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Haywood Highsmith invites his high school alma mater's basketball players to a Miami Heat game

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•about 11 hours•

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Haywood Highsmith
Apr 11, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) dunks the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center. (Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

Haywood Highsmith finally found a home in the NBA after signing a three-year standard contract with the Miami Heat. For now, this deal ends the basketball odyssey that has taken him to the G League, Germany, and Italy.

To show appreciation to his roots, Highsmith invited current Archbishop Curley high school basketball players to their game against the Washington Wizards. The Friars’ freshman, junior varsity, and varsity teams watched Highsmith and the Heat defeating the Wizards 120-94.

As Haywood Highsmith said in a video uploaded to the Heat’s official account on X/Twitter:

“So, I brough my high school basketball program to the game. The freshman team, JV, and the varsity team, and some of the coaches as well. I just want to bring them out, show them a good time. Let them have some fun. I used to go to Wizards games as a kid growing up. So now, I’m playing on the court, it’s a pretty surreal moment for me. I just want to continue to inspire the younger generation. Just show them what it’s all about, not just basketball, but also being a family and being connected.”

This gesture by Haywood Highsmith could inspire the Archbishop Curley varsity boys basketball team to find their groove. The Friars haven’t had a winning record since the Covid-shortened 2020-21 season. Curley had a 29-48 record over the last four season, including a 7-14 slate in 2024-25.

Meanwhile, Highsmith’s journey could inspire the next generation to Curley players to work hard for their basketball dreams. After playing for NCAA Division II’s Wheeling Cardinals, he went undrafted in the 2018 and signed with the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats.

While he did have a brief stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, he went back to the Blue Coats. Highsmith also played for Basketball Bundesliga’s Crailsheim Merlins and the Lega Basket Serie A’s Vanoli Cremona.

Haywood Highsmith had four stints with the Blue Coats before signing with the Heat in 2022. The 6-foot-5 forward from Baltimore received a three-year extension from Miami after the expiration of his second 10-day contract.