Once a student at Folsom High, now a NBA Rising Star in Memphis. Jaylen Wells, Rookie of year contender for the Memphis Grizzlies, Jaylen Wells now is assigned the task of guarding some of the best players in the league, including Steph Curry.

 As a teenager at Folsom High School, Jaylen Wells was never the flashiest player on the court. He averaged 26.5 points in his senior year of high school after only averaging 9.9 points in the previous season.

“He was a great teammate to play with for sure,” Micah Johnston, a former teammate and sophomore on the Folsom Basketball team when Wells was a senior, said.

The 6’8″ team captain led the Folsom team to 1st in the league and a 11-2 record overall.

Throughout his basketball career, Jaylen Wells  put himself in environments that he can thrive. Starting his college career at Sonoma State then transferring to Washington State for his third year.  While Wells only averaged 12.6 points in college, he still led the Washington Cougars to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2008. 

 “He didn’t have a heralded high school career … He was more impactful in college … He kept on grinding and grinding and grinding up,” Jason Sitterud, the GBHS basketball coach who played against the Folsom bulldogs when Wells was on the team, said

What really made Wells stand out to NBA teams was his proficient shooting ability, size, and defensive potential. While only being drafted as the 39th overall pick in the second round, Wells has exceeded expectations and climbed his way to 3rd best odds to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award. His sharp shooting and defensive abilities have gotten him his spot and defended it from those attempting to pass him. Wells was included in the Rising Stars tournament for All star weekend this February. His team defeated the other rising star teams to be included in the All star tournament where they met defeat. 

“We always thought he would be a pro but I don’t think anyone thought he would be on the trajectory he is right now,” Johnston said.