Haywood Highsmith Bio
Haywood Lee Highsmith Jr. (born December 9, 1996) is an American professional basketball player who plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and listed at 220 lb (100 kg), he plays the small forward and power forward positions. After going undrafted in 2018, Highsmith built his career through the NBA G League before earning a steady role with the Miami Heat and later joining the Brooklyn Nets.
Highsmith first gained national attention as a senior at Wheeling Jesuit University, where he was named the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in 2018. His long journey through professional basketball, including stints in the United States and Germany, helped him develop into a reliable defensive role player.
Early Life and Background
Haywood Lee Highsmith Jr. was born on December 9, 1996, in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in the city and attended Archbishop Curley High School, graduating in 2014. While at Curley, he was a classmate of Deonte Harty, who went on to play wide receiver in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens. His high school coach, Brian Hubbard, told The Baltimore Sun that Highsmith drew little interest from NCAA Division I programs during his recruitment.
Highsmith is the son of Haywood Highsmith Sr., a former college basketball player at Fairmont State University. His father played for the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons and was inducted into the Fairmont State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. Growing up around the game clearly shaped Highsmith’s path toward basketball.
Path to Basketball
After high school, Highsmith chose to attend Wheeling Jesuit University (now Wheeling University) in West Virginia, where he played four seasons for the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals from 2014 to 2018. He became a starter late in his freshman year and quickly grew into one of the top players in the Mountain East Conference (MEC).
As a sophomore, Highsmith averaged 14.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game and was named first-team All-MEC. During his junior season, he posted 15.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and earned second-team All-MEC honors. As a senior, he averaged 22 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, leading the conference in scoring and rebounding. That year he was named first-team All-MEC, MEC Player of the Year, and MVP of the MEC Tournament. He was also named a first-team Division II All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and National Player of the Year by the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association.
Haywood Highsmith Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Highsmith signed with the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League through a local tryout. In 21 appearances during the 2018–19 season, he averaged 13.7 points per game and showed the kind of production that caught the attention of NBA teams.
On January 8, 2019, Highsmith signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, splitting time between Philadelphia and the Blue Coats. He made his NBA debut the same day, scoring three points in five minutes during a 132–115 win over the Washington Wizards. He finished the season averaging 1.8 points and one rebound over five NBA games, while averaging 12.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 46 G League games (42 starts). The 76ers waived him on June 24, 2019. He later returned to the Blue Coats and averaged 10.8 points and 6.9 rebounds during the 2019–20 season.
European Stint and Return (2020–2021)
On September 4, 2020, Highsmith signed with the Crailsheim Merlins of the German Basketball Bundesliga. In his only season in Germany, he averaged 7.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, gaining valuable professional experience overseas.
After the German season, Highsmith briefly signed with Vanoli Cremona of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A in July 2021, but he left the team to take advantage of an Exhibit 10 offer from the Philadelphia 76ers. He then rejoined the Delaware Blue Coats in 2021, averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. These performances helped him earn another opportunity in the NBA.
Miami Heat Breakthrough (2021–2025)
On December 30, 2021, Highsmith signed a 10-day contract with the Miami Heat via the hardship exemption. He later signed a second 10-day deal before inking a three-year contract to remain with the franchise. With the Heat, he developed into a dependable defensive specialist and rotation player.
On December 20, 2022, Highsmith scored a career-high 18 points, alongside two rebounds, two assists, and four steals, in a 113–103 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Heat qualified for the play-in tournament and went on to defeat the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round in a historic upset. In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Highsmith scored a then-playoff career-high 15 points in a 110–97 loss to the Boston Celtics, before the Heat defeated the Celtics in seven games to reach the 2023 NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets. In Game 1 of the Finals, he matched his career high of 18 points in a 104–93 loss. The Heat ultimately lost the series in five games.
On July 8, 2024, Highsmith re-signed with the Heat on a two-year, $10.8 million contract. During the 2024–25 NBA season, he made 74 appearances with 42 starts, averaging 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. On August 8, 2025, it was announced that he had suffered a meniscus tear in his right knee during a training session, ruling him out for 8 to 10 weeks after surgery.
Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns (2025–Present)
On August 15, 2025, Highsmith was traded to the Brooklyn Nets alongside a 2032 second-round pick in exchange for a $5.6 million trade exception and a 2026 protected second-round pick. On October 19, it was announced that he would remain out for at least eight weeks after a setback in his recovery from meniscal surgery. On February 5, 2026, he was waived by the Nets, and on February 18, 2026, he signed a multiyear contract with the Phoenix Suns, where he continues his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Highsmith is recognized for his defensive versatility and rebounding ability, which helped him earn a steady role with the Miami Heat. His rebounding at the small forward and power forward positions, combined with his shooting and perimeter defense, made him a valuable role player on a contending roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highsmith’s career-defining run came during the 2022–23 season, when he played a meaningful role in Miami’s surprise run to the NBA Finals. He scored a then-playoff career-high 15 points in the Eastern Conference Finals and tied his career high of 18 points in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets. His postseason production stood out as a milestone in his professional journey.
Haywood Highsmith Career Wins
Although Highsmith has not been widely recognized with formal individual awards at the NBA level, he has built a résumé defined by steady contributions and a memorable playoff run. His career includes success in the NCAA Division II ranks, the NBA G League, and a championship-caliber NBA stint with the Miami Heat.
NBA Highlights
Highsmith’s most notable NBA highlight came during the 2022–23 season, when the Miami Heat reached the NBA Finals after eliminating the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics. He matched his career high of 18 points in Game 1 of the Finals against the Denver Nuggets, marking his largest postseason moment.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Highsmith was a two-time First-team All-MEC selection (2016 and 2018), MEC Player of the Year in 2018, MEC Tournament MVP in 2018, and a first-team Division II All-American by the NABC in 2018. In the NBA G League, he posted multiple strong seasons with the Delaware Blue Coats, including a 14.0-point average in 2021 that helped him secure his next NBA opportunity.
Haywood Highsmith Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Highsmith comes from a basketball family. His father, Haywood Highsmith Sr., played college basketball for the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons and was inducted into the Fairmont State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. That foundation helped guide the younger Highsmith toward a professional career of his own.
Personal Life
Haywood Lee Highsmith Jr. was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended Archbishop Curley High School before continuing his basketball career at Wheeling Jesuit University. His father’s experience at the college level shaped his early development in the sport.
2025 Season Performance
Highsmith entered the 2025 NBA offseason coming off a productive 2024–25 campaign with the Miami Heat, in which he made 74 appearances with 42 starts and averaged 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. He also signed a new two-year, $10.8 million contract with the Heat on July 8, 2024, securing his place in the rotation.
On August 8, 2025, however, Highsmith suffered a meniscus tear in his right knee during a training session and underwent surgery, ruling him out for 8 to 10 weeks. Shortly after, on August 15, 2025, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a deal involving future second-round picks. As of October 19, 2025, the Nets announced that he would remain sidelined for at least eight more weeks following a setback in his recovery from meniscal surgery, leaving his on-court return for the 2025–26 season uncertain.
