- Jake LaRavia is an American professional basketball player who got drafted for the NBA in 2022
- He received an impressive draft scouting report and is currently seen as a prospect worth taking seriously
- The American-born was an active basketballer all through his high school and college years. He has also enjoyed the support and encouragement of his parents and 2 brothers
Jake LaRavia is a 23-year-old American professional basketball player who was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 19th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
He started playing basketball very early in life and has staged impressive performances throughout his high school and college days. He now plays for Memphis Grizzlies and is acclaimed by experts to be a versatile power forward.
Who is Jake LaRavia?
The American- born professional basketball player was born on the 3rd of November 2001 in Pasadena, Califonia, the U.S. He attended Lawrence Central high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, and had his college education at the Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana from 2019 to 2021. He also attended Wake Forest University from 2021 to 2022.
His parents are Jeff LaRavia and Becky LaRavia. Jake also has 2 siblings by the name of Seth LaRavia and Kyle LaRavia. Jake used to live with his family in Pasadena, Califonia until his family moved to Indianapolis when he was just 5 years old.
The basketball pro was introduced to the game very early in life and his parents said in an interview that they knew he was going to play in the NBA one day. This has become both a dream come true for Jake, and a fulfilled prophesy for his parents.
His Succesful Career Journey Stems from High School
LaRavia became more serious about basketball at Lawrence Central High School located in Indianapolis. According to reports, he joined his school’s basketball team and soon became the leading scorer.
In his senior years, he averaged 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game which was able to earn him All-Star honors.
Moreso, Jake assisted Lawrence Central in winning her first sectional title since the year 2012. He initially committed to playing college basketball for SIU Edwardsville but reopened his recruitment after a coaching change. He later committed to Indiana State University.
As a newcomer at Indiana State, he was able to average 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He was notably named to the All-Newcomer and Freshman teams in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).
His sophomore season saw him averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. This impressive performance was able to make him clinch second-team All-MVC recognition. Jake was notably drafted for the 2022 NBA while he maintained his college eligibility. He however announced on the 1st of June that he would forgo his college eligibility and remain in the NBA draft.
He got His Career Breakthrough in 2022
Jake was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 19th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. His draft rights were subsequently traded to the Memphis Grizzles alongside a future second-round pick. This is in exchange for the 22nd and 29th picks in the draft which later became TyTy Washington and Kessler.
Jake joined the Grizzlies’ 2022 NBA Summer League roster and in his Summer League debut, he was able to score 1 point in a 103-109 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Below are his Career Highlights and Awards
- MVC All-Newcomer Team – 2020
- MVC All-Freshman Team – 2020
- Second-team All-MVC – 2021
- Second-team All-ACC – 2022
SEE ALSO: Guerschon Yabusele Bio, How He Missed NBA, Net Worth, 10 Facts
How Rich is the NBA Star?
Information from reliable sources posits that the player has a salary of $3,047, 640 and is projected to be worth a salary of $7,362,619 by the year 2028.
In 2022 he became the 9th best-paid player on the Memphis Grizzlies but is projected to be the 7th best-paid player of the team by 2023.
Similarly, he is the 290th best-paid NBA player, projected to be the 247th by 2013. Furthermore, Jake is the 122nd best-paid forward as of 2022 and is projected to be the 104th best-paid forward in 2023.
Interesting Facts about Jake LaRavia You Should Know
1. He Had a Challenging Career Start-Up
Jake has said that his career journey has not been a bed of roses. According to him, he experienced a lot of injuries and aches along the way. He also said there were moments when he was not able to make it to certain teams. This did not discourage him but pushed him to work hard and persevere.
2. LaRavia’s Draft Scouting Report was Impressive
The player’s draft scouting report for 2022 was very impressive. It would be recalled that the Memphis Grizzlies had selected Wake Forest forward LaRavia with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2022 NBA.
Jake who had spent the last seasons emerging as a star with the Demon Deacons was ranked No. 18 overall prospect by Jonathan Wasserman in the 2022 draft class according to Bleacher’s Report.
The excerpt of his scouting report reads that LaRavia quietly became a prospect worth taking seriously as his versatility for the NBA became more evident. Despite missing exciting athletic ability, the 6’7″ power forward has excellent passing skills and impressive defensive instincts.
3. His Strengths and Weaknesses were Presented by Luke Harangody
The NBA player is said to be a hardworking and versatile forward who shows excellent determination and toughness according to Luke Harangody. He is also presented as a solid leaper who has the ability to throw down dunks on the break and back cuts. Moreso, he is an unselfish team player who has good vision and passing skills.
However, Jake has not been able to escape without some weaknesses too. According to his NBA comparison, he lacks the speed to be able to get by NBA defenders. Also, he has just 6’9 wingspanan. This implies that getting shots off in the paint could be a challenge for him.
4. How Tall is the NBA Player?
LaRavia stands at 6’6.75″ barefoot and 6’8.0″ in shoes. He has an 8’8.0″ standing reach and 6’9.5″ wingspan as of the 2022 NBA Draft. He also weighs 227.2lbs.
The average height of an NBA player is generally around 6’6″. LaRavia currently stands at 6’6.75″ and this may be a contributing factor to his impressive performances over time.
While it is true that the 23-year-old is still fresh in the NBA, he appears to have a very promising future going forward.
5. Who is Jake LaRavia Possibly Dating?
Many fans will be curious to find out who Jake LaRavia’s girlfriend would be, given his charming appearances and promising NBA career. Jake has however remained tight-lipped concerning who he might be dating. But celebrities are able to keep their private lives away from the media for just a short while. More about who he will be dating or even married to will soon be revealed.
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