With the Cavs top of the East, boasting a 44/10 record, they’re all set to try and win only their second-ever championship title. They already have the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley leading the way so far, which had prompted coach Kenny Atkinson to forgo the possibility of doing too much business during the most recent trade window. They’ve only had outgoings in the form of Craig Porter, Jr. and Jaylon Tyson of the Cleveland Charge of the G League. As for incomings, they’ve only signed De’Andre Hunter from the Hawks with Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks, and two pick swaps going the other way. But there’s news just breaking of them signing youngster Nae’Qwan Tomlin from their G League affiliate on a 10-day contract.

A native of the Big Apple, Nae’Qwan Tomlin was born on 10th December 2000 in Harlem, New York. Growing up in an apartment he shared with his mother, Aisha Ishmael, 13-year-old brother, and 8-year-old sister, he’d never played a second of organized basketball. Like any son, he was more focused on getting his academic qualifications after seeing his single mother struggle to raise her kids in the middle of Harlem. Much to the pride of Aisha, he ended up majoring in social transformation studies.

Tomlin started his career at a JUCO level, playing for the Monroe CC Tribunes before spending two seasons with the Chipola Indians. The 6’10 forward was instrumental in the Indians boasting a 30-6 record, which led them to a semifinal appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament. This earned him an NJCAA Honorable Mention All-America honors. But it was his switch to the Rupp Arena that really propelled his career.

He’s what you’d call a ‘late bloomer’ in the sport, as he’d only been playing basketball for about 4 years before signing for the Kansas State Wildcats. This speaks volumes of his actual ceiling, as Wildcats coach Jerome Tang immediately dubbed him as ‘the most talented player he’s ever coached’. You can only imagine where he would’ve been if he’d realized his dream a lot sooner.

“It’s a dream come true, because growing up where I come from in Harlem … like, not every kid gets an opportunity like this,” said Tomlin after being picked up by the the Wildcats. He didn’t disappoint in his first season in Division I basketball, being the third-highest points scorer (10.3 PPG) and second-highest in rebounds (5.8 RPG). He was pivotal in Kentucky State’s run to the Elite Eight in the 2022-23 NCAA Tournament.

In his final year of collegiate basketball, he transferred to the Memphis Tigers. In the 2023-24 season, he led the team in points (13.8 points per game), to go with 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks during the season.

Nae’Qwan Tomlin signs for the Cavs

Nae’Qwan Tomlin has just signed for the Cavs on a 10-day contract, as confirmed by HoopsHype. Their article covering the topic says, “Cleveland has been carrying 13 players on standard contracts since the trade deadline on February 6. Teams are permitted to carry fewer than 14 players on their standard rosters for no more than two weeks at a time, so the Cavs need to add a 14th man by Thursday. It appears Tomlin will be that 14th man.”

He’d initially declared for the 2024 NBA draft but had gone undrafted. He did sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cavs last September, which allowed him to play for the Cleveland Charge, their G-League affiliate. Tomlin shined while playing for the Charge, averaging 15.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 25 Tip-Off Tournament and regular season games this season. The Cavs would be hoping the talent of Nae’Qwan will lead them to championship glory this season.

Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s career has been that of great resilience and determination, showing age doesn’t matter if you have the talent to back it up. His rise from the depths of Harlem to the big stages shows the value he can bring to the Association, and he’ll be using these 10 days to cement his future in the Cavs for years to come.