Jae’Lyn Withers is an American college basketball forward currently playing for the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Born on December 20, 2000, in Charlotte, North Carolina, he stands 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds.
Early Life and Education
Withers began his high school basketball career at North Mecklenburg High School in Huntersville, North Carolina, where he averaged 20 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a junior, earning honors such as the Charlotte Observer 4A Metro Player of the Year. For his senior year, he transferred to Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio, averaging 19.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He also played for Team Loaded NC on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit.
College Career
Withers committed to the University of Louisville, where he played for the Cardinals from 2020 to 2023. During his freshman year, he earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors by averaging 10.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. In his junior year, he started 29 of 32 games, averaging 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and led the team with a 41.7% three-point shooting percentage.
After three seasons at Louisville, Withers transferred to the University of North Carolina in April 2023. In the 2023-2024 season, he played in 37 games, starting three, and averaged 6.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. In the current 2024-2025 season, he has played in nine games, starting seven, with averages of 4.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.
Recent Incident
In a recent ACC Tournament semifinal game against Duke, Withers committed a lane violation during a crucial free throw attempt in the final seconds, nullifying a potential game-tying point. This mistake led to a loss and has placed the Tar Heels’ NCAA Tournament prospects in jeopardy. Head coach Hubert Davis expressed support for Withers, acknowledging his contributions throughout the season while recognizing the impact of the error.
Social Media Presence
Withers maintains an active presence on social media, particularly Instagram, where his account “@jaelynwithers” has garnered over 28,000 followers.