Wheeling, W. Va. - During his time at Wheeling University, Men's Basketball player Haywood Highsmith was a force to be reckoned with on the court. He is third all-time on the Men's Basketball scoring list with 1,952 career points, and helped bring a Mountain East Conference Championship back to Wheeling during the 2017-2018 season while playing in three NCAA Division II Men's Basketball tournaments in his career. 

Now Highsmith is bringing his talents to the NBA, signing a contract with the Miami Heat according to an announcement by the team on Thursday. This will be Highsmith's second run in the NBA, after signing a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers after playing four years in a Cardinals uniform. He appeared in five games for the 76ers during the 2018-2019 season, and totaled nine points, two assists, and five rebounds during that time. However, he spent most of his professional career playing for the G-League's Delaware Blue Coats, where he has played in each of the last three seasons. 

In over 100 games played for the Blue Coats, Highsmith has continued his high-scoring ways, averaging 11.7 points per game in 101 career games played. This season, he had appeared in 12 games for the Blue Coats, and averaged a career-high 14 points per game while shooting an impressive .472 from the floor and .392 from beyond the arc. He was the fourth leading scorer for the Blue Coats this season, and will get another chance in the NBA thanks to the COVID-related Hardship Allowance. 

During his time in a Cardinals uniform, Highsmith totaled 1,952 points in his career, and averaged 15.4 points per game. As a freshman, Highsmith spent a lot of time as the sixth man off the bench for the Cardinals, but eventually found a full-time spot in the starting lineup during his final three seasons. He holds the school record for career rebounds (1,251) and field goals made (740) and is one of just two Cardinals players to reach the 1,000-rebound mark in their collegiate careers. He helped lead the Cardinals to the MEC tournament in each of his four seasons, and led them to an MEC Championship during his senior season. 

Highsmith will join a Miami Heat team that has won nine of their last 10 games, and is set to return to the court tomorrow against the Houston Rockets on the road. Highsmith will be in uniform for that game and will wear #24.