It’s a true story. Nae’Qwan Tomlin didn’t play high school basketball.
Yeah, that lanky, high-flying, high-energy, incredible athlete who stole the ball from Luka Doncic on Wednesday night and threw down a ridiculously fierce dunk in transition for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers — not a second of high school hoops.
It’s one of those stories that’s almost impossible to believe.
🤯 NAE’QWAN. TOMLIN. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/4uAmnT6Kgg
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 29, 2026
Tomlin grew up in Harlem, in New York City.
His growth spurt to 6-foot-7 came in the middle of high school, and by the time he tried to play for his high school as a senior, his grades weren’t good enough to make him eligible.
He learned the game instead on the playgrounds around the city, including the famed Rucker Park.
According to NBA writer Marc Spears, Tomlin was spotted at Rucker by Torrell Harris, who is the father of NBA star Tobias Harris.
Torrell Harris sent Tomlin to a prep school in San Antonio, and from there, it was on to the first of his four college stops, a junior college in Rochester, N.Y., Monroe Community College.
He averaged 13.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game for the Tribunes, then went up a notch to Chipola College, where the team went 53-11 in his time there.
Tomlin then took Kansas State to the Elite Eight, and he wrapped up his college career at Memphis before going undrafted and grinding his way up through the Cavs’ ranks.
“It’s a dream come true,” Tomlin said during the NCAA Tournament while at K-State, via The Athletic, “because growing up where I come from in Harlem … like, not every kid gets an opportunity like this.”
Now 6-foot-10 with freakishly long arms, Tomlin simply hasn’t stopped getting better. He’s playing too well for Cleveland to consider taking him off the floor for too long.
So yeah, the next time you hear a broadcaster mention that Tomlin didn’t play high school basketball, it’s true.
He’s made the most of taking the journey his own way.
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