Javon Small Bio
Javon Unique Small (born December 19, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he plays under a two-way contract with the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. A product of Indiana and Arizona high school programs, he developed into one of the Big 12 Conference’s most productive guards during his college career, suiting up for the East Carolina Pirates, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Memphis Grizzlies selected him with the 48th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft before signing him to a two-way deal in July of that year.
Early Life and Background
Javon Unique Small was born on December 19, 2002, in South Bend, Indiana. He grew up in the Hoosier State, where basketball has long been woven into community life, and he was drawn to the sport from a young age. He attended James Whitcomb Riley High School in South Bend before moving on to Franklin Central in Indianapolis, Indiana, continuing to sharpen his game against strong in-state competition.
Seeking a different setting for his final stretch of pre-college basketball, Small transferred to AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona. The move allowed him to play a national schedule and gain broader exposure. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a three-star recruit and ultimately committed to playing college basketball for East Carolina, turning down offers from schools such as Ball State, Akron, Indiana State, IUPUI, Kent State, Southern Illinois, and Virginia Tech.
Path to Basketball
Small’s path to the professional ranks began in earnest at East Carolina University, where he joined the Pirates for the 2021–22 season. As a freshman, he appeared in just 16 games and played only 9.2 minutes per game, using the year to adjust to the speed and physicality of the college level while learning the Pirates’ offensive system.
In his second season with the Pirates, 2022–23, he broke out. He averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game, establishing himself as one of the most well-rounded guards in the American Athletic Conference. After the season, Small entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal, searching for a new stage on which to display his growing skill set.
Javon Small Career
East Carolina Pirates (2021–2023)
Small spent his first two college seasons with the East Carolina Pirates. His role in 2021–22 was limited, as he worked to earn minutes and adjust to the demands of Division I basketball. The experience provided a foundation, and by his sophomore year he had transformed into a focal point of the Pirates’ offense.
The 2022–23 campaign marked Small’s arrival as a scorer and playmaker. He averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game, demonstrating the kind of all-around production that typically draws the attention of higher-major programs. Following that breakout, he entered the transfer portal seeking a new opportunity.
Oklahoma State Cowboys (2023–2024)
Small transferred to play for the Oklahoma State Cowboys for the 2023–24 season, stepping up to the Big 12 Conference. He made an immediate impact, appearing in 31 games and averaging 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and one steal per game. He shot 44 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range, blending efficiency with high volume.
On March 9, 2024, he posted a career-high 34 points against Brigham Young University, announcing himself as one of the league’s most dangerous scorers. His efforts earned him All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention recognition. After the season concluded, Small once again entered the NCAA transfer portal.
West Virginia Mountaineers (2024–2025)
Small transferred to play for the West Virginia Mountaineers and quickly became the engine of the team’s offense. In his first game with the Mountaineers on November 4, 2024, he notched 15 points, five assists, two rebounds, two steals, and one block in a win over Robert Morris, setting the tone for the year. He went on to deliver several of the most memorable performances of the Mountaineers’ season.
On November 27, 2024, he scored 31 points, the highest single-game total of his West Virginia career, in a victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second game of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis at Imperial Arena in Paradise Island, Bahamas, an 86–78 overtime win. On December 31, 2024, he scored 13 points, including the game-winning free throw, while adding 11 rebounds and six assists in an upset of seventh-ranked Kansas. On January 4, 2025, he scored 24 points in a 69–50 win over his former team, Oklahoma State. On January 18, 2025, his 12 points in the final two minutes secured a 64–57 upset of second-ranked Iowa State, finishing with 27 points overall. On February 25, 2025, he posted 23 points, ten assists, and five rebounds in a win over Texas Christian University. During his West Virginia year, he scored 20 or more points in 14 games and earned First-team All-Big 12 honors for 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Small is best understood as a scoring point guard with a reliable perimeter jumper and a strong playmaking feel. He combines a 37-percent three-point shot with the ability to attack the rim, and his 5.6 assists per game as a sophomore at East Carolina and 4.1 per game at Oklahoma State underscore his willingness to set up teammates. At West Virginia, he functioned as a closer, repeatedly delivering in the final minutes of close games against ranked opponents.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Small’s signature moments was his 31-point outburst against Gonzaga in the Battle 4 Atlantis and his late-game heroics in the win at Iowa State, when he scored 12 points in the final two minutes. His career-high 34 points against Brigham Young University during the 2023–24 season remains his top individual scoring mark, and his 2025 First-team All-Big 12 selection stands as a fitting capstone to his college career.
Javon Small Career Wins
Javon Small’s career is best measured in scoring milestones and signature victories rather than championship trophies. He recorded his career high of 34 points against Brigham Young University on March 9, 2024, scored 31 points against Gonzaga in November 2024, and produced multiple late-game winning performances for the West Virginia Mountaineers during the 2024–25 season, including the upset of second-ranked Iowa State.
Big 12 Highlights
Small’s Big 12 Conference tenure began at Oklahoma State in 2023–24, when he averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and one steal per game across 31 appearances and earned All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention. His most recent Big 12 season came at West Virginia in 2024–25, during which he was named First-team All-Big 12, scored 20 or more points in 14 games, and led the Mountaineers to key wins over seventh-ranked Kansas and second-ranked Iowa State.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside the Big 12, Small delivered at East Carolina, averaging 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game as a sophomore in 2022–23. He also produced a 31-point performance against Gonzaga in the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis, one of the most-watched in-season college basketball tournaments.
Javon Small Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Javon Small’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in South Bend, Indiana, and trained within Indiana’s high school basketball circuit before moving to AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, for the final stage of his pre-college development.
Personal Life
Javon Small is an American citizen who was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. He completed his Regents Bachelor of Arts degree at West Virginia University on May 18, 2025, shortly after his final college season. His professional career with the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Hustle began in 2025.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been the most consequential of Javon Small’s basketball career. During the second half of the 2024–25 college season, he powered the West Virginia Mountaineers to a series of high-profile victories, scoring 20 or more points in 14 games and earning First-team All-Big 12 honors.
On March 30, 2025, Small officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and was invited to the 2025 NBA Draft Combine on May 2. The Memphis Grizzlies selected him with the 48th pick, and on July 10, 2025, the team announced that he had been signed to a two-way contract that pairs him with the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. His outlook centers on continuing to develop his perimeter scoring and playmaking while adjusting to the speed of the professional game.