Barstow School graduate Jacob Gilyard earning starting minutes for Memphis Grizzlies

At 5-foot-8, Jacob Gilyard is one of just two players on an NBA roster under 6 feet. He signed a two-way contract in April with the Memphis Grizzlies after 31 games in the G League.

He entered the NBA as an undrafted free agent.

Growing up in Kansas City, as a 2017 graduate of The Barstow School, Gilyard dreamed of playing in the NBA. His father, Rodney, always believed in his son. But Rodney is only 5 feet, 9 inches, and he knew Jacob wouldn’t be much taller.

“You hope that your kids will achieve their dreams, and you want them to work hard and give them opportunities to prepare for those moments. I personally felt like if given an opportunity he could do it. But there’s so many kids,” Rodney said, before stopping to correct himself.

Not kids — his son isn’t a kid anymore. Jacob just started his first game in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies as they handle a 25-game suspension of point guard Ja Morant.

“There’s so many men, young men and women, who have so much potential but just don’t get the opportunity,” Rodney said.

That Friday morning, Rodney woke up with no idea of the opportunity that was coming his son’s way. His phone buzzed with a text from Jacob saying there was a chance he might get the start that night.

By noon, Rodney had received word that Jacob was in the starting lineup and quickly headed down the highway for Memphis. He arrived just in time for tipoff.

Jacob Gilyard scored 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting with eight assists against the Utah Jazz.

“As a parent, you’re just excited for your kid. Sometimes I have to pinch myself,” Rodney said. “It’s just crazy.”

It was November 10, six years from when Gilyard started his first college game at the University of Richmond in 2017. Rodney is the new head coach of Barstow girls basketball; he had to miss the first scrimmage of the year to see his son’s first start.

Two nights later, Gilyard started again in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers, playing against James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, another Kansas City native to establish himself in the NBA, took Gilyard aside before the game and talked with him.

“Those are guys he idolized. Guys that he watched growing up,” Rodney says.

The proud dad moments just seem to keep coming. Rodney says he does his part to help his son stay humble and hungry, but more than anything, he says to enjoy the opportunity he’s been blessed with.

Gilyard has always played with something to prove, being one of the smallest on the court. He’s used to being overlooked. Rodney has come to expect the unexpected from his son. He has seen it so many times now.

“I always think he figures it out,” Rodney said. “Given the opportunity and the time, I was sure he would figure it out. So I’m not always surprised. But considering he’s just 5-9, his whole college and now professional basketball career in a sport that’s considered a big sport — it’s just amazing.”

Gilyard has had to find a way to be a threat in the land of giants, even though he’s smaller than the average guy on the street.

Likewise, the Memphis Grizzlies have been looking for the spark they’ve been missing to run and score in transition. They lost in Gilyard’s first start, dropping the team to 1-8 on the season.

In practice that week, Gilyard passed up an open shot and moved the ball to a teammate. A couple of well-known NBA point guards were there to get on him for making the mistake.

“I passed up on the shot, and I heard about it from Derrick Rose and Ja Morant in practice,” Gilyard told reporters in the postgame media session. “They were just like, ‘What are you doing? You know, you got to look to score more. You got to score. ... You got to be a threat out there.’”

Gilyard said seeing guys like that have confidence in his scoring ability makes it easier for him. He came out looking to be more aggressive in his first start.

Sitting next to Gilyard, teammate Desmond Bane described how the early season has gone for the Grizzlies as they find their way without Morant. The team’s identity has been playing with pace and getting out in transition. They’ve struggled to do that this year, Bane said.

Even after the loss to the Jazz, Bane said Gilyard had helped in that aspect.

“Congratulations on the first NBA start,” Bane said. “That’s something that I never forgot. I never forgot my first one, and I’m sure he won’t forget his either.”