Miami Heat’s Haywood Highsmith Reflects Back On His Days Before Entering The NBA

After receiving limited offers from high-ranked colleges, Haywood Highsmith became one of the best Division II players in the country

When NBA pundits talk about Miami Heat’s forward Haywood Highsmith, they always use the term “undrafted”.

Although it wasn’t easy, it’s safe to say he earned his spot in the league.

When Highsmith attended Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, Maryland, he didn’t receive a lot of offers from Division I schools. But it only motivated him to continue to work hard and get better.

“For me, I just wanted to come into college, trying to be the hardest worker I could,” Highsmith said. “Each year I was there, I pretty much got better, improved in a lot of things.”

After high school, Highsmith attended Wheeling Jesuit University (now Wheeling University) in Wheeling, West Virginia. He spent four years there and played for the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals.

“My head coach really pushed me in different ways I never been pushed before and it was tough,” Highsmith said. “But I just kept working, kept going. My family believed in me, had a lot of teammates who saw a lot of potential in me, as well. And when that started happening, I started getting a lot of confidence in myself and just started putting it all together. You know, just playing to the potential I know I could be all along.”

It wasn’t until the end of his freshman year when Highsmith became a starter. In his sophomore year, he was named first team All-Mountain East Conference after averaging 14 points and nine rebounds. When he reached his third year, he was averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds.

He averaged a career-best 22 points and 12 rebounds as a senior, becoming one of the best Division II players in the nation. At the end of the season, he was named first team All-MEC and MEC Player of the Year. 

The Cardinals made it to the Mountain East Conference tournament where they faced the Charleston Golden Eagles. Led by Highsmith’s 31 points, they took a 80-65 victory, earning their first MEC basketball championship. Highsmith was named MVP of the MEC Conference tournament. On a national level, he was named first team Division II All-America and National Player of the Year.

“My senior year is when I really started to let the nation know I’m one of the best Division II players in the country right now," Highsmith said. "I can compete with D1 guys, as well."

Cory Nelson is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson. You can also check out his personal blog HERE.