TCU’s RJ Nembhard to join Miami Heat after being passed over in NBA Draft
TCU basketball has another player in the NBA.
Guard RJ Nembhard did not hear his name called during Thursday’s NBA Draft, but he reached an undrafted free-agent deal with the Miami Heat shortly afterward.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski announced the signing early Friday morning.
Nembhard is among several guards signed by the Heat, who did not have a draft pick Thursday. Others joining the team include Marcus Garrett of Kansas; Dejon Jarreau of Houston; Javonte Smith of LSU; D.J. Stewart of Mississippi State; and A.J. Lawson of South Carolina.
Nembhard joined TCU as a four-star prospect following a stellar high school career at Keller. He redshirted his first season in 2017-18, playing in only six games, before seeing an expanded role during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. Nembhard emerged as the team leader last season.
He led TCU in scoring with 15.7 points a game to go along with 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 24 games, all starts. The 15.7 points per game ranked fifth in the Big 12.
Nembhard averaged 12.1 points a game during his sophomore season in 2019-20.
Nembhard is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father Ruben, who had a brief stint in the NBA. Ruben Nembhard played a total of 10 games with the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers during the 1996-97 season.
Big 12 represented
The Big 12 had a strong showing in this year’s NBA Draft, highlighted by Oklahoma State’s and Arlington native Cade Cunningham being the top overall pick taken by the Detroit Pistons. Cunningham joins KU’s Andrew Wiggins (2014) and Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin (2009) as top overall picks in league history.
The Big 12 had two other players land in the first round with Baylor’s Davion Mitchell going ninth overall to the Sacramento Kings, and Texas’ Kai Jones going 19th overall to the New York Knicks (who traded the draft rights to the Charlotte Hornets).
It’s the 15th time the Big 12 has produced three or more picks in the first round.
The league saw four more players taken in the second round: West Virginia’s Miles McBride, Baylor’s Jared Butler and Texas’ Greg Brown and Jericho Sims.
This story was originally published July 30, 2021 at 9:16 AM.
