Xavier Tillman

Xavier Tillman Sr. (born January 12, 1999) is an American basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans.

Xavier Tillman
Tillman with Michigan State in 2019
No. 2 – Memphis Grizzlies
PositionPower forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1999-01-12) January 12, 1999
Grand Rapids, Michigan
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeMichigan State (2017–2020)
NBA draft2020 / Round: 2 / Pick: 35th overall
Selected by the Sacramento Kings
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–presentMemphis Grizzlies
Career highlights and awards
  • Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
  • Second-team All-Big Ten (2020)
  • Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year (2019)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Early life

In his childhood, Tillman played baseball and soccer, football, and basketball but preferred the latter two sports. He stood 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) when he was 14 years old. Tillman played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Grand Rapids Storm.[1]

High school career

In his freshman season for Forest Hills Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he averaged 13.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game, earning Associated Press Class A All-State special mention honors.[2][3] As a sophomore, Tillman averaged 15.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game and led his team to the regional semifinals with a 23–1 record. He was named Associated Press Class A All-State special mention and to the Detroit Free Press Class A All-State first team.[3]

In the summer of 2015, Tillman announced that he was planning to transfer to Grand Rapids Christian High School in Grand Rapids, citing the lack of cultural diversity at Forest Hills Central and his own desire to "refocus" academically.[4] His decision sparked a legal dispute between his parents, because his father supported his transfer, while his mother wanted him to remain at Forest Hills Central. In August, he was cleared to transfer but could not play in his first semester due to Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) transfer rules, with an appeal for his immediate eligibility being denied.[5] In his junior campaign with Grand Rapids Christian, Tillman averaged 16 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, shooting 62 percent from the field, to help his team win conference and district titles.[3] He earned Detroit News Class A Second-Team All-State distinction.[6] As a senior, Tillman averaged 13.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4.2 blocks per game, guiding his school to a Class A state championship game appearance.[7] He was named a finalist for the Mr. Basketball of Michigan award and collected Associated Press Class A First-Team All-State accolades.[8][9][10]

Tillman was a consensus four-star recruit and was considered by recruiting website 247Sports as the best prospect in Michigan.[11][12][13] On September 30, 2016, he verbally committed to play for Michigan State over Marquette and Purdue, saying, "They play the best competition, as well as they're such great guys. And it's close to home."[14]

College career
Tillman in February 2020

Tillman made his debut for Michigan State on November 10, 2017, recording four points and three rebounds in a 98–66 win over North Florida.[15] On November 19, he posted a career-high nine points, five rebounds, and three blocks in a 93–71 victory over Stony Brook.[16] Tillman grabbed a career-best 12 rebounds on March 18, 2018, in a 55–53 loss to Syracuse in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament.[17] Through 35 games, he averaged 2.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per game.[18] Tillman received his team's Most Improved Player award and shared its Unsung Player award.[3] Through his first season, he lost significant weight in an effort to improve his conditioning. Tillman reduced his weight from 276 pounds (125 kg) at the start of his freshman year to under 250 pounds (113 kg) by his sophomore season.[19]

In his third game as a sophomore, he collected his first double-double, with career-highs of 11 points and 13 rebounds in an 80–59 win over Louisiana–Monroe.[20] On January 21, 2019, Tillman posted 10 points and a career-best five blocks, the most single-game blocks by a Michigan State player since Jaren Jackson Jr. in February 2018.[21] He posted a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds on February 20, in a 71–60 victory over Rutgers.[22] At the end of the regular season, Tillman was named Big Ten Conference Sixth Player of the Year.[23] On March 31, in the Elite Eight round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, he matched his career-high in scoring with 19 points and nine rebounds to help his team defeat first-seeded Duke, 68–67. Tillman guarded Zion Williamson, first overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, for much of the game.[24]

Tillman scored a career-high 21 points to go with 10 rebounds in a 94–46 win against Charleston Southern on November 18, 2019.[25] He had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high six blocks in a 87–69 win over Michigan on January 5, 2020.[26] On February 11, Tillman had 17 points and 11 rebounds and made a game-winning putback dunk with 6.6 seconds left in a 70–69 victory at Illinois.[27] On March 3, Tillman scored 23 points and had 15 rebounds in a 79–71 win against Penn State.[28] At the close of the regular season, Tillman was named to the Second Team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media and was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.[29] He averaged 13.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game as a junior.[30] Following the season Tillman declared for the 2020 NBA draft, and ultimately opted to remain in the draft.[31]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Michigan State 3508.7.650–.6562.6.3.3.72.8
2018–19 Michigan State 391424.0.605.296.7327.31.6.91.710.0
2019–20 Michigan State 313132.1.550.260.66710.33.01.22.113.7
Career 1054521.3.582.273.6956.61.6.81.58.7

Professional career

Tillman was drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the 35th overall pick on November 18, 2020, and was then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Personal life

Tillman is the son of Roosevelt Tillman and Tanya Powell-May. His mother played four years of college basketball for Michigan, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 1990 and leaving as the program's all-time rebounding leader.[3] His parents divorced in 2010 and shared physical and legal custody over him.[32]

He has three older brothers, R. J., Ben, and Parker, and a younger sister, Madisyn.[33] Parker was a two-time state champion in both wrestling and rugby while attending Forest Hills Central High School and played football for Northwood University.[34] Tillman and his wife Tamia Tillman have a daughter Ayanna Tillman, who was born in December 2016, and a son, Xavier Jr, who was born on February 17, 2020.[35][36] The family lived together in a family housing unit at Michigan State University.[37] Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo credited Tillman's improvement as a basketball player to Ayanna.[38]

References
  1. Holzwarth, Dean (July 22, 2013). "Xavier Tillman, son of former University of Michigan standout, stands tall at Brawl for the Ball". MLive. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  2. "Associated Press Class A boys basketball All-State team". MLive. March 22, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  3. "Xavier Tillman". Michigan State Spartan Athletics. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  4. Kaminski, Steve (June 15, 2015). "Basketball standout Xavier Tillman to transfer to Grand Rapids Christian". MLive. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  5. Wallner, Peter J. (August 18, 2015). "Top basketball prospect Xavier Tillman cleared to transfer to Grand Rapids Christian". MLive. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  6. Goricki, David (April 7, 2016). "Detroit News boys basketball Dream Team, All-State teams". The Detroit News. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  7. Nelsen, Chris (March 24, 2017). "Class A boys: Tillman shakes nerves, lifts GR Christian to title game". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  8. Olsen, Cory. "Meet Mr. Basketball candidate Xavier Tillman of Grand Rapids Christian". MLive. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  9. Folsom, Brandon (March 8, 2017). "Versatility sets apart Michigan State basketball signee Xavier Tillman". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  10. "AP Class A boys basketball all-state teams". WPBN-TV. Associated Press. March 27, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  11. "Xavier Tillman, 2017 Power forward". Rivals. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  12. "Xavier Tillman - Basketball Recruiting - Player Profiles". ESPN. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  13. "Xavier Tillman, Grand Rapids Christian, Power Forward". 247Sports. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  14. Solari, Chris (September 30, 2016). "Michigan State basketball lands Michigan's top recruit, Xavier Tillman". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  15. "UNF vs MSU (11/10/17 at East Lansing // Breslin Center)". Michigan State Spartan Athletics. November 10, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  16. "Langford's Career Night Leads Michigan State Past Stony Brook, 93-71". Michigan State Spartan Athletics. November 19, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  17. "No. 3 Michigan State Falls to No. 11 Syracuse in NCAA Second Round, 55-53". Michigan State Spartan Athletics. March 18, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  18. "Xavier Tillman Stats". ESPN. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  19. Terada, Souichi (October 29, 2018). "Michigan State's Nick Ward, Xavier Tillman winning battle of bulge". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  20. "Winston's Big Second Half Helps Lead Michigan State Past ULM, 80-59". Michigan State Spartan Athletics. November 14, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  21. "Five in Double Figures Guides No. 6 Spartans Past No. 13 Maryland". Michigan State Spartan Athletics. January 21, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  22. "No. 10 Michigan State Uses Second Half Run to Beat Rutgers, 71-60". Michigan State Spartan Athletics. February 20, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  23. "Big Ten Unveils Men's Basketball Postseason Honors on BTN". Big Ten Conference. March 11, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  24. Solari, Chris (April 1, 2019). "Michigan State's Xavier Tillman shines vs. Duke's Zion Williamson". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  25. "No. 3 Michigan State beats Charleston Southern 94-46". ESPN. Associated Press. November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  26. Solari, Chris (January 5, 2020). "Michigan State basketball witnessed quintessential Cassius Winston; so did Michigan". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  27. Hall, Erik (February 11, 2020). "See Xavier Tillman dunk in final seconds to give MSU win at Illinois basketball". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  28. "Tillman leads No. 16 Spartans to comeback win". ESPN. Associated Press. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  29. "Big Ten Unveils Men's Basketball Postseason Honors on BTN" (Press release). Big Ten Conference. March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  30. Dauster, Rob (March 10, 2020). "NBC Sports College Basketball All-American Teams". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  31. Dauster, Rob (August 2, 2020). "Michigan State forward Xavier Tillman will remain in the 2020 NBA Draft". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  32. Tunison, John (June 18, 2015). "Grand Rapids basketball star Xavier Tillman's school transfer subject of court dispute". MLive. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  33. Kaminski, Steve (December 11, 2014). "Division I offers, interest growing for Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central's Xavier Tillman". MLive. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  34. "Parker Tillman". Northwood University. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  35. Hall, Erik (February 7, 2019). "Xavier Tillman: 5 things to know about the Michigan State basketball forward". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  36. Harrison, Casey (February 21, 2019). "Next up: Xavier Tillman balances family with new starting role". The State News. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  37. Quinn, Brendan (October 30, 2017). "Xavier Tillman and college life as a stay-at-home dad". The Athletic. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  38. Windsor, Shawn (March 14, 2019). "To understand Xavier Tillman's rise at MSU, start with his daughter". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
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