Jaylen Wells

Wells is an American wing who entered the NBA as a second-round pick in 2024 after a rapid rise from Division II basketball to a starting role in the Pac-12. He has played for the Memphis Grizzlies, where he quickly earned a rotation spot and demonstrated scoring ability and defensive versatility before injury setbacks.

Born on August 26, 2003, in Sacramento, California, Wells attended Folsom High School and averaged 26.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists as a senior. He was named the area Player of the Year by The Sacramento Bee. He committed to Sonoma State, a Division II program, for college basketball.

At Sonoma State, Wells averaged 12.6 points per game as a freshman and was named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year after averaging 22.4 points as a sophomore. He entered the NCAA transfer portal and moved to Washington State, where he started at small forward and averaged 12.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a junior. He declared for the 2024 NBA draft while retaining his eligibility but later decided to remain in the draft.

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Wells with the 39th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft and signed him on July 6. He made his NBA debut on October 23 and earned his first career start on October 31 against Milwaukee, scoring a then-career-high 16 points. On December 3, he was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for October and November, averaging 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 25 minutes while shooting over 45 percent from the field.

Wells started 69 games for Memphis in the 2025-26 season, averaging 12.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. On April 8, 2025, he suffered a broken right wrist against Charlotte that ended his rookie season. On March 29, 2026, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season after requiring surgery for a tendon avulsion fracture in his right big toe.

Wells is a versatile wing with a smooth shooting stroke, scoring instincts, and defensive versatility for his size. He attacks closeouts, finishes in transition, and has shown the ability to stretch defenses from the perimeter. His size and length allow him to guard multiple positions, and his offensive efficiency has been a key asset in his early NBA tenure.

Wells enters each season recovering from injury but carrying the momentum of a rapid rise from Division II to a starting NBA role. His trajectory from a Sacramento-area high school to a draft pick and Western Conference Rookie of the Month reflects a blend of scoring ability, positional versatility, and a willingness to compete at every level.