Taylor Hendricks Bio
Taylor Thomas Hendricks (born November 22, 2003) is an American professional basketball player who most recently suited up for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A power forward standing 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) tall and listed at 215 lb (98 kg), he was selected ninth overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Jazz after one season of college basketball with the UCF Knights. He has since become one of the most closely followed young frontcourt players of his draft class.
Before turning pro, Taylor Thomas Hendricks earned Second-team All-AAC and AAC All-Freshman Team honors as a freshman, capping a prep career in which he was a three-time Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSSA) state champion. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in February 2026 as part of a multi-player package.
Early Life and Background
Taylor Thomas Hendricks was born on November 22, 2003, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He grew up in the Fort Lauderdale area and is the son of Danielle Hendricks. He has two brothers, Tyler, who plays college basketball at Utah Valley University (UVU), and Jamal Jones, both of whom shaped a competitive household that encouraged athletic development from a young age.
He initially attended NSU University School in Davie, Florida, where he played alongside future pros such as Vernon Carey Jr. and Scottie Barnes. During the 2018–19 season, that Nova Southeastern University School team successfully defended its FHSSA Class 5A State championship, beating Andrew Jackson High School even with Carey sidelined for the final. After his sophomore year, Taylor Thomas Hendricks transferred to Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, where he continued to grow as a frontcourt prospect.
Path to Basketball
At Calvary Christian Academy, Taylor Thomas Hendricks blossomed into a four-star recruit. During his junior season, he averaged 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game while helping Calvary Christian win the Florida 3A state championship. As a senior, he was named the Broward County Player of the Year after posting 15.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, leading the program to a second straight state title.
His prep resume drew scholarship offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami (Florida), LSU, Memphis, and Iowa State, but he ultimately committed to UCF. The pledge made him the highest-ranked recruit in UCF basketball history. At 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) with long arms and a mobile frame, he was viewed as a modern power forward whose shooting touch and rim protection could translate to the next level.
Taylor Hendricks Career
College Career (2022–2023)
Taylor Thomas Hendricks arrived at UCF in 2022 as a freshman and immediately earned the starting power forward job. He opened the season on November 8, 2022, with a 23-point, two-steal, three-block performance against UNC Asheville, signaling his readiness for the college game. He then became a fixture in the conference’s weekly awards.
He was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Rookie of the Week for a conference-record four consecutive weeks, from November 21 through December 12. He went on to win the award a total of nine times during the season, setting the single-season AAC record, and he topped his own campaign with a 25-point outing against Tulsa on February 26, 2023. At season’s end, he was named to the All-AAC Second Team and the AAC All-Freshman Team before declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft and signing with an agent.
Utah Jazz Era (2023–2026)
The Utah Jazz selected Taylor Thomas Hendricks with the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, making him the highest NBA draft pick, the first lottery selection, and the first one-and-done player in UCF history. He debuted during the 2023–24 season, playing 40 games with 23 starts and posting averages of 7.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.8 assists. His top scoring output as a rookie was a 12-point effort against the Sacramento Kings on December 16, 2023.
On October 28, 2024, Taylor Thomas Hendricks suffered a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle against the Dallas Mavericks, an injury that ended his 2024–25 campaign. He had started three games for Utah that season, averaging 4.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists. He returned for 2025–26, appearing in 33 games with six starts and putting up 4.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists before being moved at the trade deadline.
Memphis Grizzlies Era (2026–Present)
On February 3, 2026, Taylor Thomas Hendricks was traded, along with Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr., Georges Niang, and three first-round draft picks, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. The deal signaled a new chapter for the 22-year-old forward, who joined a Grizzlies roster in the midst of a competitive rebuild.
Playing Style and Strengths
Taylor Thomas Hendricks profiles as a modern, switchable power forward whose strengths lie in defensive versatility, weak-side shot-blocking, and floor spacing. He moves well laterally for his size, can guard multiple positions, and offers a reliable corner three-point stroke that complements a traditional big. On the offensive end, he thrives as a cutter and trailing shooter rather than a primary post scorer, allowing him to fit alongside more ball-dominant creators.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his defining moments, Taylor Thomas Hendricks set the AAC single-season record for Rookie of the Week honors with nine, surpassed his own career high with 25 points against Tulsa on February 26, 2023, and became the highest NBA draft pick in UCF history when the Utah Jazz selected him ninth overall in 2023. He was also part of the February 3, 2026 trade that sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah and reshaped both rosters.
Taylor Hendricks Career Wins
As a young professional still in the early stages of his NBA tenure, Taylor Thomas Hendricks has not yet accumulated headline win totals at the league level. His statistical resume is instead anchored by individual milestones, including his AAC Rookie of the Week record and his 2023 NBA Draft selection inside the top ten.
High School and College Highlights
Taylor Thomas Hendricks was a three-time FHSSA state champion across NSU University School and Calvary Christian Academy. He was also named the Broward County Player of the Year as a senior. At UCF, he earned Second-team All-AAC and AAC All-Freshman Team recognition in 2023, while also setting the conference record for single-season Rookie of the Week awards with nine.
Other Performances
Beyond his weekly conference honors, Taylor Thomas Hendricks posted 23 points, two steals, and three blocks in his UCF debut against UNC Asheville on November 8, 2022, and later dropped a 25-point career high on Tulsa on February 26, 2023. In the NBA, his top scoring line came on December 16, 2023, when he recorded 12 points against the Sacramento Kings.
Taylor Hendricks Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Taylor Thomas Hendricks is the son of Danielle Hendricks, who raised him in the Fort Lauderdale area. His brothers, Tyler, a player at Utah Valley University, and Jamal Jones, have been part of a family environment that has long emphasized basketball and competition.
Personal Life
Taylor Thomas Hendricks comes from a tight-knit Florida family and maintains a public presence on social media, where he shares updates about his training and NBA career. Beyond his immediate family ties, his college and professional journey have kept him connected to the South Florida and UCF communities that shaped his early development.
2025 Season Performance
Taylor Thomas Hendricks began the 2024–25 NBA season with the Utah Jazz, opening the year as part of the team’s young frontcourt rotation. He started three games before suffering a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle on October 28, 2024, against the Dallas Mavericks, an injury that ended his campaign. In his limited action, he averaged 4.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists.
Looking ahead to 2025, Taylor Thomas Hendricks was focused on recovery and a full return to the floor. The Jazz remained committed to his long-term development as a switchable, shooting power forward, with the franchise’s broader youth movement centered on players of his profile. The organization viewed his rookie-year averages of 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds as a foundation to build on once he regained his health.
By the time the 2025 calendar advanced, Taylor Thomas Hendricks was back on the court for the 2025–26 season, appearing in 33 games with six starts and averaging 4.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists. The arc of his 2025 narrative, from October injury through rehabilitation and a return to the rotation, positioned him for the February 3, 2026 trade to Memphis and a fresh opportunity with the Grizzlies.
