Leaving high school early paying off for Jazian Gortman

LOS ANGELES — Jazian Gortman definitely took a fortuitous route to the NBA.

Not only did Gortman forego going to college before he found himself in an NBA uniform. He also left for the pros prior to his senior year – in high school.

After averaging 23.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 steals while being considered a five-star prospect at W. J. Keenan High School in Columbia, South Carolina, Gortman decided – at the tender age of 17 — it was best that he leave high school following his junior season and turn pro.

Some four years later, Gortman is battling for a spot on the Dallas Mavericks’ final roster. And the 6-2, 184-pound point guard — who center Daniel Gafford has affectionally nicknamed “Smooth Jazz” — figures to have a puncher’s chance at making the final roster.

“I just thank God for being in this position, no matter what happens,” Gortman told Mavs.com following Sunday’s practice at the Los Angeles Clippers’ brand new Intuit Dome. “It’s been the most high.

“I know that His plan is my plan, so whatever He wants me to do, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Gortman, 21, is the Mavs’ second-leading scorer in preseason with 12.5 points per game. That includes scoring 19 points and picking up a game-high four steals in just 25 minutes during last Monday’s preseason opener against the Memphis Grizzlies.

In that game Gortman was 7-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point land. And in the two preseason games he has converted 10-of-19 shots (52.6 percent) and made half (4-of-8) of his three-pointers for 50 percent.

A basketball connoisseur, Gortman jumped at the opportunity to turn pro at age 17 when the tea leaves appeared to be in his favor. Playing pro basketball was a life-long dream of his, so he figured the sooner he could start that journey, the better.

“I was getting some information from Overtime Elite that they were going to teach me professional skills early on and help my development early on,” Gortman said. “So, that was a big thing for me, because you’re younger and your dreams are to play at the highest level.

“I feel like whatever I could do at that age, I still feel like that’s to play at the highest level, then that’s what I’m going to do. That was what made me make my decision to go to Overtime Elite.”

Gortman’s trek to the pros started when he played for YNG Dreamerz of the Overtime Elite. In his first season in 2022-23, he showed that he certainly belonged by averaging 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals.

“My first year in Overtime Elite would have been my last year in high school – so my 12^th grade season,” Gortman said. “I took two years in Overtime Elite, so my second year would have been my first year in college.

“Being in Overtime Elite, they made it as if we were in a pro environment. Everything we were doing was to learn how to be a professional. Professional training, professional skills on and off the court.”

Gafford describes Gortman as an old soul who is a natural on the basketball court. In fact, Gortman was the last player to leave the court after Sunday’s practice as he went over some nuances of his game with some Mavs development coaches.

“He knows how to facilitate the floor, he knows his position, he knows how to be a captain, and he knows how to break that edge that we need,” Gafford said. “You want guys to pick up full court, and he’s one of the main guys that always picks up full court, and he don’t say anything about it.

“He’s always ready to go.”

Gortman will be ready to go – again – when the Mavs (0-2) face the Clippers (2-1) on Monday at 9:30 p.m. at the Intuit Dome in a game that will be televised on NBA TV and on Mavs.com. The game also will be broadcast on 97.1 FM The Eagle, and in Spanish on Zona MX 99.1 FM.

Meanwhile, before joining the Mavs this past summer, Gortman played for the Wisconsin Herd and Rip City Remix of the NBA G League. He also was a standout on the Mavs’ Summer League squad this past summer before earning a spot on the team’s training camp roster.

“Coming in this year is another opportunity to learn as much as I can, especially being on a team that I’m with right now,” Gortman said. “Being a student of the game, I feel like God has put me in some of the positions that I’ve been in.

“One, it’s to be willing to learn all the time and accept criticism. On top of that, just going out and playing my heart out. I feel like that’s been working well for me throughout my whole career. Why stop?”

Gafford knows it’s a long shot for players in Gortman’s position to make the Mavs’ final roster. But he’s not counting him out.

“You’ve got to put your work in, and I’m pretty sure he knows that,” Gafford said. “Come in every day and put your head down and work hard. I’ve been in a situation trying to make a team.

“I signed a contract, but I always felt like a target was on my back and now you’re trying to fight for a spot on the roster. Every day it’s a battle, every day it’s a war, and you’ve got to come in with the mindset of giving your best and trying to find ways to be a leader no matter if the ball is in your hands and without the ball in your hands.”

And that’s not all

“Be vocal, be non-vocal,” Gafford said. “Lead by example, lead with your demeanor, your body language. He does that to a tee.

“He’s just real energetic. He brings a lot of energy.”

Gafford has grown so fond of Gortman that he now refers to him as “Smooth Jazz.”

According to Gafford: “His first name reminded me of the nickname I was given when I was in college. I said, ‘You know what? I’ll give it to you.’

“They called me “Smooth Jazz” because I played in the band. He’s smooth with a lot of stuff that he does. So, “Smooth Jazz” is the nickname that I just gave him.”

Gortman is passionate about his new nickname.

“(Gafford) gave me that nickname the other day,” he said.  “He said, ‘Man, they used to call me “Smooth Jazz,” so I’m going to pass that nickname down to you.’ I said, ‘Man, I appreciate it.’ “

Gortman also appreciates the chance to learn from the Mavs and soak in whatever information comes his way.

“It’s a great time to learn,” he said. “That’s how I feel about it. Every day you come in and you can learn from their habits, off the court habits, their on the court habits, they’re getting shots up before practice, after practice, they’re getting lifts in before practice, after practice.

“It’s a great learning piece and it’s a good way to just be under their wing and take in all of the information that they’ve learned in their career and kind of translate it to your game and help you out with your career.”

So, what’s the best advice Gortman has received from his teammates?

“Everybody has been in my ear and I love it, and I’ve been asking everybody questions,” he said. “Whether it’s (Dwight Powell) on how he shows up every day and what time he gets in. Whether it’s Klay (Thompson) on how he keeps the same jump shot every time. Or whether it’s Kyrie on how creative he is and what he sees on the offensive end.

“Even Luka (Dončić), what he sees in being a point guard and when he’s making these reads on the offensive side of the floor. I’m always asking questions, and I feel like the guys have been really helpful. All of them, because I be asking all of them questions. And even if I haven’t asked questions, sometimes they’ll just come up to me and give me different learning tips. I feel like that’s been really helpful for me.”

So helpful that Gortman has no regrets of skipping out on his senior year in high school to turn pro.

“I love it,” he said of his tenure with Overtime Elite. “I love everybody over there. They’re all good people. I wish them the best.”

X: @DwainPrice