PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 8) - Former All-American men's basketball standout Haywood Highsmith (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced the organization Tuesday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

(UPDATE 1/9) Highsmith made his NBA debut Tuesday night versus the Washington Wizards and scored his first-career NBA points on a three pointer late in the game. He also added an assist in five minutes of playing time in the 76ers 132-115 win. Earlier in the day he contributed seven points and eight rebounds in the Deleware Blue Coats 119-108 win over Raptors 905 (RECAP).
  In 21 games this season with the Deleware Blue Coats, the Sixers' G League affiliate, Highsmith is averaging 13.8 points and 6.9 rebounds, while shooting 45 percent from the floor and 39.4 percent from three-point range. Highsmith signed back in October with the Blue Coats and made the roster out of training camp after being one of 17 players invited to take part in the 76ers Summer League Minicamp this past July.

Last season, NBA rosters expanded from 15 to 17 players. The final two spots are for two-way players who can go between the NBA and the G League.

NBA teams are allowed to bring two-way players up for a maximum of 45 days. After that, teams have to sign players to the regular 15-man roster or send them to the G-League.

Highsmith was the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (CCA) National Player of the Year and earned National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) First Team All-America status for the Cardinals last season. The Mountain East Conference (MEC) Player of the Year and MEC Tournament MVP posted an NCAA-leading 29 double-doubles last year and averaged 22.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. Highsmith became only the second WJU player to finish his career with over 1,500 points (1.952 points) and 1,000 rebounds (a Wheeling Jesuit record 1,251 rebounds).

Highsmith is the second member of the 76ers franchise with ties to Wheeling Jesuit. Current Assistant Coach Jim O'Brien started his coaching career in 1974 as an assistant coach for the Cardinals and was also the head coach of the men's basketball team from 1982-87.

The Sixers have a home-and-home the next two days with the Washington Wizards starting tonight, Tuesday January 8 at 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The 76ers will travel to the Capital One Center in Washington, D.C. tomorrow for another 7 p.m. tip