Jarvis Varnado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jarvis Varnado

Varnado with Mississippi State in 2009
Free agent
Power forward / center
Personal information
Born	(1988-03-01) March 1, 1988 (age 37) Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
High school	Haywood (Brownsville, Tennessee)
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
College	Mississippi State (2006–2010)
NBA Draft	2010 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41st overall
Selected by the Miami Heat
Pro career	2010–present
Career history
2010–2011	Pistoia
2011–2012	Hapoel Jerusalem
2012	Virtus Roma
2012	Sioux Falls Skyforce
2012–2013	Boston Celtics
2013	Miami Heat
2013	→Sioux Falls Skyforce
2013–2014	Iowa Energy
2014	Chicago Bulls
2014	Philadelphia 76ers
2014–2015	Los Angeles D-Fenders
2015	Piratas de Quebradillas
2015–2016	Dinamo Sassari
2016–2017	İstanbul BB
2017–2018	Zaragoza
2018–2019	Memphis Hustle
2019	Fos Provence
2019–2020	Hapoel Gilboa Galil
2021–2023	Club Atlético Aguada
2023	Piratas de La Guaira
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2013) NBA D-League All-Star (2014) NABC Defensive Player of the Year (2010) Lefty Driesell Award (2010) 2× NCAA blocks leader (2008, 2009) 2× First-team All-SEC (2009, 2010) 3× SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2008–2010) SEC All-Defensive team (2010) SEC tournament MVP (2009)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  United States Summer Universiade Bronze 2009 Belgrade Team competition

Jarvis Lamar Varnado, born on March 1, 1988, is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays for Piratas de La Guaira in the Venezuelan Basketball League. Jarvis is known as a very strong defensive player. He is especially good at blocking shots because of his long arms.

Jarvis Varnado's Early Life and High School

Jarvis Varnado grew up in Brownsville, Tennessee. He finished high school at Haywood High School in 2006.

Experts thought Jarvis was a top player when he was in high school. He was ranked as one of the best power forwards in the country.

College Basketball Career and Records

Jarvis played college basketball for Mississippi State. He was part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in NCAA Division I. He played there from 2006 to 2010.

Leading the NCAA in Blocks

Jarvis was amazing at blocking shots in college. In the 2007–08 season, he led the entire NCAA in blocks. He had 157 blocks that year. This tied a record set by the famous player Shaquille O'Neal in the SEC.

The next season, 2008–09, Jarvis broke his own record! He blocked 170 shots.

Breaking SEC and NCAA Records

On November 21, 2009, Jarvis became the all-time leader in blocks for the SEC. He had 413 blocks in his career, passing Shaquille O'Neal's record of 412.

Later, on January 23, 2010, Jarvis passed Adonal Foyle on the NCAA's all-time blocks list. This made him the second-leading shot-blocker in NCAA Division I history.

Just a month later, on February 24, 2010, Jarvis made history again. He became the NCAA's all-time shot blocker! He passed Wojciech Myrda's record with 535 career blocks.

Awards and Achievements in College

Jarvis was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year three years in a row. He won this award in 2008, 2009, and 2010. He was the first player ever to do this!

He is also one of only two college players in history to achieve a special milestone. He scored over 1,000 points, grabbed over 1,000 rebounds, and blocked over 500 shots. The only other player to do this was David Robinson.

Professional Basketball Journey

Starting in Italy: Carmatic Pistoia (2010–2011)

The Miami Heat picked Jarvis in the 2010 NBA draft. He was the 41st pick overall. However, he decided to start his professional career in Italy. He signed with Carmatic Pistoia, a team in Italy's second division.

Jarvis played 33 games for Pistoia. He averaged 15.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game.

Playing in Israel: Hapoel Jerusalem (2011–2012)

In the summer of 2011, Jarvis joined minicamps with the Miami Heat. On August 12, 2011, he signed with Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel. He played 12 games for the team before leaving in January 2012.

Back to Italy: Virtus Roma (2012)

After leaving Israel, Jarvis signed with Virtus Roma. This team plays in Italy's top basketball league.

NBA Development League: Sioux Falls Skyforce (2012)

On September 7, 2012, the Miami Heat signed Jarvis for tryouts. They later released him on October 26, 2012. After that, Jarvis joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce. This team is part of the NBA Development League, which is now called the G League. Jarvis was named the D-League player of the week for the first week of the 2012–13 season.

Short Stint with Boston Celtics (2012–2013)

On December 24, 2012, Jarvis signed with the Boston Celtics. He played a few games for them. On January 6, 2013, the Celtics released him.

Winning an NBA Championship with Miami Heat (2013)

On January 9, 2013, Jarvis signed a 10-day contract with the Miami Heat. This was the team that first drafted him. He signed a second 10-day contract and then stayed with the team for the rest of the season.

The Heat sent him to the Sioux Falls Skyforce for some games in March and April 2013. Jarvis won his first NBA championship with the Heat! They beat the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals.

The Heat released Jarvis on October 21, 2013.

Iowa Energy and Chicago Bulls (2013–2014)

On October 31, 2013, Jarvis rejoined the Sioux Falls Skyforce. The next day, he was traded to the Iowa Energy. In February 2014, Jarvis was chosen to play in the NBA D-League All-Star Game.

On February 18, 2014, Jarvis signed a 10-day contract with the Chicago Bulls. After the contract ended, the Bulls did not sign him again.

Philadelphia 76ers (2014)

On March 1, 2014, Jarvis signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. He then signed with them for the rest of the season. On March 29, 2014, he had a great game. He scored 9 points and blocked 6 shots in a win against the Detroit Pistons. The 76ers released him on October 7, 2014.

Los Angeles D-Fenders (2014–2015)

Jarvis's D-League rights were traded to the Los Angeles D-Fenders in December 2014. He played eight games for them. He averaged 11.6 points per game.

Playing in Puerto Rico: Piratas de Quebradillas (2015)

After the D-League season ended, Jarvis signed with Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico. He played for them for the rest of the 2015 season.

Back to Italy: Dinamo Sassari (2015–2016)

On July 22, 2015, Jarvis signed a one-year deal with Dinamo Sassari in Italy. He played in Italy's top league and in the EuroLeague, which is a big European competition.

Playing in Turkey: Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor (2016–2017)

In July 2016, Jarvis played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Summer League. On August 30, 2016, he signed with İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor in Turkey. He left the team in February 2017.

Playing in Spain: Tecnyconta Zaragoza (2017–2018)

On August 2, 2017, Jarvis signed a one-year deal with Tecnyconta Zaragoza in Spain. He left the team on March 20, 2018, because of a foot injury.

Memphis Hustle (2018–2019)

On November 30, 2018, Jarvis signed with the Memphis Hustle. This team is part of the NBA G League.

Playing in France: Fos Provence (2019)

On January 15, 2019, Jarvis left the Hustle to join Fos Provence in France. He played 18 games there. He averaged 9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.

Back to Israel: Hapoel Gilboa Galil (2019–2020)

On September 25, 2019, Jarvis returned to Israel. He signed a one-year deal with Hapoel Gilboa Galil. He averaged 7.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.

Playing in Uruguay: Club Atlético Aguada (2021–Present)

On October 6, 2021, Jarvis signed with Club Atlético Aguada in Uruguay. He continues to play there.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

See also

In Spanish: Jarvis Varnado para niños

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career blocks leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leaders