Tari Eason
{{Short description|American basketball player (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Tari Eason
| image = 1_tari_eason.jpg
| caption = Eason with the Rockets in 2023
| number = 17
| position = Power forward
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 217
| league = NBA
| team = Houston Rockets
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|5|10}}
| birth_place = Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
| high_school =
| college =
- Cincinnati (2020–2021)
- LSU (2021–2022)
| draft_year = 2022
| draft_round = 1
| draft_pick = 17
| draft_team = Houston Rockets
| career_start = 2022
| career_end =
| years1 = {{nbay|2022|start}}–present
| team1 = Houston Rockets
| highlights =
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team ({{nbay|2022|end}})
- SEC Sixth Man of the Year (2022)
- First-team All-SEC (2022)
- AAC All-Freshman Team (2021)
}}
Tari Jordan Eason ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɑː|r|i|_|ˈ|iː|s|ən}} {{respell|TAR|ee|_|EE|sən}};{{cite press release |title=2023-24 start of season NBA pronunciation guide |date=October 24, 2023 |publisher=NBA |url=https://www.nba.com/news/2023-24-start-of-season-nba-pronunciation-guide |access-date=May 17, 2024 |author=}} born May 10, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Cincinnati Bearcats and the LSU Tigers. Eason was selected 17th overall in the 2022 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets.
High school career
Eason started his high school career at Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington under head coach Brandon Roy, and played sparingly during his first two years.{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Jayda |title=Garfield's four-star prospect Tari Eason honors aunt with commitment to Cincinnati |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/high-school/garfields-four-star-prospect-tari-eason-honors-aunt-with-commitment-to-cincinnati/ |website=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 28, 2021 |date=December 21, 2019}} For his junior season, he transferred to Federal Way High School in Federal Way, Washington, where he played alongside top recruit Jaden McDaniels.{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Lauren |title=Federal Way's Tari Eason has been to the Tacoma Dome, but hasn't played. With the Eagles, he could be the key to a 4A title |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/high-school/article226792899.html |website=The News Tribune |access-date=November 28, 2021 |date=February 28, 2019}} Eason returned to Garfield for his senior season as Roy came back following a one-year break. He led his team to a 3A state title, recording 21 points and 14 rebounds against Paolo Banchero and O'Dea High School in the final, and received tournament MVP.{{cite web |last=Buhler |first=Andy |title='We need you to be superman.' Tari Eason takes final bow in Garfield's dominant 3A state championship win over O'Dea |url=https://scorebooklive.com/washington/2020/03/07/we-need-you-to-be-superman-tari-eason-takes-final-bow-in-garfields-dominant-3a-state-championship-win-over-odea/ |website=SBLive |access-date=November 28, 2021 |date=March 7, 2020}}{{cite web |last=Buhler |first=Andy |title=Watch: Garfield's Tari Eason reacts to winning 3A state title, tournament MVP |url=https://scorebooklive.com/washington/2020/03/08/watch-garfields-tari-eason-reacts-to-winning-3a-state-title-tournament-mvp/ |website=SBLive |access-date=November 28, 2021 |date=March 8, 2020}} Eason averaged 23 points, eight rebounds, and three steals per game as a senior, and was named 3A Player of the Year.{{cite web |last=Springer |first=Scott |title=Highly-touted forward Tari Eason makes it official signing with UC basketball |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2020/04/20/state-washington-standout-tari-eason-signs-cincinnati-basketball/5150092002/ |website=The Cincinnati Enquirer |access-date=November 28, 2021 |date=April 20, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Tari Eason |url=https://lsusports.net/sports/mb/roster/player/tari-eason/ |website=LSU Athletics |date=3 August 2021 |access-date=November 28, 2021}} A four-star recruit, he committed to playing college basketball for Cincinnati over offers from Colorado and USC.{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Corey |title=Cincinnati wins out with four-star forward Tari Eason |url=https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/cincinnati-wins-out-with-four-star-forward-tari-eason |website=Rivals |access-date=November 28, 2021 |date=December 22, 2019}}
College career
File:Tari Eason (cropped).jpg in 2021]]
On February 26, 2021, Eason posted a freshman season-high 20 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks in a 91–71 win over Tulane.{{cite web |title=Davenport carries Cincinnati over Tulane 91–71 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401277854 |website=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=November 28, 2021 |date=February 26, 2021}} As a freshman at Cincinnati, he averaged 7.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game, earning American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team honors. For his sophomore season, Eason transferred to LSU.{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Keith |title=Former Cincinnati Bearcats All-AAC freshman forward Tari Eason transfers to LSU |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2021/04/20/cincinnati-bearcats-basketball-tari-eason-transfers-lsu/7298528002/ |website=The Cincinnati Enquirer |access-date=November 28, 2021 |date=April 20, 2021}} He was named to the First Team All-SEC as well as SEC Sixth Man of the Year.{{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 |access-date=March 8, 2022}} Eason averaged 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game.{{cite news |last=Bates |first=Greg |title=LSU's Tari Eason on his next step: 'I have no idea what the future holds' |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_3ce8ae9c-a736-11ec-8ea4-6bf52f512212.html |access-date=March 19, 2022 |work=The Advocate |date=March 18, 2022}} On March 25, 2022, he declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.{{cite news |last=Givony |first=Jonathan |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Tari Eason to leave LSU Tigers basketball team, declare for NBA draft |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33595126 |access-date=March 28, 2022}}
Professional career
= Houston Rockets (2022–present) =
Eason was selected with the 17th overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2022 NBA draft. Eason joined the Rockets' 2022 NBA Summer League roster.{{Cite web |title=Houston Rockets 2022 NBA2K23 Summer League Roster {{!}} NBA.com |url=https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2022/vegas/team/1610612745/rockets |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=NBA.com}} In his Summer League debut, Eason tallied 14 points and 13 rebounds in a 77–91 win over the Orlando Magic.{{Cite web |title=Houston Rockets vs Orlando Magic Jul 7, 2022 Box Scores {{!}} NBA.com |url=https://www.nba.com/game/hou-vs-orl-1522200001/box-score |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=NBA.com}} On July 18, 2022, Eason was named to the All-NBA Summer League First Team, averaging 17.2 points on 44.7 percent shooting from the field along with 1.8 steals and a block.{{Cite magazine |last=Davis |first=Coty |date=July 18, 2022 |title=Rockets Tari Eason Named All-NBA Summer League First Team |url=https://www.si.com/nba/rockets/news/houston-rookie-tari-eason-summer-league-first-team-honors |access-date=2022-07-21 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}} On October 2, Eason made his preseason debut, scoring 21 points off the bench in addition to securing ten rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in a 134–96 win against the San Antonio Spurs.{{Cite web |title=San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets - NBA Box Score - October 2, 2022 |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401474847 |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=ESPN |language=en}} On October 19, 2022, he made his NBA debut with an 8-point and 7-rebound performance in a 117–107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.{{Cite web |title=Rockets vs. Hawks - NBA Box Score - October 19, 2022 |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401468020 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}
On February 1, 2023, Eason scored a career-high 20 points with 13 rebounds (12 of them being offensive rebounds) and three steals in only 19 minutes of play in a 112–106 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.{{cite web |last=Quinn |first=Sam |date=February 2, 2023 |title=Rockets rookie Tari Eason posts one of the most bizarre box scores you will ever see in just 19 minutes |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/rockets-rookie-tari-eason-posts-one-of-the-most-bizarre-box-scores-you-will-ever-see-in-just-19-minutes/ |access-date=February 3, 2023 |website=CBS Sports}}
Personal life
Eason has three siblings. While at LSU, he majored in interdisciplinary studies.
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=NBA=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2022}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Houston
| 82 || 5 || 21.6 || .448 || .343 || .752 || 6.0 || 1.1 || 1.2 || .6 || 9.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2023}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Houston
| 22 || 0 || 21.8 || .466 || .360 || .636 || 7.0 || 1.2 || 1.4 || .9 || 9.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2024}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Houston
| 56 || 16 || 25.0 || .489 || .346 || .767 || 6.3 || 1.2 || 1.7 || .9 || 12.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 160 || 21 || 22.8 || .467 || .347 || .744 || 6.2 || 1.2 || 1.4 || .7 || 10.3
{{S-end}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| style="text-align:left;"| Cincinnati
| 23 || 8 || 19.6 || .462 || .241 || .574 || 5.9 || 1.3 || 1.2 || 1.3 || 7.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22
| style="text-align:left;"| LSU
| 33 || 4 || 24.4 || .521 || .359 || .803 || 6.6 || 1.0 || 1.9 || 1.1 || 16.9
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 56 || 12 || 22.4 || .504 || .327 || .757 || 6.3 || 1.1 || 1.6 || 1.2 || 13.0
{{S-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://lsusports.net/sports/mb/roster/player/tari-eason/ LSU Tigers bio]
- [https://gobearcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tari-eason/9778 Cincinnati Bearcats bio]
{{Houston Rockets current roster}}
{{2022 NBA draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eason, Tari}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Seattle
Category:Basketball players from Virginia
Category:Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball players
Category:Garfield High School (Seattle) alumni
Category:Houston Rockets draft picks
Category:Houston Rockets players