Jay Huff Bio
James Matthew Huff, known professionally as Jay Huff, is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 7-foot-1, the center has built his reputation on rim protection and perimeter shooting, carving out a role as a productive stretch five off the bench. Undrafted in 2021, Huff worked his way through the NBA G League and short NBA stints before establishing himself at the highest level.
Born in Durham, North Carolina, Huff comes from a basketball family and developed into a four-star recruit at Voyager Academy. He played four seasons at the University of Virginia, was part of the program’s 2019 NCAA championship team, and earned All-ACC and ACC All-Defensive honors as a senior.
Early Life and Background
James Matthew Huff was born on August 25, 1997, in Durham, North Carolina. He grew up in a basketball household, with both of his parents having played college basketball. His father, Mike Huff, played at Pacific Lutheran University, while his mother, Kathy Huff, played at West Virginia. Mike Huff later became the director of the Michael W. Krzyzewski Human Performance Laboratory at Duke University, an environment that gave Jay early access to high-level training and sports science resources.
Huff attended Voyager Academy in Durham, where he was a four-year varsity basketball player and was coached by his father. As a senior, he became his school’s all-time leading scorer and led Voyager to the Class 1A state title, earning most valuable player honors after recording a triple-double of 14 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 blocks in the championship game. He finished that senior season averaging 16.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
Rated as a four-star recruit, Huff committed to play college basketball at Virginia in May 2015. Although he grew up minutes from the University of North Carolina, his long-term development profile and thin frame made him a stronger fit for Tony Bennett’s defense-oriented system in Charlottesville.
Path to Basketball
Huff’s college path began with a redshirt year at Virginia to add strength and conditioning, during which he gained roughly 30 pounds before the 2017–18 season. As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in 12 games and averaged 3.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.8 minutes per game while shooting 68 percent from the field. Before the 2018–19 season, he underwent surgery for a torn labrum that sidelined him for three to four months.
Returning from that injury, Huff contributed to Virginia’s national championship run in 2018–19, averaging 4.4 points in 9.3 minutes per game on 60.4 percent shooting. As a junior in 2019–20, he set career highs with 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game while anchoring one of the nation’s top defenses. After entering the 2020 NBA Draft process, he withdrew and returned for his senior season, where offseason work with longtime family friend and coach Bob MacKinnon helped him average 13.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game on 58.5 percent shooting and 38.7 percent from three-point range, earning Second-team All-ACC and ACC All-Defensive Team honors.
Jay Huff Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Huff joined the Washington Wizards for Summer League and signed with the franchise on September 21, 2021, before being waived on October 13. On October 18, 2021, he signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was waived by the Lakers on January 12, 2022, then re-acquired by the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League on January 16, 2022. He split the next two seasons between Los Angeles and South Bay, also signing an Exhibit 10 deal with the Lakers in July 2022 before returning to the G League affiliate.
In Summer League play with the Lakers, Huff posted nine points and seven rebounds in a 100–66 win over the Miami Heat. His shot-blocking profile in the G League caught the attention of NBA front offices, setting up his next opportunity at the next level.
Washington Wizards Breakthrough (2023)
On March 2, 2023, Huff signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards, linking him with the Capital City Go-Go of the G League. On April 4, 2023, he was named the NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 4.0 blocks per game. He was also named to the All-NBA G League First Team and the NBA G League All-Defensive Team that season.
That summer, Huff joined the Houston Rockets Summer League team on July 3, 2023, continuing to showcase his defensive impact before moving on to his next NBA opportunity.
Denver Nuggets Era (2023–2024)
On July 18, 2023, Huff signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets, pairing him with the Grand Rapids Gold of the G League. The stint in Denver gave him a top-flight organization to develop within, alongside one of the league’s reigning championship cultures, and he continued to refine his stretch-five skills at both levels.
Memphis Grizzlies Era (2024–2025)
On July 24, 2024, Huff signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. He opened the 2024–25 season with a career-high 18 points in a home victory over the Orlando Magic on October 26, 2024, and two days later signed a multi-year contract with the Grizzlies. He made 64 appearances, including two starts, for Memphis during the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging 6.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.
Indiana Pacers Era (2025–Present)
On July 6, 2025, Huff was traded to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a 2029 second-round pick and a 2031 second-round pick swap. On November 19, 2025, he scored a career-high 20 points against the Charlotte Hornets. With Indiana, he has settled into a bench role as a rim protector and stretch five.
Driving Style and Strengths
Huff’s game is built around his 7-foot-1 frame, long wingspan, and refined perimeter skill set. He protects the rim at an elite rate, having led the NBA G League in blocks during his award-winning 2023 campaign, while also spacing the floor as a reliable three-point shooter. His ability to switch onto smaller players and contest shots without fouling has made him a defensive anchor in short bursts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Huff’s signature moments are his near-triple-double of 15 points, 10 blocks, and nine rebounds against Duke at Virginia, making him only the second player in program history with at least 10 blocks in a game, and his NBA career-high 20-point performance against the Charlotte Hornets on November 19, 2025. His 2019 NCAA championship ring and 2023 NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year award bookend a résumé built on resilience.
Jay Huff Career Wins
Huff’s competitive résumé is anchored by team and individual recognition rather than by a long list of tournament victories. His most celebrated win came as a member of Virginia’s 2019 NCAA championship team, followed by his 2023 NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year honor while with the Capital City Go-Go.
NCAA and G League Highlights
At the high school level, Huff led Voyager Academy to the North Carolina Class 1A state title and was named most valuable player of the championship game. In the G League, his 2023 season stood out, as he led the league in blocks per game, earned First-Team All-NBA G League honors, and was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Other Wins and Performances
Huff also contributed to team success during his time with the South Bay Lakers and Grand Rapids Gold, though his NBA wins column has grown gradually through stints with the Lakers, Wizards, Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Pacers. His most recent career milestone came on November 19, 2025, when he set a new NBA scoring high against the Charlotte Hornets.
Jay Huff Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Huff comes from a deeply basketball-rooted family. Both of his parents played college basketball, with his father, Mike Huff, suiting up for Pacific Lutheran University and his mother, Kathy Huff, playing at West Virginia. Mike later served as the director of the Michael W. Krzyzewski Human Performance Laboratory at Duke University and coached Jay throughout his four varsity seasons at Voyager Academy.
Personal Life
Off the court, Huff is a member of the Chi Alpha Christian fellowship at the University of Virginia and has publicly expressed his aspiration to become a minister after he retires from basketball.
2025 Season Performance
Huff’s 2025 calendar year has been defined by his July 6 trade to the Indiana Pacers and his continued emergence as a rotation big man. In the early months of his Pacers tenure, he produced a career-high 20 points against the Charlotte Hornets on November 19, 2025, signaling a growing offensive comfort level within Rick Carlisle’s system.
After averaging 6.9 points and 2.0 rebounds across 64 appearances for the Memphis Grizzlies the prior season, Huff arrived in Indiana with a clearer two-way identity. The Pacers acquired him to anchor bench lineups defensively while stretching the floor offensively, a role he has begun to fill with efficient three-point shooting and high-volume rim protection.
Looking ahead through the rest of the 2025–26 campaign, Huff’s outlook hinges on staying healthy, maintaining his block rate, and converting from beyond the arc. With a multi-year foundation in place and an established role in Indiana, he is positioned to remain a key piece of the Pacers’ second unit.