(KRON) — When he took the ground for the primary time this season, Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells grew to become the primary Sonoma State Seawolf to play within the NBA. In a merciless twist of irony, the college introduced within the midst of Wells’ breakout debut season that it was reducing athletics.
Wells performed two seasons at Sonoma State from 2021-23, turning into the California Collegiate Athletic Affiliation Participant of the 12 months as a sophomore after which transferring to Division I Washington State. He solely continued to ascend after leaving SSU, serving to Washington State attain the NCAA Event in his lone yr there and rising as a candidate to win the 2025 NBA Rookie of the 12 months award after a powerful begin to the season with the Grizzlies.
Nevertheless, Wells will probably be the final ever participant to don each a Sonoma State and NBA uniform. The college shockingly introduced final week that amid declining enrollment and a $23.9 million price range deficit it should discontinue all of its athletic groups and a number of other diploma packages.
SSU athletic program plans to sue CSU Board of Trustees because of price range cuts
Wells has been talking out because the announcement, tweeting “#SaveSeawolvesAthletics” a number of instances over the weekend.
“I don’t know exactly what I can do to help at the moment, but I was just trying to bring awareness to it,” he informed the Industrial Enchantment. “Hopefully news outlets pick it up, and things like that. I wouldn’t have this platform today without them. So I just want to do anything I can to help.”
Wells informed the newspaper that his girlfriend is a Sonoma State alum who a performed a sport as properly, and he realized of the information from her.
“It sucks,” he stated. “I definitely wanted to go back there and just give back to help the gym, facilities, later in my career. So hopefully we can figure something out.”
The story has caught the eye of Wells’ extra well-known teammates. All-Star Grizzlies guard Ja Morant responded “talk to me” to a Wells tweet about saving sports activities on the college.
Wells will probably return to the Bay Space for NBA All-Star Weekend, as he is a shoo-in for the Rising Stars Recreation that includes the most effective first and second-year gamers within the NBA.
