It looks like another member of the Wade family is joining the Utah Jazz organization.
Retired Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade’s oldest son, Zaire, is signing a G League contract and is expected to join the Jazz’s developmental affiliate in the Salt Lake City Stars, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Wade purchased an ownership stake in the Jazz earlier this year.
Zaire, 19, played his junior high school season at Plantation American Heritage before transferring to Sierra Canyon High School (Calif.) for his senior season and graduating in 2020. Zaire was teammates with LeBron James’ oldest son, LeBron Jr, (known as Bronny), at Sierra Canyon.
Zaire then opted to take a postgrad year at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. Several NBA players, including Utah’s Donovan Mitchell and New Orleans’ Devonte’ Graham, also spent time at Brewster.
After moving to Brewster and reclassifying to the Class of 2021, 247Sports listed Zaire as a 6-3 and 170-pound three-star guard who’s ranked as the No. 29 combo guard and No. 289 overall prospect in the class. Zaire received college offers from South Carolina, Rhode Island, Toledo and DePaul, according to 247Sports.
“Athletic combo guard with good size and length,” 247Sports national recruiting analyst Josh Gershon wrote of Zaire while he was in high school. “Still relatively physically immature and has plenty of room to add strength in coming years. Explosive athlete who could improve further with added strength. Best attribute is his vision; sees floor at an elite level. While vision is tremendous, basketball IQ and ball skills will need to improve to be full time point guard. Much improved shooter with range to the perimeter. Tends to make flashy play over right play at times. Has upside as versatile defender who can guard the one or two. Polarizing prospect due to inconsistency but has made major strides over last year and projects as a high major starter who could expand on that with improvement to basketball IQ and skill.”
The Heat also has a G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. But it appears that Zaire will choose to play for the organization that his father is currently a part of in the Jazz.
