Jayson Wells on his time with the Canberra Cannons, Cairns Taipans and life after basketball
January 25, 2022
Jayson Wells
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 22/12/76
- Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 100
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Indiana State (1994–1998)
- NBL DEBUT: 21/10/00
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 1/03/03
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 26
- NBL History: Canberra 2001 | Cairns 2002-03
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Jayson Wells attended Cleveland Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1994. He and teammate Earl Boykins led the Ironmen to a 23–2 season in 1994; reaching the Ohio State Quarterfinals; they won consecutive North Coast League titles. He was selected to the All-North Coast League “First Team” and named to the All-State Team (Honorable Mention). After high school, Wells attended Indiana State University.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Jayson Wells made his NBL debut with the Canberra Cannons at 23 years of age. He scored 18 points in his first game.
After a year in Germany, Wells looked to return to Australia, and with the Cairns Taipans struggling with a 3-7 record mid-way through the season, they released blue-collar forward Matt Garrison and signed Wells for the remainder of the season. The addition of Wells saw the Taipans scoring increase as he went on to average 22 points and ten rebounds per game (including a 40 point effort against his former team Canberra), but the team record with Wells only marginally improved to 6-14 with Wells on the team. The Taipans subsequently finished bottom of the ladder in 2001-02.
Jayson Wells played three seasons in the NBL, playing for both the Canberra Cannons and the Cairns Taipans. He averaged 20.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 74 NBL games.
HIGHLIGHTS:
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | 26 | Cairns | 13-17 (8) | 30 | 1,134.0 | 602 | 245 | 108 | 89 | 156 | 29 | 14 | 93 | 71 | 232 | 419 | 55% | 17 | 70 | 24% | 121 | 185 | 65% | 59% | 57% | 38 |
| 2001-02 | 25 | Cairns | 9-21 (11) | 19 | 793.0 | 415 | 166 | 54 | 64 | 102 | 25 | 10 | 76 | 61 | 147 | 296 | 50% | 22 | 63 | 35% | 99 | 145 | 68% | 57% | 53% | 40 |
| 2000-01 | 24 | Canberra | 3-25 (11) | 25 | 1,046.0 | 531 | 272 | 51 | 124 | 148 | 30 | 12 | 105 | 84 | 206 | 454 | 45% | 35 | 128 | 27% | 84 | 130 | 65% | 51% | 49% | 36 | Totals | 74 | 2973 | 1548 | 683 | 213 | 277 | 406 | 84 | 36 | 274 | 216 | 585 | 1169 | 50.0% | 74 | 261 | 28.4% | 304 | 460 | 66.1% | 56% | 53% | 40 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03 | 26 | Cairns | 13-17 (8) | 30 | 37.8 | 20.1 | 8.2 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 7.7 | 14.0 | 55% | 0.6 | 2.3 | 24% | 4.0 | 6.2 | 65% | 59% | 57% | 38 |
| 2001-02 | 25 | Cairns | 9-21 (11) | 19 | 41.7 | 21.8 | 8.7 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 5.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 7.7 | 15.6 | 50% | 1.2 | 3.3 | 35% | 5.2 | 7.6 | 68% | 57% | 53% | 40 |
| 2000-01 | 24 | Canberra | 3-25 (11) | 25 | 41.8 | 21.2 | 10.9 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 8.2 | 18.2 | 45% | 1.4 | 5.1 | 27% | 3.4 | 5.2 | 65% | 51% | 49% | 36 | Total | 74 | 40.2 | 20.9 | 9.2 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 5.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 7.9 | 15.8 | 50.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 28.4% | 1.0 | 3.5 | 66.1% | 56% | 53% | 40 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 40 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
USA (USBL) - Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs (2004)
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Argentina – Atenas (2009) | Dubai - Al Wasl (2008) | Finland - Piiloset (1999–2000), Namika Lahti (2000) | Germany - Braunschweig (2001–2002) | Israel - Maccabi Ra'anana (1999), Ramat HaSharon / Haifa (2003–2004), Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. (2004–2005, 2007–2008), Ironi Nahariya (2005–2006), Rishon LeZion (2009–2010) | Italy - Orlandina Basket (2006–2007) | Korea - Ulsan Mobis Phoebus (2004) | Netherlands - EiffelTowers Den Bosch (2007) | Sweden - Stockholm (1998–1999) | Ukraine – Poltava (2008–2009)
COLLEGE
Jayson Wells played his entire NCAA career at Indiana State from 1994–95 through 1997–98, appearing in 97 games and working under head coaches Sherman Dillard and Royce Waltman during his time in Terre Haute.
As a freshman in 1994–95, Wells appeared in 16 games for a 7–19 Indiana State team (3–15 in Missouri Valley play), averaging 4.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per game while shooting 26-for-49 from the field (.531), 10-for-24 from three (.417), and 10-for-11 at the line (.909), with 23 total rebounds (6 offensive, 17 defensive), 2 assists, 10 turnovers, 1 block, and 3 steals.
In 1995–96, Wells’ role expanded as he played all 26 games and made 14 starts for a 10–16 Sycamores team (6–12 in conference), logging 24.8 minutes per game and totaling 278 points (10.7 per game) on 88-for-222 shooting (.396), including 42-for-121 from three (.347), plus 60-for-85 free throws (.706), alongside 101 rebounds (30 offensive, 71 defensive), 24 assists, 52 turnovers, 4 blocks, and 18 steals.
Wells continued upward in 1996–97 under head coach Sherman Dillard, starting 27 of 28 games for Indiana State as the Sycamores went 12–16 (6–12 in the MVC by year-by-year records) and reached the MVC Tournament, where they beat Southern Illinois (86–71) before falling to Illinois State (58–72). He averaged 10.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 26.1 minutes per game, finishing with 305 points on 118-for-243 shooting (.486), 28-for-95 on threes (.295), and 41-for-56 at the line (.732), with 156 rebounds (67 offensive, 89 defensive), 33 assists, 58 turnovers, 19 blocks, and 23 steals, and he was named third team All-Missouri Valley Conference following his junior season.
As a senior in 1997–98 under head coach Royce Waltman, Wells started all 27 games and helped Indiana State to a 16–11 record (10–8, fifth in the MVC), with the Sycamores’ season ending in the MVC Tournament loss to Wichita State (55–65). He led the team in scoring and rebounding that season, averaging 16.7 points and 8.4 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game while shooting 143-for-270 from the field (.530), 11-for-36 from three (.306), and 154-for-204 on free throws (.755), totaling 451 points with 228 rebounds (65 offensive, 163 defensive), 76 turnovers, 35 assists, 17 steals, and 70 blocks, and he earned first team All-Missouri Valley recognition after the season.
Across his four years at Indiana State, Wells finished with 1,106 career points and 508 rebounds, ending his career ranked as the program’s #19 career scorer and #13 rebounder, and he also finished with 94 career blocks while his 70 blocks in 1997–98 ranked as the second-highest single-season total in Indiana State men’s program history.
AWARDS
- 1x All-NBL Third Team
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
In 2011, Jayson retired from professional ball and shifted his focus from playing to teaching the game. He teamed up with Nike to facilitate various skills academies throughout the country. Jayson has worked with Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving at their Elite Basketball camps.
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