Jeff Withey

Jeff Withey

Withey looks to shoot as Donatas Motiejūnas defends during a preseason game in October 2013
No. 5 – New Orleans Pelicans
Position Center
League NBA
Personal information
Born March 7, 1990
San Diego, California
Nationality American
Listed height 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight 235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school Horizon (San Diego, California)
College Kansas (2009–2013)
NBA draft 2013 / Round: 2 / Pick: 39th overall
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Pro career 2013–present
Career history
2013–present New Orleans Pelicans
Career highlights and awards

Jeffree David "Jeff" Withey (born March 7, 1990) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted 39th overall in the 2013 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers[1] and is known for his shot-blocking ability and his defensive presence.[2] Previously, he was an All-American Division I (NCAA) basketball player for the University of Kansas.

High school career

Withey led Horizon High School to the state Division IV title in his sophomore season (2006) [3] and he graduated in the class of 2008.[4] In the game preceding the state championship game, Withey and his teammates had to face a San Joaquin Memorial High School team in the Southern California Regional Championship game that featured three seniors who were future NBA players, Robin & Brook Lopez and Quincy Pondexter. In a dramatic double overtime game, Withey and his teammates overcame the San Joaquin squad and went on to win the title in the following game.[5] In his senior season he averaged 20.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 7.3 blocked shots per game.[6]

Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Withey was listed as the No. 8 center and the No. 36 player in the nation in 2008.[7]

College career

University of Arizona (2008)

Withey had originally committed to play for Louisville, but switched his commitment to Arizona. Following the resignation of Lute Olson in October of Withey's freshman season, he decided to transfer from Arizona. He did not see any playing time for the Wildcats during his semester of the 2008–09 season.

University of Kansas (2009–2013)

Jeff Withey.

Withey transferred to Kansas in January 2009, but was ineligible to play until the end of the 2009 fall semester due to the NCAA transfer rules requiring him to sit out a year. He initially saw limited playing time during the second half of the 2009–10 season and the 2010-11 season, playing behind Cole Aldrich and the Morris twins.

In his junior year, after twin brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris left for the NBA draft, he became a starter,[8] playing for the 2011–12 squad which lost to Kentucky in the NCAA championship game. Withey blocked 31 shots in the 2012 tournament, breaking Joakim Noah's tournament record of 29.[9] During the 2011-12 season, he was named Big 12 defensive player of the year and set a Big 12 record with 140 blocks for the season.[10]

2012–13 season

On October 4, 2012, Withey was named to the Preseason all-Big 12 unanimously.[10]

On December 3, 2012, Withey was named Big 12 Player of the Week. To earn the honor, he scored a triple-double against San Jose State Spartans on November 26. In that game, Withey scored 16 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and blocked 12 shots, for the second triple-double in KU history.[11] On February 18, 2013, Withey was named Big 12 Co-Player of the Week. He had double-doubles against both Kansas State Wildcats and Texas Longhorns. He also made his 265th blocked shot to set a new Big 12 record for career blocked shots.[12]

Withey finished his senior year of college by averaging 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.9 blocks.[13]

On March 10, 2013, he was named defensive player of the year in the Big 12 for 2012–13 and he was named first team All Big 12.[14] On March 11, 2013, Withey was named 2nd Team All-American by The Sporting News.[15] On March 31, 2013, Withey was accorded third-team All-American mention by the Associated Press.[16]

On April 5, 2013, the National Association of Basketball Coaches named Withey the co-National Defensive Player of the Year.

Professional career

Withey was selected 39th overall in the 2013 NBA draft to the Portland Trail Blazers.[1] He was later traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in a three-team trade involving the Trail Blazers and the Sacramento Kings on July 10, 2013.[17]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14 New Orleans 58 4 11.8 .535 .000 .712 2.6 0.4 0.3 0.9 3.3
Career 58 4 11.8 .535 .000 .712 2.6 0.4 0.3 0.9 3.3

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 TRAIL BLAZERS ACQUIRE C.J. MCCOLLUM, JEFF WITHEY, MARKO TODOROVIC AND DRAFT RIGHTS TO ALLEN CRABBE IN 2013 NBA DRAFT
  2. ↑ "5 Jeff Withey". kuathletics.com. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Horizon 7-footer chooses Louisville for basketball". Union-Tribune Publishing Co. 2006.
  4. ↑ "Scout: Jeff Withey". Microsoft. 2012.
  5. ↑ "Horizon edges San Joaquin Memorial". Maxpreps. 2006.
  6. ↑ "Kansas Center’s Reach Has Foes Grasping at Straws". The New York Times Company. 2012.
  7. ↑ Jeff Withey Recruiting Profile
  8. ↑ "Withey could be difference maker as Kansas looks to upset Kentucky". Sports Illustrated. April 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ "No joy in block record for Withey". Kansas City Star. April 2, 2012.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Jeff Withey named to preseason all-Big 12; Elijah Johnson honorable mention, Lawrence Journal-World, October 4, 2012.
  11. ↑ Jeff Withey wins Big 12 player of week, Lawrence Journal-World, December 3, 2012.
  12. ↑ Kansas center Jeff Withey shares Big 12 player of the week honors, Lawrence Journal-World, February 18, 2013.
  13. ↑ Dodd, Rustin. Portland drafts KU's Jeff Withey with 39th overall pick, Kansas City Star, June 28, 2013.
  14. ↑ Bedore, Gary (March 10, 2013). "Jeff Withey, Ben McLemore selected to All-Big 12 first team". KUsports.com. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  15. ↑ Keeley, Laura (March 11, 2013). "Seth Curry named Sporting News All-American". newsobserver.com. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  16. ↑ Bedore, Gary. KU freshman Ben McLemore earns All-America honors, Lawrence Journal-World, April 1, 2013
  17. ↑ "NEW ORLEANS PELICANS ACQUIRE TYREKE EVANS AND JEFF WITHEY IN THREE-TEAM TRADE". NBA.com. July 10, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.

External links