Haywood Highsmith

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Haywood Highsmith

| image = Haywood Highsmith at 2023 Miami Heat Family Festival.jpg

| image_size = 220px

| caption = Highsmith in 2023

| position = Small forward / power forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5 {{cite web|title=Haywood Highsmith - Miami Heat|url=https://www.nba.com/player/1629312/haywood-highsmith|website=NBA.com}}

| weight_lb = 220

| league = NBA

| team = Miami Heat

| number =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|12|9|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

| high_school = Archbishop Curley
(Baltimore, Maryland)

| college = Wheeling (2014–2018)

| draft_year = 2018

| career_start = 2018

| years1 = 2018–2019

| team1 = Delaware Blue Coats

| years2 = {{nbay|2018|end}}

| team2 = Philadelphia 76ers

| years3 = 2019

| team3 = →Delaware Blue Coats

| years4 = 2019–2020

| team4 = Delaware Blue Coats

| years5 = 2020–2021

| team5 = Crailsheim Merlins

| years6 = 2021–2022

| team6 = Delaware Blue Coats

| years7 = {{nbay|2021|start}}–present

| team7 = Miami Heat

| highlights =

First-team Division II All-American – NABC (2018)
MEC Player of the Year (2018)
2× First-team All-MEC (2016, 2018)
MEC tournament MVP (2018)

}}

Haywood Lee Highsmith Jr. (born December 9, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Highsmith was born in Baltimore. He played college basketball for the Cardinals of Wheeling Jesuit University and was the NCAA Division II Player of the Year as a senior in 2018.

After not being selected in the 2018 NBA draft, Highsmith began his professional basketball career with the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League in 2018. Late in the 2018–19 season, Highsmith made his NBA debut with the Blue Coats' parent team Philadelphia 76ers. In later years, Highsmith played in multiple stints with the Blue Coats, the Crailsheim Merlins of the German Basketball Bundesliga, and is currently on the Miami Heat of the NBA.

Early life and college career

Originally from Baltimore, Highsmith graduated from Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore in 2014 where he was classmates with NFL wide receiver Deonte Harty of the Baltimore Ravens. His high school coach Brian Hubbard told The Baltimore Sun that Highsmith drew little interest from NCAA Division I colleges.{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/nba/bs-sp-nba-baltimore-native-archbishop-curley-graduate-haywood-highsmith-jr-philadelphia-76ers-20190114-story.html|title=Dream of playing in NBA a reality for Baltimore native, Archbishop Curley grad Haywood Highsmith Jr.|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=January 14, 2019|accessdate=January 12, 2022}}

After high school, Highsmith attended Wheeling Jesuit University (now Wheeling University) and played four seasons for the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals from 2014 to 2018. He became a starter for the team towards the end of his freshman season. He averaged 14.5 points and 9.4 rebounds as a sophomore, his first full year as a starter, and was named first team All-Mountain East Conference (MEC).{{cite web|url=https://miaasports.net/curley-grad-highsmith-gets-an-nba-shot/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411164218/https://miaasports.net/curley-grad-highsmith-gets-an-nba-shot/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 11, 2019|title=Curley Grad Highsmith Gets An NBA Shot|first=Gary|last=Adornato|website=MIAASports.net|publisher=Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association|date=January 9, 2019|access-date=April 11, 2019}} In his junior season, Highsmith averaged 15.3 points and 10.8 rebounds and was named second- team All-MEC.{{cite web|url=http://www.theintelligencer.net/x-old-sections/basketball-preview-2017/2017/11/wju-men-back-for-more/|title=WJU Men Back for More|first=Shawn|last=Rine|work=The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register|date=November 29, 2017|access-date=April 11, 2019}} As a senior, Highsmith averaged 22 points and 12.6 rebounds per game and was named first-team All-MEC, MEC Player of the Year, and the MVP of the MEC Conference tournament. Nationally, he was named first-team Division II All-America by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the National Player of the Year by the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association.{{cite web|url=https://www.libertyballers.com/2018/12/7/18130357/meet-haywood-highsmith-sixers-workout-attendee|title=Meet Haywood Highsmith, Sixers' workout attendee|first=Kevin F.|last=Love|website=libertyballers.com|publisher=SB Nation|date=December 7, 2018|access-date=April 11, 2019}}

Professional career

=Delaware Blue Coats (2018–2019)=

File:Haywood Highsmith.jpg

After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Highsmith signed with the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League through a local tryout. He averaged 13.7 points per game in 21 appearances.{{cite web|title=Sixers sign Haywood Highsmith to two-way contract |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/76ers/sixers-sign-haywood-highsmith-two-way-contract|first=Paul|last=Hudrick|website=NBCSports.com|publisher=NBC Sports Philadelphia|date=January 8, 2019|access-date=January 8, 2019}}

=Philadelphia 76ers (2019)=

Highsmith was signed to a two-way contract by the Philadelphia 76ers on January 8, 2019. Under the terms of the deal, he split time between the 76ers and the Blue Coats.{{cite web |last=Gies |first=Kurt |date=January 8, 2019 |title=Team Signs Haywood Highsmith to Two-Way Contract |url=https://www.nba.com/sixers/team-signs-haywood-highsmith-two-way-contract |access-date=January 8, 2019 |work=NBA.com}} Highsmith made his NBA debut the same day, scoring three points in five minutes of play in a 132–115 win over the Washington Wizards, after also playing in a game for the Blue Coats against Raptors 905 earlier in the day.{{cite web|url=https://www.trentonian.com/sports/sixers-notebook-long-road-short-jump-to-nba-for-haywood/article_c1c89525-1350-55ec-9e85-19423c742449.html|title=Sixers Notebook: Long road, short jump to NBA for Haywood Highsmith|first=Jack|last=McCaffery|work=The Trentonian|date=January 8, 2019|access-date=January 9, 2019|archive-date=January 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110013925/https://www.trentonian.com/sports/sixers-notebook-long-road-short-jump-to-nba-for-haywood/article_c1c89525-1350-55ec-9e85-19423c742449.html|url-status=dead}} Highsmith finished his first professional season averaging 1.8 points and one rebound over five NBA games and 12.2 points, 6.8 rebounds , 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals over 46 G League games (42 starts).{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/highsha01.html|title=Haywood Highsmith Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=April 11, 2019}}

On June 24, 2019, the 76ers waived Highsmith.{{cite web|url=https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/24/the-sixers-have-waived-two-way-player-haywood-highsmith/|title=The Sixers have waived two-way player Haywood Highsmith|first=Moke|last=Hamilton|website=Sixers Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=June 24, 2019|access-date=July 5, 2019}}

=Return to the Blue Coats (2019–2020)=

After his Exhibit 10 deal with the Phoenix Suns fell through,{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Luke|title=Deal Between Suns, Haywood Highsmith Falls Through|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2019/09/suns-likely-to-sign-haywood-highsmith.html|website=HoopsRumors|access-date=September 29, 2019|date=September 19, 2019}} Highsmith returned to the 76ers to sign an Exhibit 10 contract.{{cite web|title=Team Signs Highsmith|url=https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/team-signs-highsmith|website=NBA.com|access-date=September 26, 2019|date=September 25, 2019}}

Highsmith re-joined the Blue Coats for the 2019–20 season.{{cite web |last=Draper |first=Alan |date=November 8, 2019 |title=Blue Coats open up the 2019–20 season with a lot of promise |url=https://thesportsdaily.com/2019/11/08/blue-coats-gear-up-for-2019-20-nba-g-league-season-with-talent-and-promise-tsl11/ |access-date=December 4, 2019 |website=The Sports Daily}} On December 31, Highsmith posted 20 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one steal in a loss to the Maine Red Claws.{{cite news |title=Haywood Highsmith: Tallies 20 points |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/haywood-highsmith-tallies-20-points/ |access-date=May 6, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=January 1, 2020}} He averaged 10.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.{{cite news |title=Haywood Highsmith: Nearly picks up double-double |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/haywood-highsmith-nearly-picks-up-double-double/ |access-date=May 6, 2020 |work=CBS Sports |date=March 4, 2020}}

=Crailsheim Merlins (2020–2021)=

On September 4, 2020, Highsmith signed with the Crailsheim Merlins of the Basketball Bundesliga, for whom he averaged 7.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.{{cite web |last=Schmidt-Scheuber |first=Miles |title=The Crailsheim Merlins Add EX NBA Player Haywood Highsmith |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Germany/news/643398/The-Crailsheim-Merlins-Add-EX-NBA-Player-Haywood-Highsmith |website=Eurobasket |access-date=September 4, 2020 |date=September 4, 2020}}

=Third stint with the Blue Coats (2021)=

On July 27, 2021, Highsmith signed with Vanoli Cremona of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA){{cite web |title=Haywood Highsmith è un giocatore della Vanoli Basket |url=https://www.vanolibasket.com/haywood-highsmith-e-un-giocatore-della-vanoli-basket/ |publisher=vanolibasket.com |date=July 27, 2021 |language=Italian }} with an NBA exit option. As an Exhibit 10 offer arrived from the Philadelphia 76ers, he decided to withdraw from Cremona and return to the U.S.{{cite web |title=Haywood Highsmith esercita la clausola di uscita |url=https://www.vanolibasket.com/haywood-highsmith-esercita-la-clausola-di-uscita/ |publisher=vanolibasket.com |date=August 24, 2020 |language=Italian }} On September 30, he signed and was waived by the 76ers.{{cite web|first=Rory|last=Maher|title=Sixers Sign, Waive Haywood Highsmith|url=https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/09/sixers-sign-waive-haywood-highsmith.html|website=HoopsRumors.com|date=September 30, 2021|access-date=September 30, 2021}}

Highsmith rejoined the Blue Coats in 2021. He averaged 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.

=Miami Heat (2021–2022)=

On December 30, 2021, Highsmith signed a 10-day contract with the Miami Heat via the hardship exemption.{{cite web |title=HEAT Signs Haywood Highsmith |url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-signs-haywood-highsmith |website=NBA.com |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=December 30, 2021}}

=Fourth stint with the Blue Coats (2022)=

On January 9, 2022, Highsmith was reacquired by the Delaware Blue Coats.{{cite web|url=https://gleague.nba.com/transactions/|website=gleague.nba.com|title=2021–22 NBA G League transactions|date=January 9, 2022|access-date=January 9, 2022}}

=Return to the Heat (2022–2025)=

On February 15, 2022, Highsmith signed a standard 10-day contract with the Miami Heat.{{cite web|first=Irene|last=Herrera|title=HEAT SIGN HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH|url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-signs-haywood-highsmith-02152022|website=NBA.com|date=February 15, 2022|access-date=February 15, 2022}} Ten days later, he signed a second 10-day contract.{{cite web|first=Adrian|last=Wojnarowski|author-link=Adrian Wojnarowski|title=Heat signing Haywood Highsmith to new 10-day|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/heat-signing-haywood-highsmith-10-015313497.html|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=February 26, 2022|access-date=March 5, 2022}} Following the expiration of the second 10-day contract, Highsmith signed a three-year deal to remain with the Heat.{{cite web|title=HEAT SIGN HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH|url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-signs-haywood-highsmith-03072022|website=NBA.com|date=March 8, 2022|access-date=June 4, 2023}}{{cite magazine|first=Jayden|last=Armant|title=A Look At The Miami Heat's Latest Addition|url=https://www.si.com/nba/heat/miami-news/miami-heat-haywood-highsmith-addition|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=March 9, 2022|access-date=June 4, 2023}}

On December 20, 2022, Highsmith scored a career-high 18 points, alongside two rebounds, two assists and four steals, in a 113–103 loss to the Chicago Bulls.{{cite web|first=Tim|last=Reynolds|title=BULLS SNAP 4-GAME SLIDE, TOP SHORT-HANDED HEAT 113-103|url=https://www.nba.com/game/0022200462|website=NBA.com|date=December 20, 2022|access-date=June 4, 2023}} The Heat qualified for the play-in tournament and advanced to face the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, whom they defeated in five games in a historic upset.{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Megargee|title=HEAT RALLY AGAIN TO WIN IN OT, ELIMINATE TOP-SEEDED BUCKS|url=https://www.nba.com/game/0042200105|website=NBA.com|date=April 27, 2023|access-date=June 4, 2023}} In game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Highsmith scored a then-playoff career-high 15 points, alongside two rebounds and two steals, in a 110–97 loss to the Boston Celtics.{{cite web|first=Kyle|last=Hightower|title=CELTICS THRIVE ON 3S, BEAT HEAT 110-97 IN GAME 5 TO EXTEND EAST FINALS|url=https://www.nba.com/game/0042200305|website=NBA.com|date=May 25, 2023|access-date=June 4, 2023}} The Heat eventually defeated the Celtics in seven games to advance to the 2023 edition of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets. In game 1 of the Finals, Highsmith matched his career high of 18 points, alongside two rebounds and two steals, in a 104–93 loss.{{cite web|first=Tim|last=Reynolds|title=JOKIC GETS TRIPLE-DOUBLE, NUGGETS ROLL PAST HEAT 104-93 IN GAME 1 OF NBA FINALS|url=https://www.nba.com/game/0042200401|website=NBA.com|date=June 2, 2023|access-date=June 4, 2023}} The Heat went on to lose the series in five games.

On July 8, 2024, Highsmith re-signed with the Heat.{{cite web|title=HEAT RE-SIGN HAYWOOD HIGHSMITH|url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-re-sign-haywood-highsmith|website=NBA.com|date=July 8, 2024|access-date=July 16, 2024}}