Latest news with #JahmaiMashack
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grizzlies Announce Trade With Rockets After NBA Draft
Grizzlies Announce Trade With Rockets After NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Memphis Grizzlies haven't been shy to trade recently. After dealing Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic before the NBA Finals ended, they also traded up from pick No. 16 to No. 11 and selected Washington State swingman Cedric Coward on Wednesday. Advertisement Memphis sent out a 2028 first-rounder (via Orlando), a 2027 second-rounder (via the Atlanta Hawks), and a 2028 second-rounder (via the Sacramento Kings) in the deal. The 6-foot-5-inch Coward shot 38.8 percent from deep in college and a combined 2.5 blocks and steals this past season. The Grizzlies also acquired the No. 59 overall pick's draft rights after the second round finished, via their social media. Tennessee Volunteers forward Tobe Awaka (11) and guard Jahmai Mashack (15).Lon Horwedel/USA TODAY Sports "The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team has agreed in principle to acquire the draft rights to Jahmai Mashack, the No. 59 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, from the Houston Rockets as part of a trade that is not yet final," they said. Advertisement They announced the deal shortly after midnight EST on Friday. Mahsack averaged 4.2 points on 44 percent shooting (34.3 percent 3 PT) with 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists over 18.2 minutes across four seasons for Tennessee. The Volunteers converted the 6-foot-4-inch, 201-pounder to a full-time starter this past season. Mahsack averaged 5.8 points on 42.1 percent shooting (30 percent 3 PT) with four rebounds for the Volunteers in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Memphis also selected West Virginia guard Javon Small No. 48 overall. Next up for Coward, Small, and Mahsack is Summer League, which will take place in July. Advertisement Related: Cedric Coward Sends Ja Morant Message After Grizzlies' NBA Draft Trade Related: Grizzlies Trade Report Drops After Jaren Jackson Jr. Decision This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jahmai Mashack selected in second round of 2025 NBA draft
The second and final round of the 2025 NBA draft is taking place Thursday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, home of the Nets. Former Tennessee senior guard Jahmai Mashack was selected in the second round by Memphis with the No. 50 overall pick. He was the final selection in the 2025 NBA draft. The 6-foot-4, 202-pound guard played for the Vols from 2021-25. He appeared in 137 games, including 59 starts. Mashack was named as a 2025 Naismith Defensive Player Finalist and earned 2025 SEC All-Defensive Team honors. He went to Tennessee from Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Tennessee senior guard Chaz Lanier was also selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft. He was selected in the second round by Detroit with the No. 37 overall pick. More: Jahmai Mashack wins game at the buzzer against Alabama Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Why You Can't Forget About Jahmai Mashack This Draft Cycle
Jahmai Mashack, Tennessee Volunteers. While having a higher pick gives you a greater probability of landing a stud, it seems that every single year, one or two teams get lucky and uncover a gem in the second round/undrafted free agency. Last year, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Jaylen Wells with the 39th overall pick and watched him finish third in Rookie of the Year (ROY) voting. The year before that, Toumani Camara was taken 52nd in the 2023 NBA Draft. Nowadays, his defense is being compared to the likes of Scottie Pippen. And the year before that, Andrew Nembhard – who just finished starting every postseason game for an Indiana Pacers' team that came within one win from the NBA title – was taken with the first pick of the second round. Identifying which player will be the next second round stud is the million-dollar question every team drafting in that range is trying to answer, but if I were a betting man, I'd say a strong candidate to continue this legacy is none other than now-former Tennessee Volunteer Jahmai Mashack. One Of The Best Defensive Prospects In The Draft The one thread that connects the three players we cited in the lede (Wells, Camara, and Nembhard) is that they are all great defenders. This season, all three of them ranked in the 74th percentile or higher in Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus (per Dunks & Threes). Coincidentally, that was Mashack's calling card during his four years at Tennessee. "I say this with a lot of confidence, but I think I'm going to be one of the best defenders in the league right away," Mashack told me in an interview for Forbes. "I'm not saying this because I'm cocky. It's literally just the experience that I've had at the college level. I've guarded multiple NBA level players, but I've also handled a variety of different matchups and player archetypes (speedy guards, bruising bigs, etc.)." When you look at the data, Mashack makes a great point. According to Bart Torvik, Mashack tied for fourth in the entire nation (with St. John's Kadary Richmond) in Defensive Box Plus-Minus (DBPM). He was also one of just ten players to have a block rate over 2% and a steal rate over 3.5% (minimum 70% of minutes played). If those pieces of information don't sell you on his splendor, he was also named a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year (along with his teammate Zakai Zegler) for good measure. Another bow in Mashack's quiver here is that defense is back in vogue (or maybe it never left!). The Oklahoma City Thunder just won the 2025 NBA Championship on the backs of one of the greatest defenses we've ever seen. "I watch a ton of film on NBA players," Mashack shared with me. 'I like guys like Alex Caruso and Luguentz Dort Dort because they aren't just trying to get steals and blocks. They really want to get into their guy and contain the ball. That's what I hang my hat on. I don't want to just be the guy who gets the most steals or the guy who gets the most blocks. I want to be the guy who has more control over the possession than the offensive player. I want to be the one who dictates.' Funny enough, both Caruso (undrafted) and Dort (undrafted) fall under the category of player we outlined earlier. Even more ironic is the fact that Mashack (6'4 and 200 pounds with a 6'8 wingspan) has a nearly identical physical build to Dort (6'4 and 220 pounds with a 6'8 wingspan). Questions On Offense The take that Mashack is one of the best prospects in this draft class is not an original one (as seen from the tweet above). That's not the reason that Mashack isn't getting any buzz as a first round pick. As it stands, the main concern around Mashack is his offense. In his senior season at Tennessee, Mashack averaged just 6.0 PPG and shot just 35.1% from three on 1.5 attempts per game. On the surface, these aren't numbers that suggest an NBA-level offensive player. However, some context is needed here. "I'll admit that I did shoot a low volume of shots in college," Mashack explained. 'But I don't think that's because I can't shoot. Rather, it was part of our scheme at Tennessee. My role was to be a lockdown defender. We had other guys who could take a lot of shots for us on offense." 'Anyone who has played with me knows that I am a confident shooter. That just isn't what my team needed from me at Tennessee.' Even though Mashack is sure of his abilities as a floor spacer, he isn't content with them. During our conversation, he assured me that he's spent countless long nights in the gym perfecting his release – ensuring that he can get his jumper off swiftly and efficiently against NBA competition. Regardless of how much more he can increase his offensive load, notice what Mashack said. He bought into his "role" at Tennessee. That is the key to being great at the next level. Not every player can be a 20+ PPG scorer. Throughout NBA history, all great teams have unselfish guys who are willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the team (like Dort and Caruso did for the Thunder this past season). Mashack projects to be one of those players, which is evidenced by his being a recipient of Tennessee's Torchbearer Award – an honor given to student-athletes for academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to serving others. At 22 years old, Mashack is already wise beyond his years. Pay close attention to how he speaks. In his answers to questions, he mentions things like "player archetypes" or making sure to "win/dictate possessions." These are buzzwords/phrases you often hear from basketball nerds such as myself. Mashack has the mind of a basketball scholar while also boasting the physique of a Greek God. As someone who has had the privilege of interviewing dozens of NBA players, I can tell you firsthand that this is a rare combination. His agent, Noah Reisenfeld of Young Money APAA, shared with me that, during the pre-draft process, one general manager referred to Mashack as "the smartest player he's ever interviewed." This postseason showed us that there will always be a place for intelligent, team-first players with the ability to defend and play with physicality. That is why, despite his place on some draft boards (ESPN currently has him at 98th), I am confident Mashack will carve out a nice career for himself at the next level.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack reveals mindset in NBA draft workouts
Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack reveals mindset in NBA draft workouts Jahmai Mashack established himself as a tremendous defender, and the former Tennessee guard is looking to showcase that ability and more in predraft workouts. Mashack was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team, averaging six points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.5 assists on 35.1% shooting from 3-point range in 38 games. He scored in double figures six times, including a season-high 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists on March 14. The 6-foot-5 standout completed his ninth team workout on Tuesday. He wants to demonstrate his overall skill set and ability, with a particular emphasis on his offensive capabilities. "My ability to catch and shoot, and my ability to play out of closeouts," Mashack said after working out with the Portland Trail Blazers. "The NBA is really going toward a closeout league where you've got to be able to shoot, pass or drive the ball effectively in point-five seconds. To be able to show that consistently and know I'm a good decision-maker when I get paint touches." Mashack was a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist, ranking second in the country in defensive box plus-minus last season (plus-seven). He was one of 14 players, including one of six in a power conference, to record at least 60 steals (64) and 20 blocked shots (20). The 22-year-old competed in the G League Elite Camp last month, averaging five points, two steals, 1.5 rebounds and one assist in two scrimmage games. He also registered a 6-foot, 7 3/4-inch wingspan in the anthropometric measurement testing. Mashack isn't projected to be drafted, though he believes he has had some solid performances during his prior workouts. He is looking to finish the predraft process strong and secure a spot with the right team in the draft on June 25-26 in Brooklyn, New York. "I want to find the best fit possible, and I feel like there are a lot of NBA teams that like and enjoy the way that I play," Mashack said. "I want to just be with (a team) that is going to value that and cherish that and grow that as I try to become the best player I can be."
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘VOLunteer' Jahmai Mashack honored for work leading to 197,000 meals for those in need
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — One Tennessee Basketball player was honored Tuesday for his work and advocacy that helped provide more than 197,000 meals for people in need. Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee said 'VOLunteers' in working in the warehouse got a surprise Tuesday morning when former Tennessee Guard Jahmai Mashack joined the assembly line and helped pack boxes of food. The nonprofit said Mashack 'embodies what it means to be a VOLunteer, both on and off the court.' Staffing halved at Knoxville community farm after AmeriCorps cuts Mashack was awarded Second Harvest's 2025 Advocacy Award, in honor of the positive impact he has made on East Tennesseans experiencing food insecurity since their partnership with him began. 'My teammates, family, my coaches, they all know what it means to me to be able to just do something that's bigger than ourselves… we have to use our platform for something bigger, and in my opinion, something just as important as putting the ball in the hoop,' said Mashack, 'No matter where I go, I want to be able to shine a light.' $722K in food shipments to East Tennessee food bank canceled by U.S. Department of Agriculture The award is styled as a food can, with the area of the label that usually lists nutritional information instead showing facts about Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee and hunger in East Tennessee. Some of those facts include that more than 202,000 East Tennesseans experience hunger and that Second Harvest serves more than 15,000 children per week. Second Harvest Chief Operating Officer Rachael Ellis said Mashack has shown a unique ability to inspire and unite others, whether that is by mentoring, advocating for hunger relief, or engaging with the community in the fight against hunger. 'His impact extends far beyond the accolades he has earned; it is felt in the hearts of teammates, peers, and community members alike.' One dead after 'serious' crash on Norris Freeway in Anderson County In March, Mashack launched the 'Mashack March Madness Virtual Food Drive' following his last-second shot helped the Vols beat Alabama. Initially, the fundraiser had a goal of $7,900, in reference to the 79 points Tennessee scored against Alabama, but by the end of the fundraiser, donations to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee surpassed $21,000. Earlier this year, Mashack also served for second straight season as Tennessee's representative on the SEC Community Service Team for men's basketball. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
