Jarrett Culver

Jarrett Culver (born February 20, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Early life

Culver was born to Regina and Hiawatha Culver Jr. in Lubbock, Texas. His father is a pastor at Rising Star Baptist Church, his mother a director of a local Head Start. Culver grew up playing football and soccer before focusing on basketball while at Irons Middle School. He often played NBA 2K and pickup basketball in his driveway with his older brother, Trey.

High school career

Culver attended Coronado High School in Lubbock, where he played basketball under head coach Randy Dean. He averaged 20 points per game as a junior, leading his team to the 6A regional semifinals. Culver was named Lone Star Varsity Player of the Year by Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. In his senior campaign, he averaged about 30 points per game and led his team in rebounds and assists. At the start of the season, Culver re-aggravated a shoulder injury he originally suffered as a junior, but he still led Coronado to the playoffs and repeated as Lone Star Varsity Player of the Year. Culver was a consensus three-star recruit and committed to Texas Tech on September 22, 2016. He had offers from several other NCAA Division I programs, including Baylor, Texas, and Illinois.

College career

Freshman season

On November 10, 2017, Culver debuted for Texas Tech in a 75–50 win over South Alabama, scoring 2 points in 16 minutes. He recorded a season-high in non-conference play against Wofford on November 22, scoring 21 points. In his next game, Culver recorded 18 points and a season-best 7 assists in a 103–69 win over Savannah State. Two days later, he was named Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week. On December 16, Culver chipped in 8 points and a season-high 6 steals against Rice. He recorded his first double-double on February 26, 2018 versus West Virginia, with season-bests of 26 points and 12 rebounds. As a freshman, Culver averaged 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. He scored 229 points in conference play, breaking the Texas Tech freshman record set by Martin Zeno in 2005.

Sophomore season

Entering his sophomore season, Culver was named preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention. He was also one of 20 players to make the 2019 Jerry West Award watch list. Culver assumed a leading role in his second year, with the departures of key players Zhaire Smith and Keenan Evans. He made his debut on November 6, 2018, recording 16 points and 4 assists in an 87–37 win over Incarnate Word. On November 20, Culver scored 26 points against Nebraska to win most valuable player (MVP) honors at the Hall of Fame Classic. The next day, he became one of 20 players to be named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy midseason watch list. Culver erupted for 30 points, shooting 12-of-13 from the field, in a December 15 victory over Abilene Christian. Shortly after, he earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors. On March 9, 2019, Culver scored 31 points against Iowa State, which was not only a season-high, but also a career-high.

After leading the Red Raiders to a share of the Big 12 regular season title, he was named Big 12 Player of the Year at the end of conference play. In the quarterfinals of the 2019 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament, despite him scoring 26 points and hauling in 10 rebounds, Culver and the Red Raiders were upset by #10 seed West Virginia. In the first round of the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, Culver nearly recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists against #14 seed Northern Kentucky. In the second round, Culver helped lead to another win against #6 seed Buffalo, recording a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. He also recorded 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks against #6 seed Buffalo. In the Regional Semifinals (the Sweet 16), he helped lead the Red Raiders to a historic upset over the #2 seed Michigan Wolverines, scoring 22 points. In the Regional Finals (the Elite Eight), he again led Texas Tech with 19 points and another upset against #1 seed Gonzaga, resulting in the program's first-ever appearance in the National Semifinals (the Final Four). Culver struggled in the Final Four game against Michigan State, scoring 10 points on 3/12 shooting, in a 61-51 Texas Tech win. In the championship game, Culver again struggled, scoring 15 points on 5/22 shooting in a 85-77 overtime loss to Virginia. After the season, Culver declared for the 2019 NBA draft.

Professional career

Minnesota Timberwolves (2019–present)

Culver was selected as the sixth pick of the 2019 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. However, his draft rights were immediately traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Dario Šarić and the eleventh pick of the draft. The trade was officially completed on July 6. Two days later on July 8, 2019, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced that they had signed with Culver. On October 23, 2019, Culver made his debut in NBA, coming off from bench in a 127–126 overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets with four points, two assists and a steal.

Career statistics

College

Personal life

Culver's father, Hiawatha Culver Jr. is the team chaplain and delivers the pre-game prayer for Texas Tech before each home basketball game. In high school, Jarrett played basketball with older brother J. J., who later joined the team at Wayland Baptist University. J.J. was reported to have scored a hundred points in a college basketball game for the Wayland Baptist University. Trey, his oldest brother, was a decorated athlete for the Texas Tech track and field team in the high jump, tying the fourth-best mark in collegiate indoor history in 2018.