Keyonte George
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Keyonte George
| image =
| image_size =
| caption = George in 2024
| position = Point guard
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 185
| league = NBA
| team = Utah Jazz
| number = 3
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|11|8}}
| birth_place = Lewisville, Texas, U.S.
| high_school = * Lewisville
(Lewisville, Texas)
| college = Baylor (2022–2023)
| draft_year = 2023
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 16
| draft_team = Utah Jazz
| career_start = 2023
| years1 = {{nbay|2023|start}}–present
| team1 = Utah Jazz
| highlights =
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team ({{nbay|2023|end}})
- Big 12 Freshman of the Year (2023)
- Big 12 All-Newcomer Team (2023)
- Big 12 All-Freshman Team (2023)
- Second-team All-Big 12 (2023)
- McDonald's All-American (2022)
- Jordan Brand Classic (2022)
- Nike Hoop Summit (2022)
- FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup MVP (2021)
| medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Men's 3x3 basketball}}
{{MedalCountry|the {{3x3|USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIBA Under-18 World Cup|Team}}
{{MedalGold|2021 Hungary|Team}}
}}
Keyonte Darnell George (born November 8, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class.
Early life
George began playing high school basketball for Lewisville High School in Lewisville, Texas.{{cite web|last=Bossi|first=Eric|title=Class of 2022 Keyonte George has KU, Texas, others on radar|url=https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/class-of-2022-keyonte-george-has-ku-texas-others-on-radar|website=Rivals|access-date=September 17, 2021|date=December 6, 2019}} As a freshman, he averaged 21 points, four rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, and was named District 6-6A Offensive Player of the Year.{{cite web|last=Thomas|first=Justin|title=The best on the basketball court: Locals named to 6-6A all-district team|url=https://starlocalmedia.com/carrolltonleader/sports/the-best-on-the-basketball-court-locals-named-to-6-6a-all-district-team/article_0624213e-45b4-11e9-bb91-7395a468ab24.html|website=Carrollton Leader|access-date=September 17, 2021|date=March 13, 2019}} George averaged 23.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game as a sophomore, earning District 6-6A MVP honors. For his junior season, he transferred to iSchool of Lewisville.{{cite web|last=Riddle|first=Greg|title=Five-star basketball recruit Keyonte George is transferring from Lewisville to iSchool of Lewisville|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/basketball/2020/05/01/five-star-basketball-recruit-keyonte-george-is-transferring-from-lewisville-to-ischool-of-lewisville/|website=The Dallas Morning News|access-date=September 17, 2021|date=May 1, 2020}} George averaged 24.8 points per game as a junior.{{cite web |last1=Borzello |first1=Jeff |last2=Biancardi |first2=Paul |author-link2=Paul Biancardi |name-list-style=and |date=August 8, 2021 |title=Top-five 2022 prospect Keyonte George commits to Baylor Bears |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31988003 |access-date=September 17, 2021 |website=ESPN}} He moved to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for his senior season,{{cite web|last=Divens|first=Jordan|title=High school basketball: Keyonte George, Dior Johnson and Mikey Williams among impact transfers|url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/2ctu0sgTGEybI-F803qWNw/high-school-basketball--keyonte-george,-dior-johnson-and-mikey-williams-among-impact-transfers.htm|website=MaxPreps|access-date=September 17, 2021|date=September 2, 2021}} where he averaged 17.8 points per game and shot 41% from three-point range. He was the highest-ranked recruit in program history when he committed to Baylor University for the 2023 college basketball season.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-23 |title=IMG Academy Sets Basketball Program Record After Three Alumni Selected in the First Round of the 2023 NBA Draft |url=https://www.imgacademy.com/news/img-academy-sets-basketball-program-record-after-three-alumni-selected-first-round-2023-nba |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=IMG Academy |language=en}}
George was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class, according to major recruiting services. On August 8, 2021, he committed to playing college basketball for Baylor over offers from Texas, Texas Tech, Kansas and Kentucky.
{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2022}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Keyonte George
| position = SG
| hometown = Lewisville, TX
| highschool = IMG Academy (FL)
| feet = 6
| inches = 4
| weight = 185
| 40 =
| commitdate = August 8, 2021
| scout stars =
| rivals stars = 5
| 247 stars = 5
| espn stars = 5
| espn grade = 93
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit End
| 40 =
| year = 2022
| rivals ref title = Baylor 2022 Basketball Commitments
| scout ref title =
| espn ref title = 2022 Baylor Bears Recruiting Class
| rivals school = baylor
| scout s =
| espn schoolid = 239
| 247 overall = 9
| rivals overall = 9
| espn overall = 6
| accessdate = November 13, 2022
| bball = yes
}}
College career
On January 11, 2023, George scored 32 points in an 83–78 victory over West Virginia.{{cite news|title=George scores 32, Baylor beats West Virginia 83–78|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401493393|access-date=March 6, 2023|work=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|date=January 11, 2023}} He was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year as well as Second Team All-Big 12.{{cite news|title=Flagler named first-team all-Big 12|url=https://wacotrib.com/sports/college/baylor/flagler-named-first-team-all-big-12/article_99f8d02c-bba2-11ed-af41-6bdce25ad8ae.html|access-date=March 6, 2023|work=Waco Tribune-Herald|date=March 5, 2023}} George scored 506 points as a freshman at Baylor, the second most in school history, and holds the program record for the most 20-point games in program history with 20.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-23 |title=IMG Academy Sets Basketball Program Record After Three Alumni Selected in the First Round of the 2023 NBA Draft |url=https://www.imgacademy.com/news/img-academy-sets-basketball-program-record-after-three-alumni-selected-first-round-2023-nba |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=IMG Academy |language=en}}
Professional career
The Utah Jazz selected George with the sixteenth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2023/06/22/utah-jazz-select-baylor-guard/|title=Utah Jazz select Baylor guard Keyonte George at No. 16|last=Larsen|first=Andy|website=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=June 22, 2023|access-date=June 24, 2023}} After playing shooting guard as a prep and in college, George began playing as a point guard under head coach Will Hardy.{{Cite web |last=Todd |first=Sarah |date=2024-03-03 |title=Utah Jazz: Keyonte George continuing to find his voice |url=https://www.deseret.com/sports/2024/03/02/utah-jazz-keyonte-george-still-learning-his-way-during-rookie-season/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}
On October 25, 2023, George made his NBA regular season debut against the Sacramento Kings, putting up eight points, two rebounds, and two assists off the bench in a 130–114 loss.{{Cite web |last=Kostecka |first=Ryan |date=2023-10-26 |title="I Feel Like I Belong" — Confidence And Preparation Led To A Successful NBA Debut For George |url=https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/i-feel-like-i-belong-confidence-and-preparation-led-to-a-successful-nba-debut-for-george |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=nba.com}} On December 2, George scored a then career high 21 points against the Portland Trail Blazers, adding six rebounds and six assists in the game.[https://www.si.com/nba/jazz/news/keyonte-george-season-high-performance-trail-blazers Keyonte George Posts Stellar Season-High Performance vs. Trail Blazers], si.com, 3 December 2023 On December 12, 2023, George scored a new career-high 30 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-12 |title=Jazz's Keyonte George: Delivers career-high 30 points |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/jazzs-keyonte-george-delivers-career-high-30-points/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} On February 4, 2024, George recorded his first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 123–108 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-04 |title=Jazz's Keyonte George: Posts double-double off bench |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/jazzs-keyonte-george-posts-double-double-off-bench/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} On November 4, 2024, George tied his career-high of 35 points against the Chicago Bulls.
While some speculate that George was benched due to being surpassed by Collier, the move of Collier to the starting lineup allowed Keyonte to return to his role of an off-ball scorer, where he has been thriving.{{Cite web|title=Jazz lose to Bucks, but say moving Collier to a starter is 'best for team' right now|url=https://www.ksl.com/article/51238922/jazz-lose-to-bucks-but-say-moving-collier-to-a-starter-is-best-for-team-right-now|access-date=January 27, 2025|website=ksl.com|language=en}}
National team career
In 3x3 basketball, George represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Cup in Hungary. He was named MVP after averaging a tournament-high 8.2 points per game and leading his team to a gold medal.{{cite web|title=USA Men Claim First Back-to-Back Gold at FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup|url=https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2021/08/3x3-mu18-wc-aug-29.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830134659/https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2021/08/3x3-mu18-wc-aug-29.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2021|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=September 17, 2021|date=August 29, 2021}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=NBA=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2023}}
| style="text-align:left;"|Utah
| 75 || 44 || 27.0 || .391 || .334 || .848 || 2.8 || 4.4 || .5 || .1 || 13.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 75 || 44 || 27.0 || .391 || .334 || .848 || 2.8 || 4.4 || .5 || .1 || 13.0
{{s-end}}
=College=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://baylorbears.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/keyonte-george/11794 Baylor Bears bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20210906091222/https://www.usab.com/basketball/players/mens/g/george-keyonte.aspx USA Basketball bio]
{{Utah Jazz current roster}}
{{2023 NBA draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Keyonte}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Denton County, Texas
Category:Baylor Bears men's basketball players
Category:McDonald's High School All-Americans
Category:Sportspeople from Lewisville, Texas