PROFESSIONAL CAREER

Selected 8th overall by Atlanta in the 2019 NBA Draft. Draft rights acquired by New Orleans, along with draft rights to Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Marcos Louzada Silva, in exchange for the draft rights to De’Andre Hunter, Solomon Hill, and a future second-round draft pick on 7/6/19. Signed by New Orleans 7/7/19.

BEFORE NBA

Texas, 2018-19: Declared for the NBA Draft after one season at Texas. Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year…All-Big 12 Second Team selection. Big 12 All-Defensive Team, Big 12 All-Newcomer Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team honoree…NABC All-District 8 Second Team pick. Set the UT single-season record for field goal percentage (.728, 123-169), previously held at .654 by Dexter Pittman in 2009-10. Two-time Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (Nov. 19, 2018; Nov. 26, 2018). Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year. All-Big 12 Second Team selection. Big 12 All-Defensive Team, Big 12 All-Newcomer Team and Big 12 All-Freshman Team honoree. Played in 32 games (21 starts), averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 23.3 minutes per contest. Led the team and ranked third in the Big 12 in blocks per game (2.22 bpg), ranked second on the team in rebounding (5.0 rpg) and third in scoring (10.0 ppg). Reached double figures in scoring in 17 games. Of his 123 made field goals on the year, 74 were dunks (.602). Set a school record for consecutive field goals made (18). Went four straight full games (Purdue, Grand Canyon, Providence and UTA) without missing a field goal. His 18 consecutive field goals made were just two shy of the Big 12 record (20 by Quincy Acy of Baylor in 2008-09)…In his collegiate debut, registered 12 points (5-9 FG) and two blocks in 20 minutes vs. Eastern Illinois (11/6)

PERSONAL LIFE

Full name is Jaxson Reed Hayes… Born in Norman, Oklahoma, but family moved to Cincinnati when Jaxson was 3 years old. Son of Jonathan and Kristi Hayes. Father, Jonathan, is the head coach/general manager of the new XFL St. Louis team. Jonathan spent 15 seasons as the tight ends coach for the Cincinnati Bengals (2003-18) and four years as an assistant coach (tight ends/special teams) at the University of Oklahoma (1999-2002). Jonathan was an All-American tight end at the University of Iowa (1982-85) who went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs (1985-93) and Pittsburgh Steelers (1994-96). Mother, Kristi (Kinne) played basketball at Drake University (1991-95) and earned honorable mention Kodak All-American accolades and Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors as a senior (1994-95). Kristi recorded 3,406 career points during her four years (1987-91) at Jefferson-Scranton High School (Jefferson, Iowa). Kristi previously served as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Oklahoma, Iowa and Southern Illinois-Carbondale. Has one younger sister, Jillian, and two younger brothers, Jewett and Jonah. Earned Second-Team honors at 2019 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas after averaging 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in four games for the Pelicans.

Jaxson Hayes