the Defensive Team at the end of his regular season. As a senior, he averaged 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.

Despite his accomplishments, Forrest was not chosen in the 2020 NBA draft. However, he secured a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz in November 2020. His journey continued with a second two-way contract on August 11, 2021, and his contract converted into a standard NBA one on April 10, 2022. Eventually, on August 8, 2022, Forrest acquired a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks, where they re-signed him on a similar contract on September 12, 2023.

Forrest’s affinity for basketball is a family trait. His parents, Barbara Lee and Lester Forrest, were basketball players at Chipola Junior College. His mother serves as the pastor of All Things New Worship Center, and he used to play the drums in the church. His father is the manager of Gilmore Park for the Chipley recreation department and formed the town’s youth basketball program. Forrest comes from an ardent basketball-loving family, with his older brother Trey also enjoying the sport.

Landon Trent Forrest’s basketball journey is a testament to his resilience, dedication and inherited love for the game. A unique blend of talent and hard work defines his promising career in the NBA.