Who Is Nae'Qwan Tomlin

There aren't many NBA players who can say they never played high school basketball. Still, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Nae'Qwan Tomlin is living proof that the traditional path isn't the only one. The 25-year-old Brooklyn native is quietly becoming one of the league's best feel-good stories, averaging 6.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 38 games this season while providing the kind of relentless energy that makes coaches fall in love.

Tomlin's journey is almost hard to believe. Growing up in Harlem, he didn't take school seriously enough to qualify for his high school team as a senior, the only year he even tried out. His growth spurt to 6-foot-7 came too late, and by then, poor grades had already shut the door on organized basketball. Instead, Tomlin played pickup at legendary Rucker Park, where he caught the eye of Torrell Harris, Tobias Harris's father, who saw something special in the raw, athletic kid.

Harris sent Tomlin to San Antonio to train under George Gervin at a prep school, where he finally learned the fundamentals. From there, Tomlin embarked on a whirlwind college journey, playing junior college ball at Monroe Community College, then moving to Florida to play two seasons at Chipola College, before moving on to Kansas State, where, in his first season, he helped the Wildcats reach the Elite Eight before being dismissed at the start of the following season for behavioral conduct. Tomlin’s final collegiate stop would be with the Memphis Tigers, where he averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds before going completely undrafted in 2024.

Joining the Cavaliers Summer League team in 2024, Tomlin would spend most of his time playing for the Charge, Cleveland’s G-League team. Now, he's carving out a genuine role with the Cavaliers, playing 16 minutes off the bench in 38 games, averaging 6 points and 3 rebounds, shooting 47.7% from the field, and providing the kind of hustle plays that don't always show up in box scores. The one issue facing the Cavs and Tomlin is his two-way contract with a 50-game limit, which means the front office has to decide quickly whether to keep him or send him back to the Charge. 

The smart money says the Cavaliers convert him to a standard deal soon, especially considering their health record this season. For a guy who went from not making his high school team to dunking on Luka Doncic in the NBA, it’s definitely a rags-to-riches story.