Jae'Lyn Withers explained

Jae'Lyn Withers
Number:24
Position:Small forward / power forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:9
Weight Lbs:215
Team:North Carolina Tar Heels
League:Atlantic Coast Conference
Birth Date:20 December 2000
Birth Place:Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
High School:
College:
Highlights:
  • ACC All-Freshman Team (2021)

Jae'Lyn Withers (born December 20, 2000) is an American college basketball player for the North Carolina Tar Heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He previously played for the Louisville Cardinals.

High school career

Withers played basketball for North Mecklenburg High School in Huntersville, North Carolina. As a junior, he averaged 20 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, earning Charlotte Observer 4A Metro Player of the Year and I-MECK Player of the Year honors.[1] For his senior season, he transferred to Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.[2] Withers averaged 19.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as a senior.[3] He competed for Team Loaded NC on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.[4] A consensus four-star recruit, Withers committed to playing college basketball for Louisville over offers from Arizona, Florida, Texas and Texas A&M.[5]

College career

Withers redshirted his first season at Louisville to focus on gaining strength and weight.[6] On November 29, 2020, he recorded a freshman season-high 20 points and nine rebounds in an 86–64 win over Prairie View A&M.[7] As a freshman, Withers averaged 10.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, earning Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman Team honors.[8]

He started 15 out of 29 games his sophomore season, averaging 5.8 points per game and was second on the team in rebounding with 4.6 per game. In his junior year, he started 29 out of 32 games on the season and averaged 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He led the Cardinals with a 41.7% three-point percentage.

Following the season, he entered his name into the NCAA's transfer portal.[9] Withers would ultimately choose to return to his home state and decided to transfer to North Carolina.[10]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| Louisville| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| Redshirt|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| Louisville| 20 || 20 || 25.7 || .552 || .381 || .679 || 7.7 || .5 || .9 || .4 || 10.1|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22| style="text-align:left;"| Louisville| 29 || 15 || 18.2 || .410 || .234 || .667 || 4.6 || .6 || .7 || .4 || 5.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23| style="text-align:left;"| Louisville| 32 || 29 || 25.2|| .433 || .417 || .735 || 5.3 || .8 || .7 || .4 || 8.9|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 81 || 64 || 22.8 || .459 || .348 || .701 || 5.6 || .6 || .7 || .4 || 8.1

Personal life

Withers was born when his father, Curtis, was 16 years old and a high school sophomore. Curtis played college basketball at Charlotte, where he was an all-conference player, before embarking on a professional career in the NBA Development League and overseas.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lerner . Danielle . 'His skill set is crazy': Jaelyn Withers may be Louisville's most underrated freshman . . June 27, 2021 . June 6, 2019.
  2. Web site: Wertz Jr. . Langston . Sources: North Meck all-state star Jae’Lyn Withers to transfer to out-of-state school . . June 27, 2021 . August 10, 2018.
  3. Web site: Demling . Jody . Louisville will redshirt freshman Jae'Lyn Withers . . June 28, 2021 . November 5, 2019.
  4. Web site: Greer . Jeff . Louisville basketball lands commitment from forward Jaelyn Withers . . June 28, 2021 . September 9, 2018.
  5. Web site: Greer . Jeff . Scouting report: What Jaelyn Withers will bring to Louisville basketball . . June 28, 2021 . September 10, 2018.
  6. Web site: McGavic . Matthew . Jae'Lyn Withers Making Significant Strides in the Weight Room . . June 28, 2021 . July 27, 2020.
  7. Web site: Rutherford . Mike . Louisville runs away from Prairie View A&M, 86-64 . Card Chronicle . June 28, 2021 . November 29, 2020.
  8. Web site: Jae'Lyn Withers – Men's Basketball . University of Louisville Athletics . June 28, 2021.
  9. Web site: Louisville F Jae’Lyn Withers will transfer. Rutherford. Mike. March 20, 2023. April 11, 2023.
  10. Web site: Former Louisville forward Jae'Lyn Withers commits to UNC men's basketball. Nelson. Hunter. dailytarheel.com. The Daily Tar Heel. April 11, 2023. April 11, 2023.
  11. Web site: Wertz Jr. . Langston . One of nation's top recruits is from Charlotte. Will he play at a local college like Dad? . . June 27, 2021 . April 20, 2018.