Taylor Thomas Hendricks (born November 22, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the UCF Knights. As a freshman, he was a Second-team All-AAC and AAC All-Freshman Team selection. He was a three-time Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSSA) champion.

Taylor Hendricks
No. 0 – Utah Jazz
PositionPower forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2003-11-22) November 22, 2003 (age 21)
Deerfield Beach, Florida, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeUCF (2022–2023)
NBA draft2023: 1st round, 9th overall pick
Selected by the Utah Jazz
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–presentUtah Jazz
2023–2024Salt Lake City Stars
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-AAC (2023)
  • AAC All-Freshman Team (2023)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Early life

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Hendricks grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and initially attended NSU University School.[1] The 2018–19 University team with, which included Vernon Carey Jr., Scottie Barnes, Jace and Jett Howard, successfully defended its FHSSA Class 5A State championship with a victory over Andrew Jackson High School, despite Carey being sidelined for the championship game.[2][3] He transferred to Calvary Christian Academy after his sophomore year.[4] Hendricks averaged 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game during his junior season while Calvary Christian won the Florida 3A state championship. As a senior, he was named the Broward County Player of the Year after averaging 15.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as Calvary Christian repeated as state champions.[5] Hendricks was rated a four-star recruit and committed to playing college basketball for UCF over offers from the likes of Florida, Florida State, Miami (Florida), LSU, Memphis, and Iowa State.[6][7] His commitment made him the highest-ranked recruit in UCF history.[8]

College career

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Hendricks entering his freshman season at UCF was not seen as an NBA prospect. He started as the Knights' starting power forward.[9] On November 8, 2022, he opened the season with a 23-point, 2-steal and 3-block effort against UNC Asheville.[10] He was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Rookie of the Week for a conference record four consecutive weeks (November 21 through December 12).[11][12] The only other player to win the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week award three weeks in a row was Austin Nichols.[13] When Hendricks won his sixth American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week on January 16, 2023, he tied Jalen Duren, Precious Achiuwa and Dedric Lawson for the conference single-season record.[14][15] On February 6, Jarace Walker won his sixth AAC Rookie of the Week award, tying the group.[16][17] Hendricks won for a seventh (February 13),[18][19] eighth (February 27),[20] and ninth time (March 6)[21][22] to move ahead of the pack and up his career-high to 25 points on February 26 against the Tulsa.[23] Hendricks was named to the All-AAC 2nd team and the All-Freshman team.[24] Following the end of the season he entered the 2023 NBA draft and signed with an agent, forgoing the remainder of his college eligibility.[25]

Professional career

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The Utah Jazz selected Hendricks with the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.[26] Hendricks became the highest NBA draft pick, the first lottery pick, and the first one-and-done player in UCF history.[27] Taylor Hendricks scored a career high 12 points against the Sacramento Kings on December 16, 2023.[28]

On October 28, 2024, Hendricks suffered a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle against the Dallas Mavericks.[29] He is expected to miss the remainder of the season.[30]

Personal life

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Hendricks is the son of Danielle Hendricks. He has two brothers, Tyler, who also plays at UCF, and Jamal Jones.[31]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Utah 40 23 21.4 .450 .379 .793 4.6 .8 .7 .8 7.3
Career 40 23 21.4 .450 .379 .793 4.6 .8 .7 .8 7.3

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 UCF 34 34 34.7 .478 .394 .782 7.0 1.4 .9 1.7 15.1

References

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  1. ^ Crain, Nick (December 20, 2022). "Draft Risers: Inside UCF Forward Taylor Hendricks' Ascension into Stardom". SI.com. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  2. ^ "Class 5A Final: University 72, Andrew Jackson 46". The Ledger. March 16, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  3. ^ Lichtenstein, Adam (March 7, 2019). "University School — again with Carey sidelined — rolls to its second straight Class 5A state title". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "Boys basketball preview: Stacked Calvary Christian seeks national stage (plus other teams to watch)". Sun-Sentinel. December 15, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  5. ^ "Taylor Hendricks: Broward Boys' Basketball Player of the Year". Miami Herald. April 15, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Shaw, Jamie (January 24, 2021). "Taylor Hendricks focused on his season". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Calvary Christian's Taylor and Tyler Hendricks commit to UCF". Sun-Sentinel. March 21, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Edwards, Jack (December 13, 2022). "UCF's Taylor Hendricks is as Good as Advertised". SI.com. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Helwig, Brandon (November 2, 2022). "Taylor Hendricks excited to make his college debut". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  10. ^ "Pember's 40, Abee's 3s in 2OT get UNC Asheville past UCF". ESPN. Associated Press. November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  11. ^ "Taylor Hendricks makes AAC history in becoming UCF's go-to". Orlando Sentinel. December 13, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "Memphis' Davis, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". American Athletic Conference. December 12, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "Temple's Battle, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". American Athletic Conference. December 5, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  14. ^ "Hendricks Earns Sixth AAC Rookie of the Week Honor: Freshman Taylor Hendricks has tied The American's single-season Rookie of the Week record". UCF Athletics. January 16, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  15. ^ "Memphis' Davis, Tulane's Forbes, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". American Athletic Conference. January 16, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  16. ^ "Tulane's Cook, Houston's Walker Earn Weekly Honors". American Athletic Conference. February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  17. ^ "Jarace Walker Earns The American Weekly Honors". University of Houston. February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Memphis' Williams, UCF's Hendricks Earn Weekly Honors". American Athletic Conference. February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  19. ^ Landis, Ken (February 13, 2023). "Hendricks Earns Record Seventh AAC Rookie of the Week Honor". UCF Golden Knights. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  20. ^ Landis, Ken (February 27, 2023). "Hendricks Earns Eighth AAC Rookie of the Week Honor". UCF Golden Knights. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "Houston's Shead, UCF's Hendricks Earn Final Weekly Honors of the Season". American Athletic Conference. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  22. ^ Landis, Ken (March 6, 2023). "Hendricks Honored with Ninth AAC Rookie of the Week Nod". UCF Golden Knights. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  23. ^ "Hendricks' 25 lead UCF past Tulsa 68-49". ESPN. Associated Press. February 26, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  24. ^ "The American Announces Men's Basketball Honors". American Athletic Conference. March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  25. ^ Givony, Jonathan (March 22, 2023). "UCF freshman Taylor Hendricks declares for NBA draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  26. ^ Siegel, Brett (June 22, 2023). "Taylor Hendricks: Meet the Jazz's No. 9 pick in 2023 NBA Draft". ClutchPoints. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  27. ^ "Taylor Hendricks Selected by Utah Jazz with Ninth Overall Pick in 2023 NBA Draft". UCF Athletics. June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  28. ^ "Taylor Hendricks, Utah Jazz, PF - 2023-24 Game Log - NBA". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  29. ^ "Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks leaves game vs. Mavericks on stretcher after gruesome, non-contact leg injury". CBSSports.com. October 29, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  30. ^ Tim MacMahon (October 29, 2024). "Jazz's Taylor Hendricks to miss rest of season". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  31. ^ "Men's Basketball 2022-23". UCF Athletics - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
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