Sahvir Wheeler
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 2001)}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Sahvir Wheeler
| image = Sahvir Wheeler Kentucky (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Wheeler with Kentucky in 2022
| position = Point guard
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lbs = 180
| league =
| team = Free agent
| number =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|1|17}}
| birth_place = Harlem, New York, U.S.
| high_school = Houston Christian
(Houston, Texas)
| college =
- Georgia (2019–2021)
- Kentucky (2021–2023)
- Washington (2023–2024)
| draft_year = 2024
| career_start = 2024
| career_end =
| years1 = 2024–2025
| team1 = Wisconsin Herd
| highlights =
- 2× Second-team All-SEC (2021, 2022)
}}
Sahvir Wheeler (born January 17, 2001) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Washington Huskies, Georgia Bulldogs and Kentucky Wildcats.
Early life
Wheeler was born in Harlem, New York and grew up in Houston, Texas.{{Cite web|title=Sahvir Wheeler - 2020-21 - Men's Basketball|url=https://georgiadogs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/sahvir-wheeler/5238|access-date=2021-02-28|website=University of Georgia Athletics|language=en}} He attended Houston Christian High School, where he averaged 19 points, nine assists and seven rebounds per game as a senior.{{cite web |last1=Weiszer |first1=Marc |title=Texas point guard fills need in top 10 UGA recruiting class |url=https://www.onlineathens.com/sports/20190506/texas-point-guard-fills-need-in-top-10-uga-recruiting-class |website=Athens Banner-Herald |access-date=March 31, 2021 |date=May 6, 2019}} Wheeler originally committed to playing college basketball for Texas A&M but reopened his recruitment after head coach Billy Kennedy was fired. He later committed to Georgia, choosing the Bulldogs over Iowa State.{{cite web |last1=Coleman |first1=Adam |title=Houston Christian's Sahvir Wheeler commits to Georgia |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/Houston-Christian-s-Sahvir-Wheeler-commits-to-13823684.php |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 31, 2021 |date=May 6, 2019}} Wheeler was considered a four-star recruit by most services.{{cite web |last1=Towers |first1=Chip |title=Georgia's Sahvir Wheeler making a name for himself |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/georgias-sahvir-wheeler-making-a-name-for-himself/CHPHLT47C5DZ5FOQV5BFLDT3IE/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=March 31, 2021 |date=February 26, 2021}}
College career
=Georgia=
As a freshman at Georgia, Wheeler averaged nine points and 4.5 assists per game. He set a program freshman record with 139 assists. In his sophomore season, Wheeler assumed a leading role with the departure of Anthony Edwards.{{cite web |last1=Odum |first1=Charles |title=Wheeler taking lead role as Georgia looks to replace Edwards |url=https://apnews.com/article/nba-virus-outbreak-georgia-sahvir-wheeler-tom-crean-f62529bd59e7de60182b457e98ee5f35 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=March 31, 2021 |date=November 11, 2020}} On February 23, 2021, he recorded the first triple-double in program history, with 14 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 91–78 win over LSU.{{cite web |last1=Towers |first1=Chip |title=Sahvir Wheeler records Georgia's first-ever triple-double in win |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/georgias-sahvir-wheeler-triples-up-in-win-over-lsu/3AQOMWJGCRBVHEW5X4Y3WOFSZ4/ |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=March 31, 2021 |date=February 23, 2021}} As a sophomore, Wheeler averaged 14 points, an SEC-leading 7.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. He was a consensus Second Team All-SEC selection and set the program single-season record for assists.{{cite web |title=Wheeler, Johnson Earn SEC Honors |url=https://georgiadogs.com/news/2021/3/9/mens-basketball-wheeler-johnson-earn-sec-honors.aspx |website=University of Georgia Athletics |access-date=March 31, 2021 |date=March 9, 2021}}
=Kentucky=
On May 17, 2021, Wheeler announced he would transfer to Kentucky.{{Cite web|last=Haste|first=Adam|date=2021-05-17|title=Sahvir Wheeler commits to Kentucky|url=https://www.aseaofblue.com/2021/5/17/22417592/sahvir-wheeler-kentucky-wildcats-basketball-recruiting-news-highlights|access-date=2021-05-17|website=A Sea Of Blue|language=en}} Wheeler put up a game high 26 points in a 98–69 victory over North Carolina.{{Cite web|title=Kentucky vs. North Carolina score, takeaways: Wildcats rout Tar Heels for an easy win in CBS Sports Classic|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/kentucky-vs-north-carolina-score-takeaways-wildcats-rout-tar-heels-for-an-easy-win-in-cbs-sports-classic/live/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=CBSSports.com|language=en}} Wheeler had a career high 14 assists in a 86–52 win vs North Florida.{{Cite web|last=Hatter|first=Evan|title=Kentucky earns fifth victory, beats North Florida 86-52|url=https://www.wymt.com/2021/11/27/kentucky-earns-fifth-victory-beats-north-florida-86-52/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=wymt.com|language=en}} He was named to the Second Team All-SEC.{{cite press release|url=https://www.secsports.com/article/33453309/men-basketball-all-sec-teams-awards-announced|title=Men's Basketball All-SEC Teams & Awards Announced |publisher=Southeastern Conference |date=March 8, 2022 |accessdate=March 8, 2022}} Wheeler was named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award.{{Cite web |title=Sahvir Wheeler a finalist for Bob Cousy Award |url=https://247sports.com/college/kentucky/Article/kentucky-basketball-sahvir-wheeler-bob-cousy-award-finalist--183615372/ |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=CatsPause |language=en-US}} The following season, he averaged 7.7 points and 5.6 assists before being sidelined by injuries. He entered the transfer portal following the conclusion of his second season at Kentucky.{{Cite web |title=Kentucky basketball loses point guard Sahvir Wheeler to transfer portal after two seasons |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2023/03/27/kentucky-basketball-news-sahvir-wheeler-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal/70051424007/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=The Courier-Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-27 |title=Wheeler enters portal after 2 years at Kentucky |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35969270/kentucky-pg-sahvir-wheeler-enters-transfer-portal |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
=Washington=
On April 26, 2023, Wheeler announced that he would be transferring to the University of Washington to play for the Washington Huskies.{{Cite web |title=How former UK G Sahvir Wheeler fits at Washington |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4455048/2023/04/26/sahvir-wheeler-transfer-washington/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-26 |title=UW men’s basketball team gets major addition with Kentucky transfer Sahvir Wheeler |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-basketball/allen-kentucky-point-guard-sahvir-wheeler-is-transferring-to-washington/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}
Professional career
=Wisconsin Herd (2024–2025)=
After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, Wheeler joined the Maine Celtics on October 26, 2024{{cite web|first=Spencer|last=Martin|title=Celtics Select Three In G League Draft|url=https://maine.gleague.nba.com/news/draft-training-camp-102624|website=NBA.com|date=October 26, 2024|access-date=October 26, 2024}} and on November 3, he was traded to the Memphis Hustle.{{cite web|title=Memphis Hustle Complete Trade with Maine Celtics|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/memphis-hustle-complete-trade-with-maine-celtics/n-6162195|website=OurSportsCentral.com|date=November 3, 2024|access-date=November 3, 2024}} However, he was waived on November 7{{cite web|title=Memphis Hustle finalize 2024–25 Opening Night Roster|url=https://memphis.gleague.nba.com/news/memphis-hustle-finalize-2024-25-opening-night-roster|website=NBA.com|date=November 7, 2024|access-date=November 11, 2024}} and re-signed four days later.{{cite web|title=2024-2025 Memphis Hustle Transaction History|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/gleague/teams/Memphis-Hustle/52/Transaction_History/2025|website=RealGM.com|access-date=November 24, 2024}} However, he was waived once again on November 23 and on December 28, he joined the Wisconsin Herd.{{cite web|title=WISCONSIN HERD ADDS SAHVIR WHEELER|url=https://wisconsin.gleague.nba.com/news/wisconsin-herd-adds-sahvir-wheeler|website=NBA.com|date=December 28, 2024|access-date=December 28, 2024}} On January 8, 2025, he was waived by the Herd.{{cite web|title=2024-2025 Wisconsin Herd Transaction History|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/gleague/teams/Wisconsin-Herd/50/Transaction_History/2025|website=RealGM.com|access-date=January 9, 2025}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="text-align:left;"| Georgia
| 31 || 17 || 27.3 || .472 || .320 || .699 || 2.5 || 4.5 || .8 || .0 || 9.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| style="text-align:left;"| Georgia
| 26 || 25 || 34.8 || .399 || .225 || .738 || 3.8 || 7.4 || 1.7 || .0 || 14.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22
| style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky
| 30 || 29 || 31.2 || .441 || .308 || .780 || 2.6 || 6.9 || 1.1 || .1 || 10.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23
| style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky
| 21 || 14 || 28.6 || .417 || .366 || .533 || 2.3 || 5.6 || .9 || .1 || 7.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24
| style="text-align:left;"| Washington
| 31 || 29 || 33.9 || .436 || .267 || .645 || 3.5 || 6.1 || 1.3 || .2 || 14.3
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 139 || 114 || 31.2 || .432 || .284 || .694 || 2.9 || 6.1 || 1.2 || .1 || 11.2
{{S-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [https://gohuskies.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/sahvir-wheeler/15177 Washington Huskies bio]
- [https://ukathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/sahvir-wheeler/9331 Kentucky Wildcats bio]
- [https://georgiadogs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/sahvir-wheeler/5238 Georgia Bulldogs bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Sahvir}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Houston
Category:Basketball players from Manhattan
Category:Georgia Bulldogs basketball players
Category:Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball players