Mountaineers in the Pros
Grizzlies Take Javon Small in Second Round of NBA Draft
A dream came true for the former Mountaineer, Javon Small has been drafted in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Memphis Grizzlies selected the ex WVU guard with the 48th overall pick on Thursday night.
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Javon Small is headed to the @memgrizzβΌοΈ pic.twitter.com/59lQsNAV2Y
— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) June 27, 2025
“I want to prove that I’m a defensive guard that can score the ball. And also get my teammates involved…. I’ve been training my whole life for this, so it’s nothing to be worried about. Just take it one day at a time,” said Small as shared by the WVU basketball program across social media leading up to the draft.
Small is now the second former Mountaineer to be drafted since Jevon Carter was taken in the second round in 2018. Miles “Deuce” McBride went No. 36 to the New York Knicks in 2021. WVU has produced five draft picks since 2000.
Small was not the focus of the NBA Draft for most non WVU fans, but he was labeled a sleeper a day before the event.
When asked for his round two sleeper, Bleacher Report NBA Draft insider Jonathan Wasserman mentioned Small as one of those players flying under the radar.
Wassermanβs response comes weeks after Small impressed scouts at the NBA Combine.
The NBA Combine saw Small draw attention and earn praise, leading many to believe the former WVU star increased his draft stock.
After opening the week by putting his shooting touch on display by making 46-straight threes, the video below shows Small showing off his complete game at his Hazan Sports Pro Day on Thursday night in Chicago.
βGritty playmaker coming off an awesome senior year at West Virginia. Heβs made noticeable strides as a shooter through his college career,β said Jacob Meyers, who identifies himself as someone who tracks basketball players working to become pros, when posting the video on X.
Javon Smallβs solo Hazan Sports Pro Day last night in Chicago drew a strong NBA crowd. Gritty playmaker coming off an awesome senior year at West Virginia. Heβs made noticeable strides as a shooter through his college career. pic.twitter.com/37R6q1EYW9
— Jacob Myers (@League_Him) May 15, 2025
Small, West Virginiaβs point guard during the 2024-25 season, led the Mountaineers to a 19-12 record,Β just missing out on the NCAA Tournament. He finished second in the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game while earningΒ first-team All-Big 12 honors.
WVU Guard Javon Small guards the ball Friday, Oct. 18 in Morgantown. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)
He was also third in the league in assists (5.6 per game) and sixth in three-point shooting (35.3%). Small scored double-digit points in all but two games this season. He reached 20 points 14 times and had a season-high 31 points in the teamβs upset win over Gonzaga in The Bahamas. He played at Oklahoma State prior to transferring to West Virginia.
WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose
Find moreΒ coverage of Javon Small at WV Sports Now.
For a related story, Smallβs official measurements slightly differ from how WVU had him listed.
