Jordan Usher

Jordan Emanuel Usher (born February 21, 1998[lower-alpha 1]) is an American professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets before beginning his professional career in Turkey with Beşiktaş J.K. in the 2022–23 season.

Jordan Usher
Usher with Beşiktaş J.K. in 2022
No. 8 – Perth Wildcats
PositionSmall forward
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1998-02-21) February 21, 1998[lower-alpha 1]
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2022: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2023Beşiktaş J.K.
2023–presentPerth Wildcats

High school career

Usher was born in Atlanta, Georgia.[4] He played his first three seasons of high school basketball at Sequoyah High School in Hickory Flat, Georgia. As a sophomore in 2014–15, he averaged 22.3 points per game and had a career-best 37 points during the season. As a junior in 2015–16, he averaged 18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, leading his team to a 20–9 record.[4] At the 2016 Region 7AAAAA tournament, he helped the Chiefs win their semifinal matchup against Sprayberry High School with 29 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, three blocks and three assists. He led a late Chiefs' rally, which resulted in a 77–70 win. He went on to win the Region 7AAAAA Player of the Year award.[8]

On November 11, 2016, Usher signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the University of Southern California.[9]

As a senior in 2016–17, Usher attended Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, where he helped lead his team to a 21–9 record and to the state GHSA 7-A quarterfinals.[4]

College career

As a freshman at USC in 2017–18, Usher played in all 36 games for the Trojans and averaged 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. His 40.9 percent shooting from three-point range tied for third all-time among USC freshmen. He scored a season-best 14 points three times.[4][10]

In the 2018–19 season, Usher played in 12 games for the Trojans before leaving the program in late December.[11] He averaged 8.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game.[12] He scored a season-high 22 points twice.[11]

On December 31, 2018, Usher announced he was transferring from USC.[13] On January 8, 2019, it was announced he was enrolling at Georgia Tech and that he would become eligible to play for the Yellow Jackets midway through the 2019–20 season.[14][15]

Upon becoming eligible to play on December 18, 2019,[16] Usher started all 23 games to finish the season for the Yellow Jackets and averaged 8.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.[12] He scored a season-high 18 points against Boise State in his second game.[17]

In the 2020–21 season, Usher averaged 11.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game.[12] He scored a season-high 21 points against Clemson on January 20, 2021.[18] The Yellow Jackets won the 2021 ACC tournament and Usher was named to the ACC All-Tournament team.[12]

In the 2021–22 season, Usher scored in double digits in 26 of 32 games and posted seven games of 10 or more rebounds. He averaged career bests of 14.78 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.46 steals per game. He twice scored 30 points in a game, both in overtime wins against Georgia State and Boston College.[12][19]

During his college career, Usher was listed as a guard/forward[4][12] and earned a reputation for being able to defend at all five positions while also playing in the post.[20][21]

Professional career

Usher participated in a pre-draft workout with the Utah Jazz.[20][21] After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, he joined the Jazz for the 2022 NBA Summer League.[5][8]

On July 28, 2022, Usher signed with Beşiktaş J.K. of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) for the 2022–23 season.[22] In 30 BSL games, he averaged 14.33 points, 3.73 rebounds, 1.23 assists and 1.23 steals per game.[1] He also appeared in one FIBA Europe Cup game.[2]

In July 2023, Usher played for the Phoenix Suns in the 2023 NBA Summer League.[7][23]

On August 9, 2023, Usher signed with the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2023–24 season.[24][25][26][27] In his debut for the Wildcats on September 29, 2023, he scored a game-high 35 points in a 101–95 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers, setting the highest score ever by a Wildcats player on debut.[28]

Personal life

Usher is the son of Karen and Henry Usher.[4]

Notes
  1. Sources for his birth date say either February 21, 1998;[1][2][3] May 21, 1998;[4][5] or February 21, 1999.[6][7]

References
  1. "JORDAN EMANUEL USHER". tbf.org.tr (in Turkish). Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  2. "Jordan USHER". fiba.basketball/europecup. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  3. "Jordan Usher". Wildcats.com.au. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023.
  4. "Jordan Usher". usctrojans.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  5. "Jazz Announce 2022 Summer League Roster". NBA.com. July 2, 2022. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  6. "Jordan Usher". bjk.com.tr (in Turkish). Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  7. "SUNS ANNOUNCE 2023 SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER". NBA.com. June 30, 2023. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  8. Callaghan, Griffin (July 7, 2022). "Usher signs with Jazz for summer league". Yahoo.com. Marietta Daily Journal. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  9. "Trojans Announce Their First Two Signings Of The 2017 Recruiting Class". usctrojans.com. November 11, 2016. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  10. "Jordan Usher Game Log 2017–18". espn.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  11. "Jordan Usher Game Log 2018–19". espn.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  12. "Jordan Usher". ramblinwreck.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  13. McCollough, J. Brady (December 31, 2018). "Sophomore forward Jordan Usher announces he's transferring from USC". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  14. "Forward Jordan Usher transfers from USC to Georgia Tech". Associated Press. January 8, 2019. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  15. "JACKETS WELCOME TRANSFER JORDAN USHER". ramblinwreck.com. January 8, 2019. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  16. McGavic, Matthew (December 17, 2019). "Jordan Usher Excited To Finally Begin Georgia Tech Career". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  17. "Jordan Usher Game Log 2019–20". espn.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  18. "Jordan Usher Game Log 2020–21". espn.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  19. "Jordan Usher Game Log 2021–22". espn.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  20. Todd, Sarah (June 2, 2022). "Jordan Usher's desire shines through after Jazz host two pre-draft workout sessions". Deseret News. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  21. Todd, Sarah (June 2, 2022). "Utah Jazz's latest predraft workouts highlighted by crazy energy from Georgia Tech's Jordan Usher". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  22. "Jordan Usher Beşiktaş'ta". bjk.com.tr (in Turkish). July 28, 2022. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023.
  23. Allred, Damon (July 19, 2023). "Total Vegas Takeaways: Jordan Usher among Summer Sun Standouts". brightsideofthesun.com. SB Nation. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023.
  24. "Wildcats Usher in new import for NBL24". Wildcats.com.au. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023.
  25. O'Donoghue, Craig (August 9, 2023). "Perth Wildcats sign American forward Jordan Usher as import for NBL season". The West Australian. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023.
  26. O'Donoghue, Craig (August 9, 2023). "Perth Wildcats General Manager Danny Mills warns NBL rivals about new defensive beasts Jordan Usher". The West Australian. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023.
  27. O'Donoghue, Craig (August 10, 2023). "Perth Wildcats import Jordan Usher arrives in WA and promises to make life hell for NBL's biggest names". The West Australian. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023.
  28. "Wildcats debutant Usher shines in win over JackJumpers". NBL.com.au. September 29, 2023. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023.
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