NBA star Jaylen Wells wants to help save SSU athletics

It was just two years ago that Jaylen Wells was playing for the Sonoma State University Seawolves during a Storyed Two years in Rohnert Park That helped him advance to a Division 1 program and then the NBA.

Now, the first-ever NBA player is looking to get involved in saving the school’s sports programs, and he could be using the help of one of his star teammates.

Wells took to social media this week to show his support for the #Saveseawolvesathletics movement that is starting to gain traction after the school’s bombshell announcement Wednesday that it would reduce all 11 athletic programs for the 2025-26 school year to try to address The university’s $23.9 million budget deficit.

The news was a shock to the more than 200 SSU student athletes, their coaches and the community at large. In response, coaches have formed the Save Seawolves Athletics Group to coordinate efforts to reverse the decision. They have also filed Various legal challenges against the school.

“It definitely sucks just because I spent two years there, I loved it there and now there’s no more sports,” Wells told Democratic reporters Sunday night. “That’s a place I wanted to come back and help out later in my career, with whatever, facilities or things like that. Very sad to see.”

Wells, a 6-foot-8 plus forward, is one of the favorites to win NBA Rookie of the Year. Third in scoring among first-year players at 11.9 points per game, Wells is a key rotation player for the Memphis Grizzlies, who have the fifth-best record in the league.

Part of the Save Seawolves athletics strategy is to engage notable alumni, which is where Wells can play a role. Wells said he will help in any way he can, which for now, has been spreading awareness on social media.

“Besides bringing it more to the public and getting more resources to cover it, I’m not really sure what else to do,” he said. “That’s something that hurts because I feel like it’s hard to help. I don’t know how realistic it is, if this is already decided and there is no way for them to come back.”

Wells shared posts this week on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, with the hashtag #saveseawolvesathletics. His post on

“He texted me separately, basically saying he’d like to help,” Wells said. “But I just want to make sure that before you get involved, it really is possible and there is a reason to help the cause and it’s not just a lost cause where it’s already been decided and there’s no chance to come back.”

The school estimated that cutting athletics would save $3.7 million, but coaches argue the actual figure is much lower since more than $2 million of its funding comes from student fees. Coaches said they have asked university officials how much money they would need to raise to save their programs, but have not yet heard back.

Wells, a Folsom High School product, was the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro Player of the Year in 2021. However, he had little interest in Division 1 colleges, primarily due to the extra year of eligibility granted to players. university students during Covid. He eventually landed at Sonoma State, where he was named conference player of the year and a Division 2 All-America as a sophomore. He transferred to Washington State for his junior year and was recruited 39th overall by Memphis in the NBA Draft In June.

When asked if he would be in the NBA if he hadn’t gone to Sonoma State, Wells said, “There’s no way.”

“I think the best decision I made in my career was to go to Sonoma State,” he added. “(Men’s basketball coach) Rich Shayewitz, when he recruited me, he kept all the promises, he was everything he said he would be. I thank the person I was and the staff that surrounded me. Sonoma State, I mean, not even as a player, but as a person, I was able to grow there.”

As one of the NBA’s top rookies this season, Wells is on track to receive an invite to this year’s All-Star Weekend, which is being hosted by the Golden State Warriors in February.

“I should be at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, so hopefully I can take a trip to Sonoma State and do something during that time, if it’s not too late,” Wells said.

ANDOU can reach staff writer Gus Morris at 707-304-9372 or [email protected]. On Twitter @justguspd.