Kevarrius Hayes
Hayes with Cantù in November 2019
No. 8 – Žalgiris Kaunas
PositionCenter
LeagueLKL
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1997-03-05) March 5, 1997
Live Oak, Florida, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Central African
Listed height2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
Listed weight103 kg (227 lb)
Career information
High schoolSuwannee (Live Oak, Florida)
CollegeFlorida (2015–2019)
NBA draft2019: undrafted
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–2020Cantù
2020–2021ASVEL
2021–2022Frutti Extra Bursaspor
2022–presentŽalgiris Kaunas
Career highlights and awards

Kevarrius Hayes (born March 5, 1997) is an American-Central African professional basketball player for Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Florida Gators. Internationally, he represents the Central African Republic.

Early life and high school

Hayes was born and grew up in Live Oak, Florida and attended Suwannee High School. He was student body president. Ranked the 58th-best college prospect by ESPN.com for his class, Hayes committed to play college basketball at the University of Florida as a sophomore in high school.[1] He was named second team Class 5A All-State in both his junior and senior seasons.[2][3]

College career

Hayes with Florida in December 2015

Hayes was a member of the Florida Gators for four seasons. He played mostly as a backup center during his true freshman season, starting six of 35 games played, and averaged 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.[4] He saw more playing time and became a starter for the team towards the end of his sophomore season, averaging 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and led the team with 60 blocked shots.[5]

As a junior, Hayes averaged 4.8 points and five rebounds over 33 games played (25 starts) and again led the team and finished 5th in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with 67 blocks.[6] In his senior season, Hayes set career highs with 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game over 36 games, starting all but one, and led the team a third straight year with 67 blocks (3rd in the SEC).[7] He finished his collegiate career with averages of 5.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in 140 games played (82 starts). His 214 career blocks were the second most in Gators history.[8]

Professional career

Cantu (2019–2020)

On July 8, 2019, Hayes signed with Pallacanestro Cantù of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A.[9] In his first professional season, Hayes averaged 9.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and led Serie A with 2.6 blocks per game and was named honorable mention All-Serie A by Eurobasket.com.[10][11]

ASVEL (2020–2021)

On June 8, 2020, Hayes signed a one-year deal with ASVEL of the French LNB Pro A.[12]

Bursaspor (2021–2022)

On July 2, 2021, Hayes signed with Frutti Extra Bursaspor of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).[13] In 53 games played for Bursaspor, Hayes averaged 9.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

Žalgiris (2022–present)

On July 29, 2022, Hayes signed a one-year contract with Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), with an option for an additional year.[14] On May 29, 2023, Hayes renewed his contract for two (1+1) more seasons.[15]

National team career

Hayes was on the roster for the Central African Republic national basketball team for AfroBasket 2021.[16]

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  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

EuroLeague

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2020–21 ASVEL 10310.8.452.000.6362.6.4.4.93.04.4
2022–23 Žalgiris 372817.6.500—.7244.4.5.7.95.47.8
Career 573115.2.490.000.6923.8.5.6.94.56.6

References

  1. ↑ Hutchins, Andy (June 18, 2013). "Florida basketball recruiting: 2015 F Kevarrius Hayes commits to Gators". AlligatorArmy.com. SB Nation. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Class 5A All-State Boys Basketball team". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. April 8, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  3. ↑ "2014-15 ALL-USA Florida Boys Basketball Team". USATodayHSS.com. April 16, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  4. ↑ Boone, Ray (October 6, 2016). "Breaking down Florida Gators basketball: Frontcourt edition". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  5. ↑ Williams, Brandon (October 10, 2017). "Kevarrius Hayes Preparing For New Season". WRUF.com. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  6. ↑ Clewis, Williams (October 17, 2018). "Kevarrius Hayes Leading Gators Frontcourt". WRUF.com. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Hayes signs with Italian club Cantù". Suwannee Democrat. July 15, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Hayes signs with Italian club Cantù". The Valdosta Daily Times. July 15, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Here is Hayes, a center for Cantù: the first foreigner in Pancotto's quintet". La Gazzetta dello Sport. July 8, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Basketball: Villeurbanne hires American pivot Kevarrius Hayes". La Croix (in French). Deutsche Presse-Agentur. June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  11. ↑ "ASVEL Lyon Villeurbanne Basket signs Kevarrius Hayes, ex Cantu". Eurobasket.com. June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  12. ↑ Carchia, Emiliano (June 8, 2020). "Asvel signs Kevarrius Hayes". Sportando. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  13. ↑ Maggi, Alessandro (July 2, 2021). "Frutti Extra Bursaspor announces Kevarrius Hayes". Sportando. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Zalgiris adds athletic big man Kevarrius Hayes". zalgiris.lt. July 29, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Kevarrius Hayes set to stay in Kaunas". zalgiris.lt. May 29, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Central African Rep. at the FIBA AfroBasket 2021". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
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