Jake LaRavia
A versatile forward whose sharp basketball IQ and polished game earned him a swift rise from college standout to the NBA.
Born 2001 (age 25)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 3·Generation Z
Biography
Jake LaRavia's path to professional basketball was not a straight shot to superstardom, but a story of continuous adaptation and proving his worth. After a solid freshman year at Indiana State, he transferred to Wake Forest and immediately transformed into a cornerstone player. His game was a coach's dream: a 6'7" forward who could space the floor with a reliable three-point shot, make smart passes, and defend multiple positions. This well-rounded skill set made him the engine of a resurgent Wake Forest team. His efficient, high-impact play caught the eye of NBA scouts, leading to his selection in the first round of the 2022 draft. Now with the Los Angeles Lakers, LaRavia represents the modern NBA role player—a connective piece valued for his fundamentals and adaptability on a team laden with stars.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Jake was born in 2001, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jake Was Born
The biggest hits of 2001
#1 Movie
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Best Picture
A Beautiful Mind
#1 TV Show
Survivor
Jake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2001Born
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2006Started school
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Became a teenager
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Could drive
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2019Could vote
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2022Turned 21
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 25 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected in the first round (19th overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Earned Third-team All-ACC honors in his standout season at Wake Forest University.
- Averaged 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting over 38% from three-point range in his final college season.
Did You Know?
He was a late bloomer in high school, not receiving major Division I offers until after a strong senior season.
In his NBA debut for the Grizzlies, he recorded a steal and an assist in limited minutes.
His father, Mike LaRavia, played college basketball at the University of Indianapolis.
“I just try to make the right play, the smart pass, to help us win.”
