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). He plays under a two-way contract, which also assigns him to the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. Small played college basketball for the East Carolina Pirates, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and the West Virginia Mountaineers before entering the professional ranks. Listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 190 pounds, he competes as a point guard and brings a scoring background developed across three college programs.
Selected 48th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, Small transitioned quickly from collegiate standout to NBA rotation piece. His path from a multi-school high school career in the Midwest to a first-team All-Big 12 senior season illustrates steady development, with each stop adding a layer to his game.
Early Life and Background
Javon Unique Small was born on December 19, 2002, in South Bend, Indiana. He grew up in Indiana and attended several high schools during his prep years, including James Whitcomb Riley in South Bend and Franklin Central in Indianapolis. Small later completed his senior season at AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, a program known for developing NCAA-level guards.
At Compass Prep, Small averaged 11.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game in his final prep year. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a three-star recruit and ranked as the 14th-best prospect in the state of Arizona. Those numbers and that ranking led to college interest from multiple mid-major programs.
Small eventually committed to East Carolina over a competitive list of other schools, including Ball State, Akron, Indiana State, IUPUI, Kent State, Southern Illinois, and Virginia Tech. The decision set the foundation for a college journey that would later take him to two more high-major programs.
Path to Basketball
Small began his college career with the East Carolina Pirates in 2021, joining a program looking to build its backcourt depth. As a freshman in 2021-22, he appeared in just 16 games and averaged 9.2 minutes per contest, a limited role that gave him a chance to learn the college game. The following season showed a dramatic jump, as Small averaged 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game and became a central figure for the Pirates.
After his sophomore year at East Carolina, Small entered the NCAA transfer portal and committed to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, a move that elevated his competition level to the Big 12 Conference. The jump produced immediate results, with Small establishing himself as a high-volume scorer and playmaker. His production drew NBA scout attention and positioned him for another transfer to a program built around a veteran guard’s strengths.
Javon Small Career
Early Career at East Carolina (2021-2023)
Small spent his first two college seasons with the East Carolina Pirates, working his way from a limited freshman reserve into a primary offensive option. His sophomore averages of 15.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game demonstrated both his scoring touch and his ability to create offense for teammates. The growth across his two seasons in Greenville established Small as one of the more productive guards in the American Athletic Conference.
His development at East Carolina came with growing national attention, and his decision to enter the transfer portal reflected his ambition to test himself at a higher level. By the end of his time with the Pirates, he had proven he could handle a heavy offensive workload while keeping turnovers manageable.
Oklahoma State Breakthrough (2023-2024)
Small joined the Oklahoma State Cowboys ahead of the 2023-24 season and quickly adapted to Big 12 competition. On March 9, 2024, he scored a career-high 34 points against Brigham Young University, a performance that announced his arrival as one of the conference’s most dynamic guards. Across 31 games that season, he averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and one steal per game, while shooting 44 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range.
His efficiency and production earned him All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention recognition. The campaign also showed his ability to take over games as a scorer, with the 34-point outburst against BYU serving as a defining moment in Stillwater. After the season, Small once again entered the transfer portal, this time seeking a program where he could compete for a conference title.
West Virginia Era (2024-2025)
Small transferred to the West Virginia Mountaineers for the 2024-25 season, his final year of college eligibility. In his first game with the Mountaineers on November 4, 2024, he tallied 15 points, five assists, two rebounds, two steals, and one block in a win over Robert Morris, signaling an immediate impact. On November 27, 2024, Small scored 31 points against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, leading West Virginia to an 86-78 overtime victory.
He continued to deliver key performances throughout conference play. On December 31, 2024, Small scored 13 points, including the game-winning free throw, and added 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, and on January 18, 2025, his late-game surge helped the Mountaineers knock off second-ranked Iowa State 64-57. On February 25, 2025, he posted 23 points, ten assists, and five rebounds in a win over Texas Christian University.
During his only season with the Mountaineers, Small scored 20 or more points in 14 games, a level of consistency that cemented his status as a first-team All-Big 12 selection. On March 30, 2025, he officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft and was invited to the NBA Draft Combine on May 2. Small graduated from West Virginia University with a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree on May 18, 2025, completing his academic career alongside his on-court development.
Javon Small Career Wins
Javon Small’s competitive resume is anchored by team victories across three college programs and an expanding professional ledger. His signature win came on December 31, 2024, when his game-winning free throw lifted West Virginia over seventh-ranked Kansas. Earlier in the season, he had already delivered a 31-point performance to beat Gonzaga in overtime at the Battle 4 Atlantis, and his late scoring flurry against second-ranked Iowa State gave the Mountaineers another defining victory. With the Memphis Grizzlies, Small has continued to collect wins as a two-way contributor, including his NBA debut in a 128-122 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Javon Small Family
Personal Life
Publicly available details about Javon Small’s family and personal life are limited, and he has not publicly disclosed information about parents, partners, or children. He graduated from West Virginia University with a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree on May 18, 2025, a milestone that reflects his commitment to completing his education while competing at a high level. Small resides in the Memphis area while playing for the Grizzlies and their NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has marked Javon Small’s transition from college standout to NBA professional. Selected 48th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies, he signed a two-way contract on July 10, 2025, splitting time between the NBA roster and the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. Small made his NBA debut on October 15, 2025, logging 17 minutes with three assists and a block in a 128-122 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. He later set a career high of 22 points on February 7 against the Portland Trail Blazers, finishing with seven made field goals, two made threes, and a perfect six-for-six mark from the free-throw line.
Across his rookie season, Small averaged 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, numbers that show his ability to contribute in multiple categories as a young point guard. His role within the Grizzlies organization continues to grow as he gains experience in the NBA system while also developing through reps with the Memphis Hustle.
Looking ahead, Small’s combination of scoring upside, playmaking vision, and competitive toughness positions him as a player to watch in the Grizzlies’ backcourt development pipeline. His trajectory from a three-star recruit to a 2025 first-team All-Big 12 selection and an NBA draft pick reflects steady improvement, and his rookie production suggests further growth is possible as he adapts to the pace and physicality of professional basketball.
