Jay Huff Signs With Washington – The Next Unicorn

As the NBA season is beginning to end, one of the best signings of the year was made. There were no superstar trades and no market-breaking free agent signings, but there was a two-way deal made with an NBA and G League team.

Superstar center Jay Huff leaves the South Bay Lakers and makes his way to the Washington Wizards and Capital City Go-Go, where he can make the most out of his potential. He excels as a player on both ends of the court and should heavily benefit them.

What Kind of Player is Huff?

Calling any player the next Unicorn is a very strong statement, so why Huff? He is legitimately one of the most versatile big men in basketball right now. Standing at 7 feet 1 inch, he has incredible stature to play at the highest level. He is also 240 pounds, which is serviceable for the position.

What is most impressive about Huff is his stats and efficiency. At such a height and weight, you would expect a slower guy who lives in the post, especially in the G League. However, he plays on all three levels of the court, averaging 63.6% from the field, 40.0% from three, and 79. 3% from the free throw line.

His defense is what makes him stand out the most, leading the G League with 3.6 blocks per game. He is only 1 of 2 players to average over 3 blocks per game this season and he has played 19 games. From a basic statistics standpoint, he averages 14.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

What makes him incredible is his highlights. If you check the official G league Instagram account, you will see freakish athleticism, quickness, and basketball IQ from the 25-year-old giant. He has a good feel of the court, and he passes the eye test.

Huff’s College Career

Huff was never a standout stud or a high-level draft prospect at Virginia, but he was very good at his job. His only season where he averaged over 10 points per game was his senior year, where he scored 13 per game in 25 starts.

In his college career, he averaged just over 7 points per game paired with 4.5 rebounds. He went undrafted in the 2021 draft, but immediately made an impact when he joined the G League.

Can He Help Washington?

In the long run, Huff may really benefit the Wizards franchise. If he can see real NBA minutes and show his skills, he could prove to be a valuable role player for any NBA team. His ability to post up and spot up from 3 makes him worth a pretty penny on many teams. If given the right opportunity against better players, we may see an evolution of Huff basketball and a new consistent big off the bench in the NBA.

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