Last Updated on October 5, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
Javon Small comes from a close family with deep roots in South Bend, Indiana. The Memphis Grizzlies guard is the son of Jovanna Wright and grew up with three siblings: older brother Jaquan, younger brother Larry and younger sister Lariyah.
Small’s family supported him through a basketball journey that took him from South Bend to Indianapolis, Arizona and three different college programs before he reached the NBA. His mother has been the parent most frequently mentioned in official basketball profiles, while Small has kept other parts of his personal life, including his romantic relationships, largely away from public attention.
Who Is Javon Small’s Girlfriend?
As of now, Javon Small has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through reliable mainstream, NBA or official college sources.
Small has maintained a relatively private personal life despite becoming an NBA player. Interviews and official biographies have generally focused on his basketball development, college career and relationship with his family rather than his dating life.
No sufficiently reliable recent source identifies a specific woman as his current partner. For that reason, it would be inaccurate to attach Small to a rumored girlfriend based only on social media speculation.
There has also been no widely verified public announcement confirming that Small is married or engaged.
Does Javon Small Have Children?
As of now, there are no publicly confirmed reports that Javon Small has children.
His official college, NBA and NBA G League biographies do not mention him having a son or daughter.
Born on December 19, 2002, Small has spent most of his early adult life concentrating on basketball while moving through East Carolina, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and eventually the Memphis Grizzlies organization.
Who Are Javon Small’s Parents?
Official basketball biographies consistently identify Jovanna Wright as Javon Small’s mother.
Reliable college sources do not publicly name his father. Because of that, any websites claiming to identify Javon Small’s father without a credible source should be treated cautiously.
Javon Small’s Mother: Jovanna Wright
Jovanna Wright is Javon Small’s mother and one of the most important people behind his basketball journey.
Jovanna has strong ties to South Bend, Indiana, where Javon was born and began playing basketball. Local reporting identifies her as a graduate of LaSalle High School in South Bend and notes that she has operated a tax-preparation business in the area.
Her influence on Javon has also been recognized publicly by people who coached him.
When Oklahoma State signed Small in 2023, then-head coach Mike Boynton specifically mentioned Jovanna while discussing the qualities that made Javon attractive to the Cowboys.
Boynton credited Small’s family, particularly his mother, with helping develop the competitive mentality and desire to win that had become central to his game.
How Jovanna Wright Supported Javon Small
Small’s basketball career required significant changes while he was still young.
He began his high school career in his hometown at Riley High School in South Bend before moving to Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis.
He later traveled even farther from home when he enrolled at AZ Compass Prep in Arizona, one of the better-known basketball development programs in the country.
Those moves required a strong support system, and Jovanna remained the most consistently documented parental figure throughout Javon’s development.
Small eventually left Indiana entirely for college basketball, beginning a career that would take him through North Carolina, Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Jovanna Wright and Javon’s South Bend Roots
Even as his basketball career moved him around the country, Small maintained a strong connection to South Bend.
He was born there and played at Riley High School before transferring away from the city.
His mother’s continued presence and professional ties in South Bend helped maintain that family connection.
When Small was selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, local media in South Bend celebrated him as one of the community’s own players reaching professional basketball.
Who Is Javon Small’s Father?
Javon Small’s father has not been publicly identified in the official biographies published by East Carolina, Oklahoma State, West Virginia or the Memphis organization.
Those sources consistently list Small as the son of Jovanna Wright without naming a father.
For that reason, it is better not to speculate about the identity or circumstances of his father unless Small himself chooses to discuss that part of his family publicly.
Who Are Javon Small’s Siblings?
Javon Small has three publicly documented siblings: Jaquan, Larry and Lariyah.
Oklahoma State and East Carolina both list the same sibling structure, identifying Jaquan as Javon’s older brother and Larry and Lariyah as his younger siblings.
Jaquan Small
Jaquan Small is Javon Small’s older brother.
Compared with his NBA brother, Jaquan has maintained a private public profile. Reliable basketball sources confirm his relationship to Javon but provide little additional information about his career, education or personal life.
As the older sibling, Jaquan was part of the family environment in which Javon grew up before basketball began taking him away from South Bend.
Because Jaquan is not a prominent public figure, unverified claims concerning his private life should be avoided.
Larry Small
Larry Small is Javon’s younger brother.
Official East Carolina and Oklahoma State biographies identify Larry among Javon’s siblings, but there is very little verified public information about him.
There is currently no authoritative basketball source establishing that Larry has pursued the same competitive basketball path as Javon.
His inclusion in Javon’s official college biographies nevertheless confirms his place within Small’s immediate family.
Lariyah Small
Lariyah Small is Javon Small’s younger sister.
Like Larry and Jaquan, Lariyah has remained largely outside the public spotlight.
East Carolina and Oklahoma State identify her as Javon’s sister, but details concerning her education, career and private life have not been widely published by reliable sports outlets.
Javon therefore grew up as one of four siblings, with an older brother and two younger siblings.
How Many Siblings Does Javon Small Have?
Javon Small has three publicly documented siblings.
His older brother is Jaquan, while Larry is his younger brother and Lariyah is his younger sister.
This family structure has been consistently listed by multiple official college basketball programs during Small’s career.
Javon Small’s Childhood in South Bend
Javon Unique Small was born on December 19, 2002, in South Bend, Indiana.
His basketball development started locally before eventually taking him around the United States.
Small played basketball in South Bend while growing up and spent his freshman year at Riley High School.
At Riley, he was coached by former Oklahoma State guard Andre Owens, creating an early connection to a program that Small would eventually join several years later.
His talent continued developing, but his basketball journey soon required another move.
Javon Small at Franklin Central High School
Small transferred from South Bend to Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis.
He spent two years there and developed into a productive guard.
During his junior season, Small earned First-Team All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference recognition and Third-Team All-Marion County honors.
Those performances increased his profile and helped prepare him for an opportunity at a nationally recognized basketball program.
Javon Small’s Move to AZ Compass Prep
Small completed his high school career at AZ Compass Prep in Arizona.
The move placed him in a demanding basketball environment alongside other high-level prospects.
During his senior season, Small averaged approximately 11 points, three assists and nearly two steals per game.
AZ Compass Prep finished 28-2 and advanced to the semifinals of the 2021 GEICO High School Nationals.
The experience helped Small prepare for Division I basketball and eventually earned him an opportunity at East Carolina.
Javon Small’s Family and His East Carolina Career
Small began his college career at East Carolina University in 2021.
His freshman season included a relatively limited role, but his performance changed significantly as a sophomore.
During the 2022-23 season, Small developed into one of the most improved guards in college basketball.
He averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 assists before a leg injury ended his season after 18 games.
Among his standout performances was a 27-point game against Indiana State and an 11-assist performance against Campbell.
The improvement attracted interest from major conference programs when Small entered the transfer portal.
Why Javon Small Chose Oklahoma State
Small transferred to Oklahoma State before the 2023-24 season.
The Cowboys signed him despite interest from other programs, including Oklahoma and Ohio State.
Head coach Mike Boynton praised Small as a fearless and unselfish guard who could create scoring opportunities for himself and teammates.
Boynton also publicly credited Javon’s family and specifically his mother, Jovanna, with helping shape his competitiveness.
That comment provides one of the clearest public examples of how important Small’s mother was in his basketball development.
Javon Small’s Season at Oklahoma State
Small immediately became one of Oklahoma State’s most important players.
He started all 31 games during the 2023-24 season and averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
His performances earned him All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition.
Despite his individual success, Small transferred again after the season and selected West Virginia for his final college campaign.
Javon Small’s Breakout Season at West Virginia
Small produced the best season of his college career at West Virginia.
During the 2024-25 campaign, he started all 32 games and averaged 18.6 points, 5.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.
He finished second in the Big 12 in scoring and third in assists, establishing himself as one of the conference’s leading guards.
Small earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors and received honorable mention All-America recognition from the Associated Press.
His final college season significantly improved his NBA Draft prospects.
Javon Small’s Family and the 2025 NBA Draft
Small entered the 2025 NBA Draft after completing his senior season at West Virginia.
The Memphis Grizzlies selected him with the 48th overall pick in the second round.
The selection completed a long journey from South Bend youth basketball through several high schools and three Division I college programs.
For Jovanna Wright and the rest of Small’s family, the draft represented another major milestone after years of supporting his basketball ambitions.
Javon Small and the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis signed Small to a two-way contract in July 2025.
The deal allowed him to play for both the Memphis Grizzlies and their NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.
Small made his NBA debut during his rookie season and eventually received meaningful opportunities in Memphis’ backcourt.
He completed the 2025-26 NBA season averaging 9.7 points, 3.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game.
As of now, the NBA lists Small as a guard for the Memphis Grizzlies wearing No. 10.
Javon Small’s Relationship With His Family
Small does not regularly discuss his family in lengthy public interviews, but his official biographies make clear that his South Bend family background has remained part of his story throughout his career.
His mother is consistently listed across his college biographies, and Oklahoma State publicly highlighted her influence on his competitive personality.
His three siblings have also remained part of his official biographical information even though they generally stay outside the public spotlight.
This makes Jovanna, Jaquan, Larry and Lariyah the best-documented members of Javon Small’s immediate family.
Frequently Asked Questions About Javon Small’s Family
Who is Javon Small’s girlfriend?
Javon Small has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through reliable mainstream or official sources as of now. His romantic life remains private.
Is Javon Small married?
No reliable public announcement has confirmed that Javon Small is married as of now.
Does Javon Small have children?
There are no publicly confirmed reports that Javon Small has children as of now.
Who is Javon Small’s mother?
Javon Small’s mother is Jovanna Wright. She is from South Bend, Indiana, and has been publicly credited with helping develop her son’s competitive mentality.
Who is Javon Small’s father?
Javon Small’s father has not been publicly identified in authoritative college or NBA biographies. Official sources consistently identify him as the son of Jovanna Wright.
How many siblings does Javon Small have?
Javon Small has three publicly documented siblings: Jaquan, Larry and Lariyah.
Who is Javon Small’s older brother?
Javon Small’s older brother is Jaquan.
Who is Javon Small’s younger brother?
Javon Small’s younger brother is Larry.
Who is Javon Small’s sister?
Javon Small’s younger sister is Lariyah.
What is Javon Small’s full name?
His full name is Javon Unique Small.
Where is Javon Small from?
Javon Small was born in South Bend, Indiana, on December 19, 2002.
Where did Javon Small play college basketball?
Small played college basketball at East Carolina, Oklahoma State and West Virginia.
When was Javon Small drafted?
The Memphis Grizzlies selected Javon Small with the 48th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
