Jarnell Stokes
Jarnell Stokes | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 7, 1994 |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player |
Jarnell D'Marcus Stokes (born January 7, 1994) is a former American professional basketball athlete who competed for the Tennessee Volunteers. Recognized as a leading high school recruit in the 2011 class, he was chosen 35th overall in the 2014 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz and was immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
High school career
Stokes earned the No. 11 spot nationally from Rivals.com and was ranked No. 18 by ESPN.com. During his junior year at Central High School, he averaged 17.2 points along with 9.2 rebounds per contest.
He opted to join Tennessee, turning down offers from Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Memphis, and Ole Miss.
College career
Competing for three seasons at the University of Tennessee, Stokes posted averages of 13.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.08 blocks per game on a .530 shooting percentage across 87 appearances. Upon leaving the Volunteers, he stood fourth in program history for double-doubles (40), eighth in total rebounds (836), and 14th in blocks (94). Additionally, he led the SEC in offensive rebounds during both 2013 and 2014.
Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2015)
Though selected 35th overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2014 NBA draft, Stokes was traded on draft night to the Memphis Grizzlies. He participated with Memphis in the 2014 NBA Summer League and inked a multi-year deal on August 18, 2014. On December 3, 2014, he recorded a season-high of 12 points against the Houston Rockets. Throughout his rookie campaign, Stokes experienced several stints with the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League.
Miami Heat (2015–2016)
Stokes was sent to the Miami Heat on November 10, 2015, alongside Beno Udrih in exchange for Mario Chalmers and James Ennis, reuniting him with former Tennessee teammate Josh Richardson. He made his Miami debut on January 20, 2016, contributing four points in five minutes of play. During that season, Stokes also had multiple assignments with Miami's D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. On January 29, 2016, he earned selection to the East All-Star team for the 2016 NBA Development League All-Star Game.
On February 18, 2016, Stokes was traded along with cash considerations to the New Orleans Pelicans for a conditional second-round pick in 2018 but was released by New Orleans the very next day.
Sioux Falls Skyforce (2016)
Stokes joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce on February 27, 2016. He played a pivotal role in guiding the Skyforce to an NBA D-League record of 40 wins during the 2015–16 season, securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. In 28 regular-season games, he led Sioux Falls by averaging 20.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, earning him the distinction of league MVP. Stokes was instrumental in their historic playoff run that concluded with a 2–1 Finals triumph over the Los Angeles D-Fenders. His efforts were recognized as he received both the Finals MVP award and was named to the All-NBA D-League First Team.
Denver Nuggets (2016)
In July 2016, Stokes participated with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2016 NBA Summer League. He subsequently signed with the Denver Nuggets on September 15, 2016, appearing in two contests before being released on November 15, 2016.
Second tenure with Sioux Falls Skyforce (2017)
Stokes was brought back to the Sioux Falls Skyforce on March 23, 2017.
Zhejiang Golden Bulls (2017–2018)
In July 2017, Stokes inked a deal with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls competing in the Chinese Basketball Association. On February 2, 2018, the team waived him following allegations of unprofessional behavior.
Third tenure with Sioux Falls Skyforce (2018)
Stokes signed a training camp contract with the Miami Heat on August 27, 2018, but was waived on October 13. He rejoined the Sioux Falls Skyforce on December 8, 2018.
Memphis Hustle (2019)
On January 1, 2019, Stokes secured a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies, dividing his time between the NBA squad and their G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.
Xinjiang Flying Tigers (2019–2020)
Stokes signed with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association on February 12, 2019. He made an impressive debut by recording a double-double with 30 points and 19 rebounds in a win over the Shanxi Brave Dragons. In July 2019, he competed in the 2019 NBA Summer League representing the Portland Trail Blazers.
On July 23, 2024, Stokes agreed to terms with the Goyang Sono Skygunners of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). Nevertheless, he breached his contract by not arriving in South Korea as planned. Consequently, his contract was terminated on September 14 and replaced by D. J. Burns. On September 19, Stokes received a two-season ban from participating in the KBL.
Regular season
|- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Memphis | 19 || 2 || 6.6 || .568 || .000 || .536 || 1.8 || .2 || .3 || .3 || 3.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Memphis | 2 || 0 || 2.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Miami | 5 || 0 || 2.8 || .600 || .000 || .500 || .4 || .2 || .2 || .0 || 1.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Denver | 2 || 0 || 3.5 || 1.000 || .000 || .500 || 1.0 || 1.0 || .5 || .0 || 1.5 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 28 || 2 || 5.4 || .581 || .000 || .531 || 1.4 || .3 || .3 || .2 || 2.4
Personal life
Son of Willie and Shunta Stokes, he pursued a major in Communication Studies.
External links
- Jarnell Stokes at utsports.com