 Withey shooting overDonatas Motiejūnas in a preseason game in 2013 | |
| No. 55 – Taipei Fubon Braves | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | P. League+ |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1990-03-07)March 7, 1990 (age 35) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Horizon (San Diego, California) |
| College | Kansas (2009–2013) |
| NBA draft | 2013: 2nd round, 39th overall pick |
| Selected by thePortland Trail Blazers | |
| Playing career | 2013–present |
| Career history | |
| 2013–2015 | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2015–2017 | Utah Jazz |
| 2017 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2018 | Tofaş |
| 2019 | Lavrio |
| 2019–2020 | Ironi Nes Ziona |
| 2020–2021 | Goyang Orion Orions |
| 2021–2023 | Bilbao |
| 2023–2024 | Wonju DB Promy |
| 2024–present | Taipei Fubon Braves |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Jeffree David Withey (born March 7, 1990) is an American professionalbasketball player for theTaipei Fubon Braves of the TaiwaneseP. League+. He played college basketball for theUniversity of Kansas where he became known for his shot-blocking ability and his defensive presence.[1] He was drafted 39th overall in the2013 NBA draft by thePortland Trail Blazers.[2]
Withey led Horizon High School to the state Division IV title in his sophomore season (2006)[3] and he graduated in the class of 2008.[4] In the game preceding the state championship game, Withey and his teammates had to face aSan Joaquin Memorial High School team in the Southern California Regional Championship game that featured three seniors who were future NBA players,Robin &Brook Lopez andQuincy Pondexter. In a dramatic double-overtime game, Withey and his teammates overcame the San Joaquin squad and went on to win the title in the following game.[5]
In his senior season he averaged 20.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 7.3 blocked shots per game.[6]
Considered a four-star recruit byRivals.com, Withey was listed as the No. 8 center and the No. 36 player in the nation in 2008.[7]
Withey had originally committed to play for Louisville, but switched his commitment to Arizona. Following the resignation ofLute Olson in October of Withey's freshman season, he decided to transfer from Arizona. He did not see any playing time for the Wildcats during his semester of the 2008–09 season.
Withey transferred to Kansas in January 2009, but was ineligible to play until the end of the 2009 fall semester due to the NCAA transfer rules requiring him to sit out a year. He initially saw limited playing time during the second half of the 2009–10 season and the 2010–11 season, playing behindCole Aldrich and the Morris twins.
In hisjunior year, after twin brothersMarcus andMarkieff Morris left for theNBA draft, he became a starter,[8] playing for the 2011–12 squad which lost to Kentucky in the NCAA championship game. Withey blocked 31 shots in the 2012 tournament, breakingJoakim Noah's tournament record of 29.[9] During the 2011–12 season, he was namedBig 12 defensive player of the year and set a Big 12 record with 140 blocks for the season.[10]
On October 4, 2012, Withey was named to the Preseasonall-Big 12 unanimously.[10]
On December 3, 2012, Withey was named Big 12 Player of the Week. To earn the honor, he scored atriple-double againstSan Jose State Spartans on November 26. In that game, Withey scored 16 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and blocked 12 shots, for the second triple-double in KU history.[11] On February 18, 2013, Withey was named Big 12 Co-Player of the Week. He haddouble-doubles against bothKansas State Wildcats andTexas Longhorns. He also made his 265th blocked shot to set a new Big 12 record for career blocked shots.[12]
Withey finished his senior year of college by averaging 13.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.9 blocks.[13]
On March 10, 2013, he was named defensive player of the year in the Big 12 for 2012–13 and he was named first team All Big 12.[14] On March 11, 2013, Withey was named 2nd TeamAll-American by The Sporting News.[15] On March 31, 2013, Withey was accorded third-team All-American mention by theAssociated Press.[16]
On April 5, 2013, theNational Association of Basketball Coaches named Withey theco-National Defensive Player of the Year.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | Kansas | 15 | 3.0 | .538 | .556 | 1.4 | 0 | .1 | .4 | 1.3 | ||
| 2010–11 | Kansas | 26 | 6.2 | .647 | .515 | 1.8 | .2 | .2 | .7 | 2.3 | ||
| 2011–12 | Kansas | 39 | 39 | 24.8 | .536 | .795 | 6.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 9.0 | |
| 2012–13 | Kansas | 37 | 37 | 30.9 | .582 | 1.000 | .714 | 8.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 13.7 |
Withey was selected with the 39th overall pick in the2013 NBA draft by thePortland Trail Blazers.[2] He was traded to theNew Orleans Pelicans in a three-team trade involving the Trail Blazers and theSacramento Kings on July 10, 2013.[17] In two seasons for the Pelicans, he averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 95 games.
On August 24, 2015, Withey signed with theUtah Jazz.[18] On December 28, 2015, he recorded a season-high 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds as a starter in a 95–91 win over thePhiladelphia 76ers.[19]
On August 21, 2017, Withey signed a one-year deal with theDallas Mavericks.[20] He was waived on December 19, 2017.[21]
On July 24, 2018, Withey signed with the Turkish teamTofaş for the 2018–19 season.[22] On December 28, 2018, Withey parted ways with Tofaş after appearing in 19 games.[23]
On February 28, 2019, Withey signed with Greek teamLavrio for the rest of the season.[24] On March 30, 2019, Withey recorded a season-high 18 points, shooting 8-of-10 from the field, along with six rebounds and two blocks in an 88–99 loss toPAOK.[25] In 10 games played for Lavrio, he averaged 6.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
On July 4, 2019, Withey joined theWashington Wizards for the2019 NBA Summer League.[26]
On August 18, 2019, Withey signed a one-year deal withIroni Nes Ziona of theIsraeli Premier League.[27] On October 23, 2019, Withey recorded a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds, leading Nes Ziona to an 82–75 win over theKapfenberg Bulls.[28] He was subsequently named Europe Cup round 1 Top Performer.[29] On December 5, 2019, Withey was namedIsraeli League Player of the Month after averaging a double-double of 16.3 points and 13.3 rebounds, while shooting 66 percent from the field in eight games played in November.[30] On December 23, 2019, Withey recorded a new career-high 24 points, while shooting 10-of-12 from the field, along with seven rebounds and three steals in a 95–80 win overHapoel Tel Aviv.[31]
On July 8, 2020, Withey signed with theGoyang Orion Orions of theKorean Basketball League.[32] On February 3, 2021, he was replaced byDevin Williams.[33] He averaged 8.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the Korean Basketball League.[34]
On July 21, 2021, Withey signed withBilbao Basket of theLiga ACB.[34]
On August 22, 2023, he signed withHapoel Tel Aviv of theIsraeli Premier League.[35] However, he never played for the team.
On October 29, 2023, Withey signed with theWonju DB Promy of theKorean Basketball League to replaceGarrison Brooks.[36]
On August 26, 2024, Withey signed with theTaipei Fubon Braves of theP. League+.[37]
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–14 | New Orleans | 58 | 4 | 11.8 | .535 | .000 | .712 | 2.6 | .4 | .3 | .9 | 3.3 |
| 2014–15 | New Orleans | 37 | 0 | 7.0 | .500 | .000 | .680 | 1.7 | .3 | .1 | .5 | 2.6 |
| 2015–16 | Utah | 51 | 10 | 12.9 | .537 | .000 | .729 | 3.4 | .4 | .4 | 1.0 | 4.3 |
| 2016–17 | Utah | 51 | 1 | 8.5 | .534 | .000 | .750 | 2.4 | .1 | .3 | .6 | 2.9 |
| 2017–18 | Dallas | 9 | 0 | 4.3 | .375 | .200 | .500 | 1.1 | .0 | .0 | .3 | 1.7 |
| Career | 206 | 15 | 10.1 | .525 | .143 | .716 | 2.5 | .3 | .3 | .8 | 3.2 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Utah | 3 | 0 | 6.9 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 1.3 | .3 | .3 | .3 | 1.7 |
| Career | 3 | 0 | 6.9 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 1.3 | .3 | .3 | .3 | 1.7 | |
